stödpaket

Stödpaket, or in English stimulus or support package, refers to a coordinated set of government measures intended to cushion the economy during recessions or shocks. These packages typically comprise expansionary fiscal measures and policy actions designed to maintain household demand, firm viability, and public services. They can include tax relief or deferrals, direct transfers or subsidies to individuals and businesses, loan guarantees, subsidized loans, and public investments. In many cases, packages also include temporary employment support such as wage subsidies or short-time work arrangements to protect jobs. The funding generally comes from higher public debt or reallocation within the budget, with an explicit plan to unwind measures as conditions improve.

Typical components include temporary tax cuts or deferrals; direct grants or subsidies to sectors or firms; wage subsidies or short-time work schemes; loan guarantees or subsidized credit; deferrals of social contributions; liquidity support for banks; and targeted investment in infrastructure or innovation.

In Sweden, the term stödpaket is used to describe government responses to economic downturns. Notable instances include measures during the global financial crisis of the late 2000s and, more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic, when the government announced short-time work allowances, compensation to employers for reduced work hours, and various business subsidies to preserve employment and liquidity.

Effectiveness and cautions: stimulus packages aim to stabilize demand and employment but can raise public debt and risk misallocation if poorly targeted. Exit strategies and sunset clauses are commonly used to limit long-term distortions.