The NDC Reform in Sweden: The 1994 Legislation to the Present

tary Working Group on Pensions published a “sketch” containing almost all the essential elements of the reform. The working group was formed at the end of 1991 as the new nonsocialist government took office, following the publication, debate, and official comments on a parliamentary pension commission’s final report on the problems of the old pension system that was published in 1990. The reform itself was passed by a large majority—around 85 percent—of parliament in June 1994. The 1994 parliamentary decision was much more than a decision “in principle”: all the main components of the reform were set out here except automatic balancing, which was developed after 1994. Implementation began in 1995, and moved forward in stages. This chapter discusses how the Swedish reform came about, what it is, its public image, and remaining issues.