Sweden plans to loosen budget rules to boost vital investment

Sweden plans to ease tight budget spending rules, Swedish media reported on Thursday, as it looks to boost spending in areas like infrastructure and defence. The government, the Sweden Democrats and the opposition Social Democrats have agreed to target a balanced budget instead of aiming for a surplus of 0.33% of GDP over a business cycle, daily Expressen said, citing a parliamentary committee tasked by the government to make recommendations. “Targeting a balance would give … sufficient margins,” Hans Lindberg, head of the committee, told a news conference according to news agency TT.