Sweden lacks women entrepreneurs

When it comes to the proportion of women running businesses, Sweden is lagging behind most EU countries, with only just over one-quarter of entrepreneurs being women. This is in contrast to the EU average, which stands at over 33 percent. While Sweden prides itself on gender equality, there are various reasons for this disparity.

According to Pernilla Norlin, the social policy manager at Företagarna, many women in Sweden prefer employment over entrepreneurship, and there might be a lack of female role models in the entrepreneurial space. Additionally, women often gravitate towards industries with lower margins, such as HR and consumer-oriented services, while larger capital tends to flow towards technology-intensive sectors.

Educational choices also play a significant role in women's entrepreneurship. Those with certain vocational educations, like nursing assistants, might face more challenges in starting their own businesses. However, Norlin emphasizes that entrepreneurship in welfare sectors should not be underestimated, as the demand for healthcare services remains strong.

Despite the lower proportion of women starting businesses, data shows that companies run by women are less likely to go bankrupt. This might be attributed to women being generally less risk-prone than men, leading to more stable business operations.

Read more:

DN: Fewer women than men run their own businesses.

High demand for greener energy in Sweden

Green electricity is in high demand in northern Sweden, with numerous industries looking to invest billions. However, the system isn't working effectively, says steel giant SSAB.

Despite their desire to transition and reduce emissions, they haven't been allocated any capacity, making long-term planning impossible. The issue arises because new industries have significantly higher electricity demands, and allocation is based on speed rather than the potential impact or likelihood of utilization. Experts argue that there's unused capacity in the system, and authorities need to take responsibility to adapt to this evolving landscape. The solution might involve a more transparent and flexible allocation process and a focus on increasing overall capacity through energy storage and production, especially in the north and south of Sweden.

Read more:

DN: Major industries want to reduce emissions - but cannot

Stockholm prepares for massive rainfalls

Stockholm might seem prepared for heavy rain due to its waterside location, but there's still much to be done to prevent potential damage from downpours, warns Jonas Althage, a rainstorm strategist for the City of Stockholm.

While the city's natural topography helps channel water away, Althage stresses that major damages could still cost billions. He points out that the lack of progress may stem from Stockholm's relative fortune in avoiding severe downpours, which leads to less investment in preventative measures until a crisis hits. Althage suggests a multifaceted approach, focusing on various solutions across the city, rather than isolated large-scale projects, to better manage heavy rainfall risks.

Read more:

Mitti: How Stockholm will protect itself from the rain

• Swedish Inflation Ranks High : Swedish inflation remains among the highest in Europe due to the weakening Swedish crown, making imported goods more expensive. However, economists expect a decrease in inflation during the autumn, with the inflation rate projected at 7.7 percent, down from 9.3 percent in July.

• Decathlon closes stores : Decathlon announces the closure of its Barkarby and Kungens Kurva stores in Sweden due to a tough market and economic situation. The French sports giant plans to reorganize and focus on a few stores and e-commerce.

• Apple expected to unveil iPhone 15 with USB-C : The upcoming iPhone 15 is anticipated to be revealed during Apple's event with the inclusion of USB-C charging, marking a shift away from Lightning ports. This move aligns with the EU's regulations on standardized chargers for electronic devices set to take effect in 2024.

• Meta shuts down Nordic communication : Meta is shutting down its Nordic communication department and ending collaborations with external agencies in Sweden, raising concerns about user support and assistance. The American tech giant has been experiencing cutbacks globally, with over 20,000 people affected.

• Security flaw in iPhones : Attackers can take over iPhones without the need for users to click on a link. By sending a specially crafted image, the iPhone's protection can be cracked. Users are advised to install updates and activate the lockdown mode feature.

• Germany wins historic gold : Germany secures their first men's World Cup final victory in basketball and takes home a historic gold after defeating Serbia with a score of 83-77 in Manila. The victory marks Germany's best World Cup achievement, surpassing their previous bronze medal in 2002.

• Tennis match-fixing : Yones Rachidi was banned for life and fined approximately 350,000 kronor by the International Tennis Integrity Agency for committing 135 violations of match-fixing regulations. The network he belonged to, led by Grigor Sargsyan, manipulated over 350 tennis matches, demonstrating the extent of match-fixing in tennis. The investigation by The Washington Post reveals the ease with which vulnerable players are lured into fixing matches for monetary gain, highlighting tennis as one of the sports most affected by match-fixing.

• Novak Djokovic won the US Open : Novak Djokovic wins his 24th Grand Slam title, equaling Margaret Court's record, by defeating Daniil Medvedev in the US Open final. Djokovic's victory comes after his loss to Medvedev in the 2021 final and solidifies his status as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

• Rubiales resigns as chairman of the Spanish Football Federation : Luis Rubiales has announced his resignation as chairman of the Spanish Football Federation and vice president of UEFA following FIFA's suspension and other proceedings against him. Rubiales defends his version of events leading up to his resignation while expressing a commitment to the truth prevailing. The resignation comes after Rubiales faced criticism for his actions at the World Cup, including kissing player Jennifer Hermoso without her consent.

• Journalists' Association demands action from the government : The President of the Journalists' Association has submitted a list of measures to strengthen press freedom to the Minister of Culture and Minister of Justice, including an investigation into foreign espionage laws and changes to the police's mission letter to protect journalists.

• Increased Funding for Vulnerable Schools : The Swedish government plans to increase funding for schools facing socio-economic challenges by 40 percent over the next three years. This additional funding aims to support schools like Örskolan, which has a high turnover of students and teachers and a high number of students with Swedish as a second language. The increased funds will enable investments to be made for the benefit of the students and help them succeed in school and in life.

• Defense budget increased : The Swedish government is increasing the defense budget by over 20 billion kronor, reaching a total of 119 billion kronor. This is the highest increase ever and is due to the serious international situation and the need for improved defense capabilities.

• Fewer commuter trains on Södertälje branch : Due to a shortage of train drivers, SL is operating with reduced traffic, resulting in fewer departures per hour on the Stockholm City-Södertälje stretch compared to the Stockholm-Nynäshamn stretch, which has fewer passengers but more departures. The reduced traffic volume is expected to remain in effect until October 29 or possibly for the rest of the year.

• Sweden ready to assist Morocco : Sweden expresses readiness to provide immediate rescue assistance to Morocco following a devastating earthquake that claimed over 1,000 lives. Other countries like Spain, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, India, and Israel have also offered to send aid to the affected region. The EU is prepared to provide assistance upon request.

• African Union becomes new member of G20 : Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announces that the African Union has been granted permanent membership status in the G20 during the ongoing G20 meeting in Delhi. The African Union now has the same status as the EU in the G20.

• Death toll rises in Greece : Three more bodies were found in the floods in Greece, bringing the death toll to 15. Rescue workers have been evacuating people using inflatable boats and bulldozers in the hardest-hit areas of central Greece. The rainstorm is the worst the country has experienced since records began in 1930.

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A warm good-bye to summer days

In recent years, Sweden has experienced a notable trend of rising temperatures during the month of September. This warming trend has led to what locals affectionately call "late summer bonus days." These are unexpected periods of warm and sunny weather that occur in September, sometimes even extending into early October.

Swedes take full advantage of these bonus days, flocking to parks, beaches, and outdoor cafes to soak up the sun and enjoy the pleasant temperatures before the arrival of colder autumn weather. It's a testament to how climate patterns are changing and how people adapt to these shifts, finding joy in unexpected weather phenomena.

Now, it looks like cooler air will arrive on Wednesday. First in northern Sweden and then moving to the South towards the evening.

Be sure to enjoy it. It could be the last warm weekend of the year, before darkness and rain come.

by Viviana Levet/Riedia