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Housemaid debate
political-economic debate in Sweden / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The housemaid debate [1] or maid debate is a political discussion in Sweden.[2] It begun on 18 July 1993 when Swedish economist Anne-Marie Pålsson proposed tax deductions for household services.[3][4]
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Many right-wing politicians supported the proposal. They thought it would reduce unreported employment. Many left-wing politicians expressed negative thoughts. They said it would increase social class gaps. The left-wing politicians pointed to the time before the 1970s, when many girls were employed to live-in and work for wealthier families. The discussion has later reappeared. Often, it has reappeared during elections in Sweden.[5]
Tax deductions, so called RUT deductions for household services, were introducd in Sweden on 1 July 2007.[6] That was during the centre-right Reinfeldt cabinet.