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Economist Podcasts

In their own Swede time: pandemic pragmatism

Economist Podcasts

The Economist

News, News & Politics

4.35K Ratings

🗓️ 12 October 2020

⏱️ 24 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

By the numbers to date, Sweden's light-touch covid-19 measures may not seem successful. But its pragmatism takes an instructively long view of the pandemic. China’s high-level party machinery brooks no political dissent; among street-level functionaries, stories of disobedience and tolerance are far more nuanced. And a devilishly clever way to stem the poaching of endangered turtles’ eggs.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

Hello and welcome to the intelligence on Economist Radio.

0:07.3

I'm your host, Jason Palmer.

0:09.4

Every weekday, we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

0:17.6

The all-encompassing nature of China's Communist Party machinery makes it seem as if no

0:23.2

wrongdoing could ever go unpunished.

0:26.2

But take a look down at street level.

0:29.0

Our correspondent find the cases in which non-political naughtiness is tolerated.

0:36.0

And the numbers of many sea turtle species are dwindling.

0:39.3

The culprit, poachers.

0:41.3

The turtle's eggs are a delicacy in much of Central America.

0:45.3

Now some scientists have come up with a devilishly clever way of finding who's stealing them.

0:57.0

But first... A second wave of coronavirus is crashing across Europe.

1:05.0

France, the Netherlands and Portugal have reported record numbers of daily cases.

1:10.0

New restrictions are coming into force across the continent and in Britain,

1:14.6

where fresh measures will be announced today.

1:17.5

That again has public health officials looking towards Sweden.

1:21.4

In the spring sunshine, Stockholm's cafes have customers.

1:25.5

The schools are open, and the Prime Minister has urged people not to panic.

1:30.3

In March, when much of the world ground to a halt, the country of around 10 million people stayed

1:35.3

mostly open for business.

1:37.3

It's about saving the restaurants. It's about saving the pubs. It's about saving people's work.

1:42.3

The country's leaders encouraged social distancing,

...

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