This is the Cato Daily Podcast for Friday, April 17th, 2020.

I'm Caleb Brown.

The most striking thing about Sweden's response to the coronavirus is how little they've done.

Cato Senior fellow Joanne Norberg lives in Sweden.

He says it's still too early to say that Sweden's relatively hands-off approach to the

outbreak is preferable, but he argues that there are good reasons

to believe the approach may ultimately be preferable to lockdowns.

Sweden has done exactly what in response to this global coronavirus outbreak.

Well, nothing dramatic and I guess that's what's dramatic about it, and that's why it's

witnessed the center of attention right now, because everybody else did some fairly aggressive things to get this thing under control.

Lockdowns and shutdowns, closing borders and having different sorts of stay at home or shelter in place orders.

Sweden didn't do that.

Unlike our neighbors, we did not stop the flights, we did not close the borders,

no state of emergency, no stay at home orders. We have not shut down workplaces, schools,

apart from high schools and universities. Cinemas, restaurants, bars,

gyms, libraries, shopping centers, public transportation.

They are all functioning not as usual, but they are open and as long as no more than 50 people gather at once that is fine with the Swedish authorities.

Okay, so with respect to personal decisions, what has changed for the average Swede?

What has changed is that the there's been a government recommendation for social distancing and to isolate those over 70,

they shouldn't socialize at all. We are all recommended to work from home if possible and avoid long distance

travel and I would say that most Swedes have

abide by that. We have lots of social distancing. We haven't gone to our summer

...