The editorial “One Secret of Mamdani’s Success” (July 13) argues that New Yorkers’ debate around Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s agenda treats capitalism and a strong safety net as rivals, when in reality they can coexist. The piece points out that the benefits New Yorkers admire in Scandinavia are funded by economies built to attract investment, not tax them into leaving.

Sweden, the model often invoked by the mayor’s allies, has no wealth tax and no inheritance tax, and its corporate rate is 20.6%. Stockholm scrapped its wealth tax two decades ago precisely because it was driving capital and entrepreneurs abroad. The article stresses that the Swedish approach demonstrates how low corporate taxes, combined with generous public services, can still produce robust economic growth.

The writer emphasizes that New York’s policy debate should look to Sweden’s example, showing that a strong safety net does not necessarily mean a high tax burden. Instead, a low corporate tax can encourage investment and entrepreneurship while maintaining a solid public sector.

In short, the opinion piece urges New Yorkers to reconcile the two forces, learning from Sweden’s experience that capitalism and a generous welfare system are not mutually exclusive.