The recent primary victory of the New York of Democrat Zohran Mamdani, a self -proclaimed socialist, raises the question that has been simmering for years: is America ready for socialism?
Our national survey among 2,067 university and university students in the US suggests that the answer begins with another question: what is socialism? Only 34% of the students define socialism as state property and central planning, the classical definition. Almost half, instead, defines it as an active government and redistribution, and many admit that they are not sure. This confusion is how people talk about socialism and why it is good to gauge young voters.
Politicians have helped to fade the lines by pointing in places such as Northern countries such as Sweden as models of ‘democratic socialism’, and claim that they are successful models of what it could look like in the US, but Sweden is not a socialist economy. The policy that is endorsed by Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, New York Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mamdani and others-such as implementing a wealth tax, increasing inheritance tax, corporation tax and income taxes to pay for a large welfare state of Sweden. It is a market -based system with high taxes that finance a generous welfare state.
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Although the tax burden for individuals is relatively high in Sweden, the Swedish government notes that its welfare system has been built on the principle that everyone pays, not just the rich. The best marginal income tax rate is higher in Sweden than in the US, but these higher taxes are not only paid by the rich in Sweden. The top percentage applies to anyone who hardly earns above the national average in Sweden compared to the US, where the highest rate is paid by those who earn 800% higher than the national average.
Senator Bernie Sanders, Democratic mayor candidate Zohran Mamdani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez pose for a photo in Astoria, Queens, 6 September 2025. (@Zohrankmamdani via x)
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In addition, Sweden imposes a consumption tax of 25% on goods and services, versus national and local sales tax in the US that on average 7.7%. Sweden also has no wealth tax, no inheritance tax and a lower corporate tax rate than in the US
Sweden learned in the hard way what happens when it came to the type of policy that was advocated by ‘democratic socialists’. As emphasized by Johan Norberg and others, the country had a small government and an open economy for almost 100 years until the country experimented with socialism in the 70s and 80s. During that time they have expanded the size of the government, increased income taxes, wealth tax and an inheritance tax. Iconic companies such as IKEA left the country, grew up and experienced a financial crisis that forced major reforms in the early 1990s. Today, Sweden is one of the most economically free countries in the world.
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So what do young Americans want? When we asked the students if they are in favor of universal health care and free higher education, 78% said yes when it is financed by a wealth tax on the top 1%. Seventy -one percent said yes if it was financed by higher income tax on the top 10%. When asked if they were in favor of these things when they were financed by a universal consumption tax, the support fell by half. When financed by a higher income tax on most people, only 38% were in favor. It is clear that students (and presumably other Americans who are for these things) are much more for a larger welfare state if someone else feet.
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History and economy show that the systems that are built on increasing government eventually affect a wall. As the deceased British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said famous: “The problem with socialism is that you ultimately no longer have any money from others.”
Before America decides that it is ready for socialism, it is clear that we have to be trained about what it actually means and what it really costs. Only then can we really debate whether socialism is ‘a dedication to dignity’, as Mamdani says, or if it is a recipe for ruin.
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