Egalitarianism and Autonomy as a Trade‑off
On 8 September 2026, The Conversation published two articles that highlight the paradoxes of modern society. The first, written by Andreana Drencheva and others in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, examined the autonomy paradox—how greater workplace freedom can leave people feeling powerless. The second article examined Sweden’s changing relationship with wealth and demonstrated how a country that has traditionally valued equality has become more accepting of billionaires and the accumulation of capital. Taken together, these views encourage us to think about the compromises between autonomy, equality, and fragility.
Egalitarianism is the belief in human equality across social, political, and economic life. Sweden long embodied this ideal, shaped by high taxes, strong welfare, and Jantelagen—the unwritten rule that no one should think they are better than others. Yet recent years have seen a shift. Sweden abolished wealth, inheritance, and property taxes, becoming a magnet for capital. Today it ranks fourth globally in billionaires per capita. The paradox is clear: a nation built on equality now embraces wealth while still claiming egalitarian values. Spotify and its founder Daniel Ek illustrate this dilemma: a company born in Sweden’s egalitarian spirit, yet criticized for pay and fairness even as it thrives internationally.
The cultural shift is also related to the autonomy paradox. Drencheva and others found that although autonomy gives employees power, it often prevents them from disconnecting, resulting in constant vulnerability. Employees with a high degree of decision-making freedom experienced more stress and found it harder to detach after work. In Sweden, the entrepreneurial culture and desire for wealth show this paradox at a societal level: autonomy in business promotes innovation, but hidden costs—longer working hours, blurred boundaries, and stress—turn freedom into fragility.
Biology offers a useful analogy: when autonomy is activated, it stimulates dopamine pathways and brings a sense of reward and motivation. On the other hand, sustained responsibility triggers the release of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which in turn leads to cortisol secretion and keeps the body in a state of vigilance. Noradrenaline improves attention, but if it is overactivated, it interferes with both sleep and emotional regulation. Dopamine’s rewarding potential is counterbalanced by cortisol’s vigilance cost. Similarly, while wealth accumulation stimulates ambition, it also undermines equality.
The Jantelagen is still in effect, but in a different form. It no longer stops people from getting rich; rather, it focuses on how people show off their wealth. Modesty is appreciated, whereas displaying luxury brings about disapproval. This is where ‘wealth porn’ appears: the media both glorifies and criticizes billionaires at the same time, creating public ambivalence—a mix of admiration and suspicion. Egalitarianism still exists, but it now takes the form of critiquing excess rather than denying success.