Erik Thedéen took over the post as governor of the Riksbank at the turn of the year, and he takes office at a time when, to say the least, a troubled financial situation.
Rising inflation, higher interest rates and skyrocketing electricity prices have slowed down the Swedish economy.
The low interest rate situation has led to many people taking out high mortgages and when interest rates rise, the financial system becomes vulnerable, warns Erik Thedéen.
- There has been a story that there would be low interest rates for a long time to come, he says and predicts that more people will tie the interest rates.
Want to do like Norway
Floating interest in a shaky economic situation he compares to a house catching fire that is not insured.
Now the households will instead learn the advantage it can mean with a fixed interest rate, he believes.
Erik Thedéen says that he is of the firm opinion that the amortization requirements should remain.
During the election campaign, the Moderates promised that it would be paused, a promise that has been toned down since then.
- They have led to a healthier amortization culture and a healthier loan culture and they reduce the risk of the banks competing for amortization-free loans.
He highlights again that the inquiry proposal on new statistics on household assets and debts is an important issue.
- Registers of household assets and liabilities have long been in place in Norway and Denmark and are used both by central banks and researchers, says Thedéen and continues:
- The lack of such statistics in Sweden limits the conditions in the analysis of important issues linked to financial stability and monetary policy.