Sweden is seen like a role-model in terms of social welfare, health and education in the whole of southern Europe. Literally, I've heard the Scandinavian countries mentioned as something to follow in the parliament.
It can only work because of Scandinavian mentality. These people are terribly strict and almost incorruptible. The level of social control is very high. Maybe it is due to the severe nature over there, but Swedish (and Scandinavians in general) are like robots that obey to the rules. To give you an example:
I took a bus there, and the machine to discount a fare from your electronic multi-pass didn't work. So the driver told me (and others) to "count two fares the next day if I took a bus again". The next day, I saw many people actually DO that. It was a different driver, btw. He didn't know. So people told him that they wanted to pay twice because they had gotten a free ride the day before !
Go and try such a thing in Italy
Nature is not that severe in Scandinavia as you most certainly think (since these countries are in the North and lie close to the Arctic zone, most of which is covered with ice and snow in winter). However, the warm Gulf Stream and winds which accompany it flow along the Norwegian coast, so that almost all of Norway (even its Northern parts) remains free of ice and snow throughout the year...
Swedes are picking strawberry in May
