Table 1 Municipality characteristics in 2006 [40, 41]

Municipality A

(Oxelösund)

Land area 36 km²

11,000 inhabitants (310/km²)

A sixth foreign born

Average length of life ♀ 82 years, ♂ 77

1,900 lived and worked in the municipality

The municipality employed a fifth, a single manufacturing industry half, with the remainder in docks, public services, private companies, etc.

800 outward commuters

Mainly a Social Democratic Party majority

Municipality B

(Strängnäs)

Land area 980 km^{2 (2007)}

30,200 inhabitants (40/km²)

A tenth foreign born

Average length of life ♀ 82 years, ♂ 78

4,100 lived and worked in the municipality

The municipality employed a forth, small and medium-sized enterprises in manufacturing and pharmaceuticals a fifth, with the remainder in private and public service companies, etc.

3,600 outward commuters

Coalition of mainly the Conservative and Centre Party

Municipality C

(Fagersta)

Land area 312 km²

12,300 inhabitants (45/km²)

A fifth foreign born

Average length of life ♀ 86 years, ♂ 76

2,400 lived and worked in the municipality

The municipality employed less than a fifth, engineering and manufacturing industries a half, with the remainder in private and public service companies

500 outward commuters

Social Democratic Party dominance in the 1980s. Since 1998 a Left Party majority

Municipality D

(Sala)

Land area

1,211 km²

21,700 inhabitants (20/km²)

A tenth foreign born

Average length of life ♀ 82 years, ♂ 79

3,100 lived and worked in the municipality

The municipality employed a third, small and middle-sized trade and manufacturing enterprises a sixth, with the remainder in private and public service companies, and in forestry and agriculture

2,100 outward commuters

Mainly a coalition of the Centre and Conservative parties. Not always a clear majority for the coalition