Gustav Möller

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Gustav Möller (1884 - 1970) was a prominent Swedish Social democratic politician.

Minister of Social Affairs 1936-38 and 1939-51 he is credited as the creator of the Swedish social security system. Born in an extremely poor family he was discovered by his employer and given an education as an office accountant; however he used it in the service of the labour movement, initially as a leader of its publishing house.

Although a defender of high taxing (and losing the election to the leadership of his party after Per Albin Hansson because of this), he was also a strict master, credited with the quote "Each penny taxed which is not spent properly is theft from the tax-payers".