Swedish entrepreneur Stefan Krook wants to upgrade the world’s economic system

Stefan Krook’s new book The Laghum Economy will be published by Volante in November 2025.

How can an entrepreneur do good – in a truly meaningful way?

This is a question Swedish entrepreneur Stefan Krook has asked himself many times throughout his life. His answer has resulted in companies that for more than 20 years have donated all their profits to charity, as well as impact-driven businesses like Kivra, whose operations annually save the equivalent of 50,000 trees in paper use and transportation.

Despite the success, Stefan Krook has realized that the way we currently work and run businesses does not “add up to a sustainable future.” 

So how can society harness the power of the market economy without depleting the planet?

This question is the starting point for his new book, The Laghum Economy, to be published by Volante at the end of November. The book presents a concrete vision for how markets and sustainability can go hand in hand.

– It’s about upgrading the system so that we get an economy that encourages and stimulates what economics is really about – managing limited resources wisely. Creating increased prosperity within the planet’s boundaries, says Stefan Krook.

Laghum is old Norse (old Swedish) meaning “in balance with what is right, according to law”. It is the origin of the modern Swedish word lagom. The balance that Stefan believes humanity has lost is the balance with nature. His goal is to correct what he describes as “the greatest market failure in human history”: the fact that markets fail to properly price natural resources. His solution, he argues, lies in tax reform – taxing resource use instead of labor.

In January 2025, Stefan Krook was appointed the Stockholm School of Economics’ first Practitioner in Residence at the House of Innovation. Based at SSE, he has developed the ideas now embodied in the concept that is Laghum Economy. Even before the book’s publication, his ideas have started to attract significant attention. Several prominent figures have expressed their support, including Karl-Johan Persson, Chairman of H&M Group, and Gunhild Stordalen, thought leader and founder of EAT Foundation. 

Sara Kappelmark, CEO of Norrsken Foundation:

– Laghum Economy by Stefan Krook is the most visionary and inspiring, yet deeply pragmatic path I’ve seen to upgrade our economic system to benefit people and planet.

Lisen Schultz, deputy director for the Stockholm Resilience Centre, says:

– Systems change happens when a brilliant idea is nurtured by just the right people, at just the right time. To me, The Laghum Economy and the growing community around it holds a seed to a prosperous future. With this book, Stefan Krook invites us all to be part of the journey - towards a world where welfare and wellbeing is generated within the planetary boundaries.

The book is written and published in English to reach an international audience and will be available worldwide through Amazon. 

Stefan Krook is available for interviews and events in November and December. 

Title: Laghum Economy - A New Brief for a Healthy Planet

Author: Stefan Krook

Publication date: November 25th 2025 

Publishing house: Volante

Book design: Miroslav Sokcic

Photo: Pelle Lundberg

Language: English