Sweden’s cashless society dream isn’t all it’s cracked up to be

An unusual crime spree accelerated Sweden’s move toward a cashless economy.

The first decade of the 21st century saw a series of robberies of banks, merchants and buses in Sweden. The most famous was the 2009 Västberga helicopter robbery, in which thieves made off with £5.5 million [$6.75 million] from the roof of a cash depot building. Anti-cash sentiment captured the public imagination, and unions pushed for digital payments to protect their workers from theft.

Sweden’s economy operates with very little cash – only 1% of its GDP, as of early 2018. For many retail business owners, accepting digital payments is more secure and convenient. Counting ...