The Swedish ethical review system has recently come under heavy criticism - criticism that has largely centered on the system’s negative impact on research in the humanities and social sciences. Among other things, it has been claimed that the requirement for ethical review is unnecessarily comprehensive. One way of exploring the reasonableness of the Swedish system is to compare it with the rules and considerations found in other jurisdictions regarding the type of research project that needs to undergo ethical review. This study compares the Swedish system with a sample of systems found in Europe, the USA, Canada, and Australia. A number of exemptions from the requirements of ethical review are identified and discussed. These exemptions that can serve as a starting point for further analyses and changes to the Swedish system
