I don't believe in tips in general...
But I adapt to the local customs when I am abroad.
I am from a working culture of the super high taxed Scandinavian countries
(similar taxes, salaries, culture & customs ).
Tips are common in the restaurant business as a way to get about 10% untaxed money and around 5-10% tips is common but not mandatory.
Everywhere else I would say there is normally no tipping at all. People have salary high enough to make a living and a pride of doing a good job in their respective profession without extra "bribes". Incentives to do a good job is built in the work ethic, I guess.
A waitress or a hairdresser may have similar salary as an engineer after taxes and benefits. Less so nowadays than 20 years ago though, times are a-changing.
Social benefits are wide, e.g. paid parental leave for 18 months and so on.
Healthcare is free for all (200$ yearly total fee for any healthcare). It is a very egalitarian society - at least in theory. University is free also.
from
http://wikitravel.org/en/Sweden:http://wikitravel.org/en/Sweden
"Tipping is not mandatory when dining out. You can tip 5-10%, or round the bill up if you've had a nice experience