Socialism isn't necessarily about taking away economic freedom, there are versions of market socialism that may be considered economically free. Socialism is ,theoretically , the transition state between capitalism and communism, so capitalists might still exist in a socialist state, but not a communist state where they are completely abolished. Socialism therefore is about disempowering capitalists and empowering workers until one day the workers hold all the power and cast off the capitalist. This can be done in many ways from a revolution to sieze the means of production to a progressive tax that takes away capitalist wealth.

Most modern socialists in the west realize without a large scale crisis the likes of the great depression, the people won't support a revolution. The best they can do is to disempower the capitalists with tactics allowed in the current system. These tactics, trade unionism, welfare states, progressive taxes, nationalization of industries are all in heavy use in the Nordic countries, and imo contribute significantly to their happiness.

Socialism is measured by the power of the workers, not the control of the market.

I've had so many debates with people who say "socialism is a success, it works in Scandinavia".

And I'm like, when have the Scandinavian and Nordic countries ever been socialist?