Study title

Welfare Survey 1996

Dataset ID Number

FSD1228

Persistent identifier

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD1228

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Social Insurance Institution of Finland
• University of Turku. Department of Social Policy

Abstract

The survey charted Finnish perceptions of social security. Respondents were asked about the their own and spouse's/partner's job, length of the contract, employment sector, working hours, wages, the nature of their job, interest in job sharing and whether they or spouses/partners had been unemployed or laid off during the past three years. Interest in changing their economic activity (e.g. by taking a part-time job, retiring, founding an enterprise) was queried. Unemployed or laid off respondents were asked how long they had been out of work and how soon they expected to find a job. Further questions pertained to unemployment benefits, participation in job training and standard of living.

State of health was examined by asking whether respondents had chronic illnesses or health problems affecting their everyday life or ability to work. Chronically ill persons were asked whether they needed regular medical care, rehabilitation or prescription drugs. Experiences of burnout, insomnia or absent-mindedness were charted. Social relationships were studied by asking about close relationships and frequency of contacts. Respondents were asked whether there had been any major changes in their life recently and did they feel they could influence their own life, other people and social issues. One topic covered voting in the 1994 presidential elections, in the 1994 EU referendum and in the 1995 parliamentary elections.

The survey carried a set of attitudinal statements relating to e.g. social and health services, social security, public sector financing, means-tested social benefits, universal basic income (UBI, citizen's income), taxation and income disparity. The extent to which respondents felt able to control their life was surveyed by asking how often they felt uncertainty or indifference, felt their actions were meaningless or that their life was interesting. Confidence in their own ability to solve problems or co-operate with others was assessed. Values were charted by asking how important the following things are to the respondent: religion, religious values, political participation, health services, social services, work, nature, education opportunities, neighbourhood, consumer opportunities, culture, world peace, science and high standard of living.

One topic covered household income, expenses and social benefits received. Further questions covered various aspects of housing (tenure, size, satisfaction with neighbourhood, expenses). Respondents' satisfaction with and changes in their standard of living were charted. Opinions on the minimum level of income support were canvassed. Finally, respondents were asked whether they felt poor or debt-laden.

Background variables included respondents' sex, year of birth, marital status, household structure, basic and vocational education, respondents' and spouses' economic activity and occupation.

Keywords

health; housing; interpersonal relations; poverty; satisfaction; social security; social security benefits; social values; social welfare finance; unemployment; welfare; working conditions

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Social welfare policy (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Welfare Surveys

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

The dataset is (D) available only by permission from the data depositor/creator.

Data Collector

• Social Security Institution of Finland
• University of Turku. Department of Social Policy

Data Producers

• Social Insurance Institution of Finland
• University of Turku. Department of Social Policy

Time Period Covered

1996

Collection Dates

1996-04-17 – 1996-06-26

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Household

Universe

Finland's population aged 18-74

Time Method

Longitudinal: Trend/Repeated cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Probability

A randomly selected, representative sample of Finland's 18-74-year-old population. The sample of 4200 persons was selected from Finland's population register. 64 persons had to be removed from the sample (address unknown, deceased etc.). Response rate was 71,3 per cent and 2949 completed questionnaires were returned. There were three follow-up mailings.

Non-response analysis was made by comparing respondents' economic activity, age, place of residence, household structure and sex to the data of Population Register and Statistics Finland. Unemployed were a bit overrepresented and working population correspondingly underrepresented. The age group 25-44 was underrepresented by 2,5 per cent and other age groups overrepresented by nearly one per cent. Women were overrepresented by two per cent. Single parents were underrepresented and correspondingly married couples with children overrepresented. On the whole, the sample was representative of the whole population.

Collection Mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Paper

Research Instrument

Structured questionnaire

Response Rate

71.3

Data File Language

Downloaded data package may contain different language versions of the same files.

The data files of this dataset are available in the following languages: English and Finnish.

FSD translates quantitative data into English on request, free of charge. More information on ordering data translation.

Number of Cases and Variables

184 variables and 2946 cases.

Data Version

2.0

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

The category labels for variables q6_3, q10_1, q10_2, q10_3, q13_1, q13_2, q13_3 and q18 are missing. The category value 0 of the variable q19 probably includes both missing values and persons with an employment contract shorter than one year. The categories of questions q14 and q15 differ from those presented in the questionnaire.

The variable identifying municipality has been removed from the data. The answers connected to the last category (open-ended question) of variables q4, q8, q11, q27, q30, q44 and q46_14 are missing. The answers to the open-ended question connected with variable q37 are missing.

Weighting

There are no weight variables in the data.

Citation Requirement

The data and its creators shall be cited in all publications and presentations for which the data have been used. The bibliographic citation may be in the form suggested by the archive or in the form required by the publication.

Bibliographical Citation

Social Insurance Institution of Finland & University of Turku: Welfare Survey 1996 [dataset]. Version 2.0 (2018-08-20). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD1228

Deposit Requirement

Notify FSD of all publications where you have used the data by sending the citation information to user-services.fsd@tuni.fi.

Disclaimer

The original data creators and the archive bear no responsibility for any results or interpretations arising from the reuse of the data.

Related Publications

Rasinkangas, Jarkko (1998). Hyvinvointi ja työmarkkina-asema: tutkimus hyvinvoinnista eri työmarkkina-asemissa ja työmarkkina-aseman muuttamisen valmiuksista. Helsinki: Kansaneläkelaitos. Sosiaali- ja terveysturvan tutkimuksia; 33.

Lindholm, Hanna (2001). Suomalaisen hyvinvoinnin muutokset 1995-2000. Helsinki: Kansaneläkelaitos. Sosiaali- ja terveysturvan tutkimuksia; 63.