Study title

Finnish Local Government Barometer 2004: Members of Municipal Councils

Dataset ID Number

FSD2094

Persistent identifier

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2094

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Foundation for Municipal Development

Abstract

The survey charted councillor opinions on citizen influence and participation, municipal decision-making, municipal services, and municipal mergers. Councillor characteristics and policies were also studied.

First, the respondents were asked to what extent they agreed with several statements relating to municipal referendums, ways of increasing citizen influence and participation, and the role of councillors and political parties in municipal decision-making. Opinions on the sufficiency of local government service provision (e.g. schools, child day care, primary health care) were studied. One question explored the characteristics of the councillors and policies they promote (e.g. oppose cuts in municipal service provision, well-educated, active in fighting corruption). The respondents were asked to what extent a number of opinions and statements corresponded with their own views on municipal administration and services.

Views were also probed on what kind of impact a merger of the municipality with a neighbouring municipality/municipalities would have on citizen influence, standard of living, housing construction, public transport, shopping facilities, education, municipal taxes and services, etc. Background variables included the number of inhabitants in the municipality, the respondent's gender and political party identification.

Keywords

councillors; local government; local government policy; local government services; municipalities; political influence

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Elites and leadership (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Government, political systems and organisations (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Elections (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Finnish Local Government Barometers

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

The dataset is (B) available for research, teaching and study.

Data Collector

• TNS Gallup Finland

Data Producers

• Foundation for Municipal Development

Time Period Covered

2004

Collection Dates

2004-05-10 – 2004-06-28

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

Councillors of Finnish municipalities (excluding the Åland Island municipalities)

Time Method

Longitudinal: Trend/Repeated cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Information not available

Collection Mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Paper

Research Instrument

Structured questionnaire

Response Rate

51.7

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: Finnish.

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

Data Version

2.0

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

At the moment, the archive does not have any information on the sampling procedure.

The archive does not have the questionnaire.

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

Foundation for Municipal Development: Finnish Local Government Barometer 2004: Members of Municipal Councils [dataset]. Version 2.0 (2018-07-18). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2094

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 Materials

Kansalaismielipide ja kunnat : ilmapuntari 2004 (2004). Helsinki : Kunnallisalan kehittämissäätiö. - (Polemia-sarja; 55).

Related Publications

Kansalaismielipide ja kunnat: ilmapuntari 2004 (2004). Helsinki: Kunnallisalan kehittämissäätiö. Polemia-sarja; 55.

Saarinen, Arttu (2008). Yksityinen sosiaali- ja terveydenhuolto Lapissa ja Pohjois-Karjalassa. Teoksessa: Hyvinvointivaltion kilpailuttaminen. (toim. Forma, Pauli & Niemelä, Mikko & Saarinen, Arttu), 72-84. Helsinki: Kunnallisalan kehittämissäätiö. Kunnat ja kilpailu -sarjan julkaisu;7.

Laiho, Anna (2013) Kuntalaisten ja kunnanvaltuutettujen mielipiteet kunnallisista palveluista 2000-luvulla. Turku: Turun yliopisto. Sosiaalipolitiikan pro gradu -tutkielma.