Authors

• Centre for Finnish Business and Policy Studies (EVA)
• Yhdyskuntatutkimus

Keywords

European Community, European Union, European integration, banks, economic recession, energy generation, energy policy, information sources, nuclear energy

Abstract

The survey studied Finnish public opinion on the country's potential membership in the European Community. First, the respondents were asked whether the Government had been wrong or right in applying for the membership, and whether the respondents opposed or supported the membership. They were also asked how interested they were in issues connected with European integration and the EC, and how well informed they were of these issues. The survey also investigated opinions on the reliability of various information sources (e.g. radio and television, trade unions, company executives, Prime Minister) on the EC membership issue. Views were probed on the impact of the EC membership on interest rate, taxation, wages, prices, food quality, culture, education, social security, health care, Finland's relations with Russia, crime, etc. The respondents were asked to what extent they agreed with a number of statement relating to the EC and Finland's EC membership.

One set of questions focused on the causes and culprits of economic recession in Finland. Regarding the recession, the respondents were also asked to assess the present and future financial situation of certain banks, and how soon Finland would emerge from the recession. One theme pertained to energy issues: the respondents were asked whether Finland should increase or decrease the use of certain energy sources in electricity generation. Opinions on the construction of a fifth nuclear power plant or the Vuotos reservoir were charted, and likewise perceptions of major energy companies.

Background variables included the respondent's gender, age group, size of the municipality, province of residence, basic and vocational education, economic activity, employment sector, and which political party R would vote for if the parliamentary elections were held at that time.