Authors

• Finnish Business and Policy Forum (EVA)
• Yhdyskuntatutkimus

Keywords

European Union, attitudes, entrepreneurs, environmental quality, equality between the sexes, identity, institutions, internationalism, market economy, single European currency, social systems, trust, values

Abstract

The survey charted Finnish attitudes and values. The respondents were presented with a series of attitudinal statements covering occupational life, work-life balance, social welfare, environmental issues, influencing, decision-making, political life, economy, globalisation, and political power. Confidence in various actors in society, such as the Parliament, the legal system, the police, various media, the social security system, he education system, and civic organisations was surveyed.

The respondents' views were charted on equality in society and inequities related to income distribution and health, origin and ethnicity, and different generations, age groups, and regions. They were also asked to give their opinions on the importance of various factors (e.g. regulation of world economy, excesses of the American market economy system, mistakes made by the current and previous governments, actions of the media, the market system as such) in causing the current economic depression and unemployment. The respondents also assessed the state of the economy and employment at the time of the survey as well as after one, two and five years.

Further questions probed the respondents' attitudes towards the current Finnish market economy. Views were charted on the freedom of enterprise, competition, sociality, speculation, enterprises exercising a monopoly, the power of the economy, the appreciation of work, the power of the trade unions, hard capitalism, paternalistic socialism, and domestic ownership. In addition, satisfaction with income level, relationships, work, possibilities to influence in society, life in general, municipal welfare services, and the functioning of the economy in everyday life was investigated. Finally, the respondents were asked about their attitudes towards EU membership and replacing the Finnish mark with euro, and whether EMU membership and euro had benefited or harmed Finland in the economic crisis of 2009.

Background variables included the respondent's gender, age group, size of municipality of residence, education, and industry of employment.