Tekijät

• Kantola, Anu (University of Helsinki)
• Saikkonen, Paula (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare)
• Vesa, Juho (University of Helsinki)
• Wass, Hanna (University of Helsinki)

Asiasanat

COVID-19, bacterial and virus diseases, economic policy, employment, environment policy, occupational life, political action, political attitudes, social security, unemployment benefits

Sisällön kuvaus

The survey charted Finnish opinions on various policy measures during the coronavirus epidemic. The respondents were with statements on the COVID-19 pandemic, social security, climate policy and possible ways to stimulate the economy and raise employment rates. The data were collected as part of the 'Tackling Biases and Bubbles in Participation' (BIBU) research project, which explores how structural changes in the economy impact policy-making. The BIBU project examines how economic restructuring changes citizens' and decision-makers' political capacities, interests and emotions. The research project is a collaboration between six universities and research institutes, led by Professor Anu Kantola from the University of Helsinki.

First, the respondents' views on various economic policy measures were surveyed with a series of statements. These policy measures included, for example, changes to unemployment benefits, working hours, job alternation leave, terms of employment, and working life in general. In addition to policies related to employment, the survey included statements on education, social security, the COVID-19 pandemic and investment in the future. Views on climate policy were also investigated with a series of statements (e.g. Finland should take a leading role internationally in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Finland's economic competitiveness is more important than addressing climate change).

The respondents' political opinions were surveyed with questions on where they would place themselves on the left-right political scale and which party they would vote for if parliamentary elections were held now. Additionally, the respondents were asked how they would rate their social status in relation to other people, how they felt that their social status had changed during the past five years, how they anticipated their social status would change in the next five years, and what they considered the risk of being made redundant (e.g. due to automation, relocation of production, or financial difficulties of the company) to be in their current job.

Background variables included, among others, the respondent's age, gender, municipality and region of residence, level of education, occupational status, economic activity, and gross personal monthly income.