SGI 2024 | Finland | Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Recent Governments Experts

SGI experts on Finland

Heikki Hiilamo

Heikki Hiilamo currently works at the Department of Social Policy, University of Helsinki. Heikki does research in Social Policy and tobacco control.

Kati Kuitto

Kati Kuitto is Senior Researcher at the Finnish Centre for Pensions, Helsinki. Her research interests include comparative welfare state research, pension policies, the political performance of Central and Eastern European post-communist states, policy diffusion, the political system of Finland as well as methods of comparative political science. Kati studied political science at the Freie Universität Berlin and holds a PhD from the University of Greifswald (2012). She is the author of Post-Communist Welfare States in European Context: Patterns of Welfare Policies in Central and Eastern Europe (Edward Elgar 2016) as well as articles among others in the Journal of European Social Policy, the European Political Science Review and the Journal of Public Health. Together with Prof. Lyle Scruggs and Prof. Detlef Jahn, Kati is Principal Investigator of the Comparative Welfare Entitlement Dataset CWED2 project.

Mi Ah Schøyen (Coordinator)

Mi Ah Schoyen is Senior Researcher at NOVA Norwegian Social Research. She holds a PhD in political and social sciences from the European University Institute and works mainly in the field of comparative welfare state research. Her interests include the welfare mix, the politics and social consequences of welfare state reforms, intergenerational solidarity and the interplay between climate and social policy. She has published on topics such as the Nordic welfare state model, the eco-social agenda in Europe and cross-national comparisons of consequences of early job insecurity. She has experience from several large collaborative international research projects.

A significant shift in sustainable governance occurred in Finland when Sanna Marin’s center-left government was replaced by Petteri Orpo’s right-wing government in June 2023. Marin’s government was known for placing a strong emphasis on ecological and social sustainability, while Orpo’s government primarily focuses on a sustainable economy.

According to the Orpo government program, the foundation of prosperity lies in fostering a sustainable economy. The government aims to narrow the disparity between overall government revenue and expenditure and reverse the trend of escalating public debt in Finland. However, the program also emphasizes that the primary objective of economic policy is to achieve growth that is environmentally and socially responsible.

The government recognizes that the transition to clean energy and technologies presents Finland with opportunities to generate employment, boost exports, foster economic growth and enhance overall prosperity.

Promoting sustainable governance in Finland remains a key focus, as the country ranks among the wealthiest and happiest globally. The government of Finland acknowledges that sustainable development aims to secure a high-quality living environment for both current and future generations. The National Commission on Sustainable Development, led by the prime minister, is responsible for incorporating international sustainable development goals into national policies. In its upcoming tenure, the Commission will focus on expediting the implementation of the Global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and actively monitoring and evaluating the progress of Agenda 2030 within Finland.

Finland aims to play a prominent role in climate policy, emphasizing the importance of preserving the country’s clean and natural environment. Priorities include addressing biodiversity loss and ensuring the availability of clean and affordable energy. However, the means to attain these goals are less ambitious than those of the previous government. The Orpo government states that a resilient and dedicated Finland is characterized by stability, reliability, and a commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law. Previous achievements demonstrate that Finland values equality, especially gender equality.

Despite cuts in public spending, primarily in social security income transfers, the welfare state remains a crucial factor in citizens’ contentment. This robust foundation positioned Finland favorably with regard to tackling pandemic challenges, with fewer vulnerabilities compared to other nations. In managing the COVID-19 crisis, Finland experienced relatively low death rates but faced substantial economic repercussions and elevated unemployment rates. The government successfully alleviated these challenges by implementing measures to support businesses, safeguard workers against income loss and compensate for revenue declines, thus maintaining essential services. The Finnish COVID-19 strategy leveraged a well-functioning healthcare system and an extended welfare state, which contributed to the mitigation of economic impacts.

Since Russia’s full-scale attack on Ukraine, the security landscape in Finland has transformed. A few months after the invasion, Finland became a NATO member. Domestic political debates now center mostly on military security issues. In late 2023, Russia launched a hybrid attack against Finland by sending refugees over the border. Finland responded by closing all border access points with Russia. The ongoing crisis with Russia has consumed media space and resources, diverting attention from other sustainable governance topics. The change in government has also resulted in a major shift in migration policy, as the new government is clearly less welcoming to migrants than its predecessor. The influence of the True Finns party is also evident in the development aid policy, with Finland showing less dedication to expressing global solidarity.

Citations:

Orpo, Petteri. 2023. Government Program: A Strong and Committed Finland.
Publications of the Finnish Government. 2023. https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/governments/government-programme#/