Authors

• Foundation for Municipal Development

Keywords

financial resources, informal economy, local finance, local government, local government services, local taxation, municipal government, political power, public services

Abstract

The survey studied public opinion on Finnish municipalities. The respondents were asked to assess different means of improving the financial situation of Finnish municipalities. They estimated which public services and duties could be subjected to retrenchment if the municipalities were to cut down expenses, where economic measures had already been taken, and how the public services in general had developed during the past two years. In addition, they were asked which services they and their families had needed or used. The respondents also stated which services should be provided by the municipality, and which could be provided by, for example, the state, private enterprises, voluntary organisations, or the citizens themselves.

The respondents were asked to assess how much influence certain municipal bodies and interest groups actually have in the respondents' home municipalities. They estimated whether the political power was evenly distributed, and which parties had too much or too little power.

Background variables included the respondent's municipality of residence, the type of locality, the respondent's occupational group, type of employment, sex, basic education, vocational education, phase of life, political views, income bracket of the household, age structure, number of family members, the occupational group of the head of the household, and his/her former occupation (if retired).