Authors

• Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. Department for International Development Cooperation

Keywords

Africa, Internet, developing countries, development aid (international), development cooperation, ethics, information sources, international cooperation, mass media, relief aid, social responsibility, voluntary organizations

Abstract

The survey charted Finnish opinion on the country's development co-operation, its objectives, allocation and successfulness. Respondents were asked which geographical areas of the world they think should be the main targets of the co-operation and why. Views on the most important goals and fields for Finland's co-operation were probed. Opinions on the future of African countries and the relationship between Finland's foreign policy and development co-operation policy were canvassed. Some questions pertained to the sources of information on development cooperation and the reliability of information given by Finnish authorities.

Respondents were asked whether they know how much money Finland spends on development co-operation annually (as per cent of the GNI) and how much should be spent. Opinions on the efficiency of development cooperation were charted. One theme covered satisfaction with disaster relief given by Finland. Respondents also evaluated the development co-operation of non-governmental organizations, compared to that of the government. Opinions on whether development co-operation should be bilateral or multilateral and how ethically Finnish firms should act in developing countries were investigated. Respondents were asked about Tobin's tax proposal (tax on international financial transactions). Respondents' contacts with developing countries were charted.

Background variables included respondents' age group, sex, economic activity, occupation, marital status, education, occupation of the household member with highest income, household monthly gross income, household size and composition and regional variables. There were several variables connected to respondents' television watching, Internet use, voting preferences, which newspapers and magazines they read regularly, which shops they use for everyday shopping and ownership of a car, summer cottage, mobile phone, house/apartment, personal computer etc.