Study title

Finnish Local Government Strategies for Cutting Expenditure 1998

Dataset ID Number

FSD1192

Persistent identifier

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD1192

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Ståhlberg, Krister (Åbo Akademi University. Institute for Comparative Nordic Politics and Administration)
• Kettunen, Pekka (Åbo Akademi University. Institute for Comparative Nordic Politics and Administration)

Abstract

The data have been collected as part of a research programme studying municipal priorities, financed by the Swedish Association of Local Authorities (Svenska kommunförbundet). The programme compared the strategies used by Finnish and Swedish municipalities to cope with the economic recession in the 1990s.

In the survey, municipal managers were asked to compare their municipality's financial difficulties to that of other municipalities. Respondents evaluated how successful the strategies and policies adopted by their municipality had been. The nature of the problems, and main obstacles in overcoming them were charted. The questionnaire listed a large number of strategies for cutting expenditure, and respondents were asked to indicate to what degree the municipality had used these strategies. Strategies listed included, among others, tax rises, higher fees for services, borrowing, delaying investments, job cuts, changes in the employment terms and conditions of municipal staff, local bargaining, service cuts, outsourcing, changes in decision-making systems, increased co-operation between different sectors and municipalities, competitive tendering, restructuring. The survey also studied the ways in which municipalities sought to gain the support of residents for these strategies and agreed priorities.

One topic pertained to how much central government policy changes (e.g. in taxation policy, regulations concerning local government service production, state subsidies) affected municipal finances. Respondents were asked about the impact of the cuts and other recovery measures on municipal administration, care of the elderly, social services, education, health care, cultural services, housing, maintenance, technical services and environment. Respondents compared the situation in their municipality to that of other municipalities as regards the opposition offered by residents, the degree of public support gained for the adopted measures, and the ease or difficulty of making rationalisation decisions.

The data contain one background variable: the name of the municipality.

Keywords

central government; economic policy; economic recession; local finance; local finance; local government; outsourcing; privatization; public services

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Government, political systems and organisations (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Social welfare policy (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Economic policy, public expenditure and revenue (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Individual datasets

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

The dataset is (B) available for research, teaching and study.

Data Collector

• Ståhlberg, Krister (Åbo Akademi University. Institute for Comparative Nordic Politics and Administration)
• Kettunen, Pekka (Åbo Akademi University. Institute for Comparative Nordic Politics and Administration)

Data Producers

• Åbo Akademi University. Institute for Comparative Nordic Politics and Administration

Time Period Covered

1998

Collection Dates

1998-05 – 1998

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland, Alahärmä, Alajärvi, Alastaro, Alavieska, Alavus, Anttola, Asikkala, Askainen, Aura, Elimäki, Enonkoski, Enontekiö, Eura, Eurajoki, Evijärvi, Forssa, Haapajärvi, Hailuoto, Halikko, Halsua, Hamina, Hankasalmi, Hanko, Harjavalta, Hartola, Haukipudas, Haukivuori, Helsinki, Vantaa, Hirvensalmi, Hollola, Houtskari, Huittinen, Humppila, Hämeenkyrö, Hämeenlinna, Iisalmi, Iitti, Ikaalinen, Ilmajoki, Ilomantsi, Inari, Inkoo, Iniö, Isojoki, Imatra, Jaala, Janakkala, Joensuu, Jokioinen, Joroinen, Juankoski, Jurva, Juuka, Juupajoki, Jyväskylä, Jämsä, Jämsänkoski, Jäppilä, Kaarina, Kaavi, Kalajoki, Kalvola, Kangasala, Kangasniemi, Kankaanpää, Kannonkoski, Karijoki, Karinainen, Karjaa, Karkkila, Karvia, Kauhajoki, Kauhava, Kaustinen, Keitele, Kemi, Kemiö, Kempele, Kerava, Kerimäki, Kestilä, Kesälahti, Kihniö, Kiikala, Kiikoinen, Kiiminki, Kinnula, Kisko, Kitee, Kittilä, Kiuruvesi, Kodisjoki, Kokemäki, Kokkola, Kolari, Konnevesi, Korppoo, Korsnäs, Kortesjärvi, Koski Hl, Koski Tl, Kotka, Kristiinankaupunki, Kruunupyy, Kuhmalahti, Kuhmoinen, Kuorevesi, Kurikka, Kuusamo, Kuusankoski, Kuusjoki, Kylmäkoski, Kyyjärvi, Kälviä, Kärkölä, Kärsämäki, Köyliö, Kemijärvi, Lahti, Laihia, Lammi, Lapinlahti, Lappajärvi, Lappeenranta, Lappi, Lapua, Laukaa, Lavia, Lehtimäki, Leivonmäki, Lempäälä, Lemu, Leppävirta, Lestijärvi, Lieksa, Lieto, Liljendal, Liminka, Liperi, Lohtaja, Loimaa, the Municipality of Loimaa, Loppi, Luhanka, Lumijoki, Luumäki, Luvia, Längelmäki, Lohja, Maalahti, Maksamaa, Marttila, Masku, Mellilä, Merijärvi, Merikarvia, Merimasku, Mietoinen, Mikkeli, Muhos, Muonio, Mustasaari, Muurame, Mynämäki, Myrskylä, Mäntsälä, Mänttä, Mäntyharju, Naantali, Nakkila, Nilsiä, Nokia, Noormarkku, Nousiainen, Nummi-Pusula, Nurmes, Nurmijärvi, Nurmo, Närpiö, Oravainen, Orimattila, Oripää, Orivesi, Oulainen, Oulu, Oulunsalo, Parainen, Padasjoki, Parkano, Pelkosenniemi, Perho, Pernaja, Perniö, Pertunmaa, Peräseinäjoki, Petäjävesi, Pieksämäen mlk, Pielavesi, Pietarsaari, the Rural Municipality of Pietarsaari, Pihtipudas, Piikkiö, Piippola, Pirkkala, Pohja, Polvijärvi, Pori, Pornainen, Posio, Pudasjärvi, Punkaharju, Punkalaidun, Puumala, Pyhtää, Pyhäjoki, Pyhäjärvi, Pylkönmäki, Pälkäne, Pöytyä, Porvoo, Raisio, Rantasalmi, Rauma, Rautalampi, Rautjärvi, Reisjärvi, Renko, Riihimäki, Ristiina, Rovaniemi, Ruokolahti, Ruovesi, Rusko, Rääkkylä, Ruukki, Saari, Saarijärvi, Sahalahti, Salo, Sauvo, Savukoski, Seinäjoki, Siikainen, Siikajoki, Simo, Sipoo, Anjalankoski, Siuntio, Sodankylä, Soini, Sotkamo, Sulkava, Suodenniemi, Suolahti, Suomenniemi, Suomussalmi, Suonenjoki, Sysmä, Säkylä, Särkisalo, Vaala, Taivalkoski, Taivassalo, Tammela, Tammisaari, Tampere, Tarvaskoski, Temmes, Tervo, Teuva, Tohmajärvi, Toholampi, Toivakka, Tornio, Turku, Pello, Tyrnävä, Ullava, Urjala, Utajärvi, Uurainen, Uusikaarlepyy, Uusikaupunki, Vahto, Valkeakoski, Valkeala, Vammala, Varkaus, Vehkalahti, Vehmaa, Velkua, Vesanto, Vesilahti, Västanfjärd, Veteli, Vihanti, Vihti, Viiala, Viitasaari, Viljakkala, Vilppula, Vimpeli, Virtasalmi, Värtsilä, Vöyri, Ylihärmä, Yli-Ii, Ylikiiminki, Ylistaro, Ylitornio, Ylivieska, Yläne, Ylöjärvi, Ypäjä, Äetsä, Ähtäri, Äänekoski

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Political-administrative area (Municipality)

Universe

Finnish municipalities

Time Method

Cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Total universe/Complete enumeration

The questionnaire was posted to the municipal managers of all Finnish municipalities. 318 managers responded.

Collection Mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Paper

Research Instrument

Structured questionnaire

Response Rate

73

Data File Language

Downloaded data package may contain different language versions of the same files.

The data files of this dataset are available in the following languages: Finnish.

FSD translates quantitative data into English on request, free of charge. More information on ordering data translation.

Data Version

1.1

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

The data do not contain responses to the open-ended question 14.

Weighting

There are no weight variables in the data.

Citation Requirement

The data and its creators shall be cited in all publications and presentations for which the data have been used. The bibliographic citation may be in the form suggested by the archive or in the form required by the publication.

Bibliographical Citation

Ståhlberg, Krister (Åbo Akademi University) & Kettunen, Pekka (Åbo Akademi University): Finnish Local Government Strategies for Cutting Expenditure 1998 [dataset]. Version 1.1 (2004-05-06). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD1192

Deposit Requirement

Notify FSD of all publications where you have used the data by sending the citation information to user-services.fsd@tuni.fi.

Disclaimer

The original data creators and the archive bear no responsibility for any results or interpretations arising from the reuse of the data.

Related Publications

Ståhlberg, Krister (1999). Anpassningspolitiken i finländska och svenska kommuner under 90-talet - en jämförelse. Kommunal ekonomi och politik 3(1).