Study title

Finnish Local Government Barometer 2009: Members of Municipal Councils

Dataset ID Number

FSD2470

Persistent identifier

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2470

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Foundation for Municipal Development

Abstract

The survey charted the attitudes of members of municipal councils towards local government finance and municipal service provision, especially in the light of the current economic recession. First, the respondents were asked whether they were worried about various things, such as the low availability of social and health care services, racism and hostility towards foreigners, criminality, unclean environment, traffic noise, and the development of the municipality's financial situation. They were also presented with a list of various objectives and means of saving related to municipal services, finances, and administration, and asked which of them they would accept during the current economic recession. The objectives included raising the municipal tax rate, outsourcing municipal services, and decreasing the quality of municipal services.

Next, the respondents were presented with a list of targets for public expenditure, such as the maintenance of parks and recreation areas, public transport services, support of business, child day care, and cultural services. They were asked which of these targets could be cut down when the municipalities have to reduce their expenditure. In addition, they estimated how various services, such as schools, social assistance, and health care services, were organised in their municipality of residence. They were also asked which of these services must absolutely be organised by the municipality, and which could be organised by the state, private companies, organisations, or the inhabitants of the municipality. Finally, the respondents were presented with a set of attitudinal statements on the allocation and privatising of municipal services and the power of municipal authorities and elected officials.

Background variables included the respondent's gender, party preference, municipality size, and and the regional council in the area of which the municipality is located.

Keywords

councillors; economic recession; local finance; local government; local government services; municipalities; political influence; political parties; privatization

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Elites and leadership (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Government, political systems and organisations (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Finnish Local Government Barometers

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

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

Data Collector

• TNS Gallup Finland

Data Producers

• Foundation for Municipal Development

Time Period Covered

2009

Collection Dates

2009-04-02 – 2009-05-18

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

Members of municipal councils in Finland (excluding the Åland Islands)

Time Method

Longitudinal: Trend/Repeated cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Probability: Systematic random

The sample was drawn with systematic sampling from among all members of municipal councils in Finland.

Collection Mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Paper

Research Instrument

Structured questionnaire

Response Rate

50.6

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

2.0

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

Foundation for Municipal Development: Finnish Local Government Barometer 2009: Members of Municipal Councils [dataset]. Version 2.0 (2018-07-18). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2470

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 Materials

Kansalaismielipide ja kunnat: Ilmapuntari 2009 (2009). Helsinki: Kunnallisalan kehittämissäätiö. Polemia-sarja; 73.

Related Publications

Kansalaismielipide ja kunnat: Ilmapuntari 2009 (2009). Helsinki: Kunnallisalan kehittämissäätiö. Polemia-sarja; 73.

Laiho, Anna (2013) Kuntalaisten ja kunnanvaltuutettujen mielipiteet kunnallisista palveluista 2000-luvulla. Turku: Turun yliopisto. Sosiaalipolitiikan pro gradu -tutkielma.