Authors

• International Social Survey Programme (ISSP)
• Blom, Raimo (University of Tampere. Department of Social Research)
• Melin, Harri (University of Tampere. Department of Social Research)
• Tanskanen, Eero (Statistics Finland. Interview and Survey Services)

Keywords

conflict, corruption, hierarchy, income distribution, social class, social conflict, social inequality, taxation, wage determination

Abstract

The survey charted views on social inequality in Finland. The questions and statements covered topics such as working and studying, important things for succeeding in life, and the taxation in various income brackets.

Some questions charted income disparity. The respondents were asked about whether it is just or unjust that people with higher incomes can buy better health care and better education for their children than people with lower incomes. Views were probed on how much the respondents thought various occupational groups earn, as well as how much they should earn. In addition, the respondents were asked about the amount of conflict between different social groups, and where they would put themselves and their childhood family on a social scale.

The respondents indicated their parents' jobs at the time they themselves were 15 years of age, and they were asked whether their own present job had higher or lower status compared to their parents' jobs. In addition, they were asked about their parents' occupations and type of employer. The industry of employment of the respondents' first employer was charted, as well as the respondents' occupation in their first place of work. In view of their current job, type of employer and present occupation were queried. Views were also canvassed on whether the respondents experienced their pay to be just or unjust.

The respondents were presented with five diagrams showing different types of hierarchy in society and asked to indicate which of them corresponded best with Finnish society. They were also asked what they thought Finnish society should be like. The number of books in childhood home present home was charted. The respondents' wealth was investigated by asking whether there would be any money left if they sold their home and paid off their mortgage. In addition, the respondents were also asked whether there would be any money left if they converted their savings, stocks, or bonds they owned to cash and paid off any personal debts they had.

Background variables included the respondent's gender, age, marital status, level and duration of education, employment status, occupation, spouse's employment status and occupation, and variables related to social background such as parents' level of education.