Authors

• Sipinen, Josefina (University of Tampere. School of Management)

Keywords

decision making, identity, local government, local government services, place of residence, public image

Abstract

The survey was conducted for a Master's Thesis studying how local resident views on municipal administration and decision-making affected their image of their home town. The target population consisted of people living in the Finnish town of Pieksämäki.

A large number of questions charted opinions on different aspects of life in Pieksämäki. Questions covered, for example, local government politics, work and study, attractiveness of the town, built and natural environment, public and private services, and shopping opportunities and practices. The respondent's identification with neighbourhood and region, media visibility of the town, living conditions, and trust in other people and decision-makers were charted. One theme pertained to different aspects of decision-making, for instance, who had power and how fair decision-making was.

Background variables included, for example, the respondent's classified year of birth, gender, number of underage children, education, marital status, economic activity and political party preference.