FSD3431 ISSP 2019: Social Inequality V: Finnish Data

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Study title

ISSP 2019: Social Inequality V: Finnish Data

Dataset ID Number

FSD3431

Persistent identifier

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3431

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

  • International Social Survey Programme (ISSP)
  • Melin, Harri (Tampere University. Faculty of Social Sciences)

Other Identification/Acknowledgements

  • Tampere University. Finnish Social Science Data Archive (FSD)
  • Laaksonen, Helena (Tampere University. Finnish Social Science Data Archive (FSD))
  • Borg, Sami (Tampere University. Faculty of Management and Business)
  • Aarnio, Anna-Riikka (Statistics Finland)
  • Nieminen, Markku (Statistics Finland)

Abstract

The 2019 International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) studied economic inequality in Finland. The respondents' attitudes were surveyed on income disparity between social groups, occupations and societies as well as which actors in society should solve these disparities. In addition, the survey charted the respondents' socio-economic situation, Finnish taxation, and conflicts between social groups. The previous ISSP survey regarding inequality was collected in 2009.

First, the respondents' opinions were charted concerning the importance of different factors for succeeding in life, such as parents' wealth, ambition, social networks, corruption, or gender. Additionally, views were canvassed on fairness of differences in wealth between rich and poor countries. The respondents were also asked to estimate what persons in different occupations earned (euros/month, gross) and what the respondents thought they ought to be paid.

Next, the respondents were presented with a set of statements that they were asked to agree or disagree with on a 5-point Likert scale. The questions concerned, for example, whether income disparity was too great in Finland, who should intervene with income disparity, whether the policies of the government were justified and whether the current level of taxation was justified. The respondents also placed themselves on a 10-point scale according to whether they considered themselves to be at the top or the bottom in society - currently, in childhood home and ten years into the future. Their views were also enquired on which factors they deemed important in deciding one's level of pay.

Views on the hierarchical structure of society were examined by showing the respondents five figures representing differently built societies and asking which of the figures corresponded most closely to the situation in the respondent's own country, and which figure corresponded most closely to an optimal situation. The respondents were also asked questions regarding their economic situation at the time of the survey.

Background variables included, for instance, gender, year of birth, region of residence (NUTS2), occupation, educational background, religious affiliation, which party the respondent voted for in previous elections, number of children, income, marital status, and statistical grouping of municipalities (urban, semi-urban, rural). The survey also included questions concerning the respondent's spouse/partner and parents' occupations.

Keywords

equal opportunity; income; income distribution; qualifications; social class; social conflict; social inequality; social justice; social stratification; social success; status in employment; taxation; wage determination

Topic Classification

Series

ISSP (International Social Survey Programme)

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

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

Data Collector

  • Statistics Finland

Time Period Covered

2019

Collection Dates

2019-09-13 – 2019-12-31

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

People aged 15 - 74 residing in Finland

Time Method

Longitudinal: Trend/Repeated cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Probability: Systematic random

The respondents were drawn from the Finnish population register using systematic random sampling. Sample size was 2,500 persons, of whom 991 responded. Before sampling, the population was sorted according to municipality of residence and time of birth. Respondents were reached out to a maximum of six times using invitation letters, e-mail and paper questionnaires mailed to respondents. Total non-response was 1,509 persons, of which 7 were unable to respond, 7 denied, 2 were otherwise disqualified and 1,493 had unknown reason for non-response.

Collection Mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Web-based (CAWI)

Self-administered questionnaire: Paper

Research Instrument

Structured questionnaire

Response Rate

39.6

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

3.0

Related Datasets

FSD2514 ISSP 2009: Social Inequality IV: Finnish Data

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

To prevent identification of respondents, the following anonymisation measures were taken: open-ended variable k52muu of the type "other, please specify" charting ethnic group was deleted; variable bv2 denoting region of residence was classified into NUTS2 major regions; variables k53a-k53c charting number of persons in the household and variables k54-k55 charting income were top-coded; parents' countries of birth in k58a-k58b were coarsened; rare categories were combined in k47 charting religious communities. Additionally, responses from persons residing in the Åland Islands were classified as missing values in variables k47 (religious communities), k52_1 and k52_2 (ethnic group), k11a, k21a, k44a, and k44b (respondent's and their spouse's and parents' occupation) and k58a and k58b (parents' countries of birth).

Weighting

The data contain two weight variables, which were created using a calibration method in order to improve estimation efficiency and to correct non-response bias. The weights are based on the following population distributions: 1) gender, 2) age groups (15-24, 25-34, ..., 65-74), 3) NUTS3 regions so that Greater Helsinki area was treated separately, and 4) municipality type (urban, semi-urban, rural). The first weight variable (bv6) weights the results to match the whole Finnish population (the sum of the weights equals the size of the Finnish population). The second weight variable (bv5) does not produce this kind of extension (the weighted mean is 1 and the sum equals the number of cases). Both variables are based on the same calibration process, only the scale is different.

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

International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) & Melin, Harri (Tampere University): ISSP 2019: Social Inequality V: Finnish Data [dataset]. Version 3.0 (2020-06-16). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3431

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 Tooltip

Virkki, Juhana (2020) Välttämättömyyksien valtakunnassa. Tutkielma vaurauden valtijoista. Pro gradu -tutkielma, Helsingin yliopisto. http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:hulib-202012285560

Kotiranta, Laura (2021). Pienituloisuuden yhteys taloudellisen ja sosiaalisen eriarvoisuuden kokemuksiin Suomessa. Helsinki: Helsingin yliopisto. Maisterintutkielma. http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:hulib-202109083668

Zitting, Joakim (2021). Luottamus heikommassa asemassa olevien keskuudessa. Diakonia-ammattikorkeakoulu, Dialogi 2.9.2021. Luettavissa: http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2021053132338

Hirvonen, Laura (2023). Katsaus hyvinvointivaltion tulonjaon trendeihin: Puoluekannatuksen yhteys suomalaisten tuloeroasenteisiin. Yhteiskuntatieteiden kandidaatintutkielma. Tampere: Tampereen yliopisto.

Study description in machine readable DDI-C 2.5 format

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