Authors

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

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

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.