The first two Rural Finland barometers were conducted as part of the Landmarks Programme (2010-2012) of the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra. The barometers provide information on the relationship of the Finns to the countryside and on their ideas for its future. Respondents are Finnish citizens, business managers, public sector decision-makers, media representatives, and countryside experts. Datasets from the survey have been archived at FSD Archive since 2009.
The Rural Finland survey explores the meaning and future of rural areas. The aim of the survey is to provide information on how Finns perceive the countryside. The study is a continuation of the surveys conducted in the Landmarks Programme of the Finnish Innovation Fund (Sitra) in 2009 and 2011. The aim of this part of the survey is to explore Finnish citizens' perceptions of the different regions of Finland.
First, respondents were asked what kind of images they had of the countryside and the city. They were also asked how different areas correspond to their perception of the countryside. In addition, they wanted to know how strong the rural/urban identity was perceived by the respondents. Then, they were asked how different environments are related to their lives and how much time they spend in these different environments and places. Further questions were asked about the elements of a good life and how important respondents perceive certain things to be in terms of a good life and how they are implemented in their own case.
Next, the respondents were asked what the countryside means to them today and what the countryside is likely to mean in 10 years' time. They were also asked to assess how the meaning of rural areas will change in the future. Then respondents were presented with future scenarios for the countryside and asked which of them best reflected their hopes for the future of the countryside and how they thought things would be in 2035. They were also asked about climate change and its relationship to rural areas and trends in rural development.
Finally, statements were made on current issues related to the countryside. In addition, questions were asked about entrepreneurship in rural areas and whether the respondent was or was about to become an entrepreneur in a rural area.
Background variables were, among others, regional information, year of birth, gender, education, occupational status, gross household income, which political party they would vote for, household size, number and age of children, and type of residence.
The data was collected from respondents to the Taloustutkimus internet panel. The panel consists of Finnish respondents aged 15 or over.