Nordic Democracy – Fact or Fancy

An article written by the Finnish President, Tarja Halonen, a well respected figure on the European science. As a citizen, democracy has begun to be my worries, not only after the US specific measures against the terrorism, bu also after seeing what happens in Italy and in France in the last years. We have to learn from the North.

From welfare states to partnering societies – the new framework for changing welfare

There are different views on welfare in our world. It does not exist or is very limited for a large majority of our fellows human beings in the world, It is restricted voluntarily to a living minimum (some would say less) in the US and some European countries, and it is extremely developped in some central european countries, such as France and Germany, and in the Nordic European countries. This working paper, written in 2006 by Elina Palola, Taina Rintala and Annikki Savio, insists on the necessity of renovating welfare policies by introducing the notion of partnership, and thus developing democracy … and efficience. It is part of a global concept that I personally call the next step of (social) democracy, after the failure of the british third way.

Conclusion

The concept of partnership as a means of social description suggests a crumbling of old social structures, a constant flow of messages and a resultant reconstruction of social reality (Allardt 1998, 93). A sign of the change of social structures and practices is that we have increasingly moved from representative democracy to deliberative democracy: With the emergence of various partnership networks, there is no longer any need to make traditional distinctions, divisions and categorisations – for instance, between the public and the private or the economy and the social – but different processes and dimensions intertwine to an ever greater degree; at the same time the arenas of impartial communication disappear.

Growth and equity in Finland

Inequalities increase, profits grow, poverty increase… Is it unavoidable? Conservatives consider that it is necessary for our societies to progress, but there is no absolute evidence. Look at this paper written by the finnish researchers Markus Jäntti (Åbo Akademi University, Turku and WIDER, Helsinki), Juho Saari (University of Turku) and Juhana Vartiainen (Trade Union Institute for Economic Research, Stockholm) in November 2005: equity has supported the finnish growth, or at least has not prevented it.

Abstract

This paper reviews Finnish economic history during the “long” 20th century with a special emphasis on policies for equity and growth. We argue that Finland developed from a poor, vulnerable and conflict-prone country to a modern economy in part through policies geared at both growth and equity, such as land reform and compulsory schooling.

Gentle Justice: Analysis of Open Prison Systems in Finland. A Way to the Future?

Here is a dissertation from the Tampere university, in Finland, written in 2007 by Ekunwe Ikponwosa, which is interesting for those who are looking to lower the recidivism rate and avoid to have a large part of the population out of the society.

Abstract:

This study analyses the open prison system as a gentle way of incarceration and as a humane way of treating offenders with the objective of bringing malefactors in line with society’s accepted social norms.

Is the gender wage gap due to the long career interruptions of women because of having children?

Jenni Kellokumpu, from the Labour Institute for Economic Research , in Helsinki (Finland) has proven here that a big part of the gender gap in wages is directly linked in Finland to parental leaves. This article, “Baby and Pay:The Family Gap in Finland” is part of the Combining Work and Family – a Challenge for Equality Planning Research rogram (project code S 01912) funded by the European Social Fund.

Abstract

The effect of career interruptions due to parental leave is estimated based on longitudinal data set covering the years 1995-2002. The estimated model controls for unobserved time-constant heterogeneity and for hours worked. There appears to be a significant negative relation between career interruptions due to childbirth and subsequent wages for women in Finland.

Female Leadership and Firm Profitability: firms lead by women more profitable

This report, witten by Annu Kotiranta, Anne Kovalainen, Petri Rouvinen has been published by the Finnish Business and Policy Forum. This should inspire our shreholders when they chose a CEO…

Summary

Less than a tenth of the CEOs of Finnish firms and less than a fourth of the corporate board members are women. From a social standpoint more women are desired in top management, but should firms’ owners and those represent¬ing their business interests be concerned with women’s role in top management? Since hard facts have been in short supply, we seek to an¬swer the question by applying scientific research methods.

Our results indicate that a company led by a female CEO is on average slightly more than a percentage point – in practice about ten per cent – more profitable than a corresponding company led by a male CEO. This observation holds even after taking into account size differences and a number other factors possibly affecting profit¬ability. The share of female board members also has a similar positive impact. These findings are significant and important not only from a statistical and research perspective but also from a business standpoint.

Finland: opportunities to reconcile family and work

A book, published by the Finnish Ministry of Health, under the supervision of Permanent Secretary Kari Välimäki, to be read by all the business managers, in order to learn to make profit by supporting their human force to live together a good family life and working life.

The writers of the book are Rolf Myhrman, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health [chapter 1], Tomi Hussi, the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and Guy Ahonen, Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration [chapter 2], Sini Laitinen-Kuikka and Eila Tuominen, the Finnish Center for Pensions (ETK) [chapter 3], Olli-Pekka Ruuskanen, the Research Institute of the Finnish Economy (ETLA) [chapter 4]. Minna Salmi, and Johanna Lammi-Taskula, the National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health (STAKES) [chapter 5] and Anita Haataja, Government nstitute for Economic Research (VATT) [chapter 6].

Preface
Ageing is first and foremost a great achievement, the reflection of Europe’s high level of economic development and high standards of living. It will be difficult to maintain the potential for growth and employment against a background of shrinking working age population and ageing workforce. We all want to live longer and in better health.
This in turn will enable us to remain active and independent longer than previous generations. Young adults need help to realise their plans with regard to raising a family. In this respect, the postponement of the age of mothers when bearing their first child should be a matter of concern.

Finland’s transition to a knowledge economy, by Pekka Ylä-Antilla

How did Finland become one leader of the Knowledge economy, with for example the world-known Nokia, from a resource intensive one? This paper from the finnish researcher Pekka Ylä-Antilla, from the Research Institute on the Finnish economy, is an interesting lesson for all our leaders.

The macroeconomics impacts of the EU climate policy in 2008 – 2012?

The adaptation to the CO2 emission cap set by the European Union will require that in 2008-2012 the GDPs of the five largest member countries remain on average 0.4 – 0.9 per cent lower than in the business-as-usual-scenario, according to an analysis by ETLA researchers Olavi Rantala and Paavo Suni. Finland, a small open economy, will be hit harder, with the GDP falling on average some 1.5 per cent short of the business-as-usual alternative.

ETLA researchers analyze the impact of EU climate policy with a model covering Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom as well as Finland. Together the countries represent some 64 % of total EU greenhouse gas emissions. The results reported above are based on a scenario in which the emission trading sectors of the six countries are allowed to reach their aggregate target by the end of the Kyoto commitment period 2008 – 2012.

The scenario presupposes that the countries are able to acquire emission allowances from other EU countries and make use of the other Kyoto mechanisms, Joint Implementation and Clean Development Mechanism. If this will not be possible, adaptation must happen faster and costs as lost GDP will consequently be higher

Read the publication

Occupational health in Finland

National Occupational Safety and Health Profile of Finland. Helsinki 2006. 79 pp. (Publications of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, ISSN 1236-2050, 2006:8) ISBN 952-00-2010-1 (print), ISBN 952-00-2011-X (PDF)
The National Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Profile of Finland has been prepared at the request of the International Labour Office (ILO). The Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health requested the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health to prepare this document.

The national profile aims to provide information about the occupational safety and health legislation, policy review mechanisms, infrastructures, collaborative structures, activities of various partners in occupational safety and health, human resources, actors, statistics and indicators of OSH, general demographic problems and challenges, as well as the needs for future development in the specific country. This information also serves as a basis or the updating and further development of the national policy and programme on occupational afety and health of the country.