More than half a million Finns are below European Union poverty risk line

Study: Even those Finns doing well have bergun to demand increases in social security

print this

According to a recent survey commissioned by the National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health (STAKES), Finns in general are feeling well, in fact better than ever before.
      On the other hand, today welfare and health are more unevenly divided among the population than previously. Already in 2004, some 12 percent of the population or 600,000 inhabitants were below the EU poverty risk line. The poverty risk line for a single adult was a net income of EUR 975 per month.
     
The primary message of the book is the growth of Finnish welfare, according to the head of welfare research Mikko Kautto from STAKES.
      While income gaps have widened, particularly single parents and families with many children or small children have not managed to benefit from rising salaries and tax cuts.
     
The division into successful and less successful people is based on employment. The social benefits have increased more slowly than have salaries. Furthermore, tax cuts are not as beneficial for those living on benefits as they are for those with a job.
      While the country's political decisions focusing on economic growth and employment have increased Finnish welfare in general, they have apparently widened the income disparities in Finland, according to STAKES.


Links:
  The National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health (STAKES)

Helsingin Sanomat