Finland’s economic challenges: shorter working week, lower birth rate, etc.
Finland’s Finance Minister Rikka Pullula raised eyebrows and sparked conversation with her candid columns in Maaseudun Tulevaisuus and Iltalehti about the pressing economic challenges facing Finland. Pula’s revelations highlight Finland’s significantly shorter working week compared to other countries, a looming decline in the birth rate, stagnant productivity growth and a national budget deficit. It also highlighted the decline in educational performance, as reflected in Pisa’s scores.
Trade surplus and economic reform
Another significant concern raised by Mr Pla was Finland’s trade surplus, which he said was limited to primary and intermediate products but was struggling to expand into higher value products. It is pointed out that there are. These facts suggest that Finland’s economic structure may need to be reconsidered, leading Pula to propose potential government reform measures. However, these proposals sparked large-scale protests and strikes because of the expected drastic spending cuts.
President’s proposal and rising electricity rates
Amid these economic concerns, President Sauli Niinistö proposed a bipartisan agreement on economic reform over several terms of Congress. At the same time, Finland is also suffering from rising electricity prices. This has sparked a debate over whether to invest in new nuclear power plants, which would represent a departure from Finland’s tradition of privately funded nuclear projects.
Concerns about “buddy parenting”
On a different note, Irta Sanomat featured an interview with Jarno Pallasmaa, the researcher who introduced the concept of “buddy parenting.” This parenting style prioritizes friendships over setting boundaries, which Pallasmaa says can hinder children’s development and understanding of rules. As a result, schools are under pressure to close the education gap around boundaries and acceptable behavior.