Study title

The survey charted the views of municipal leaders (municipal managers and chairpersons of municipal executive boards) on Finnish local government services, municipal finance, immigration, internal migration, unemployment, and the policies of Members of Parliament. Respondents were first asked whether they would be willing to improve the financial situation of their municipality by raising fees or municipal taxes, cutting services or staff numbers, or by using private companies to deliver municipal services. Respondents were also asked to what extent they agreed with a number of statements relating to local democracy and decision-making, number of municipalities in Finland, municipal services and finance, immigration, internal migration, and unemployment. Further questions covered the effect of internal migration on the municipality, e.g., on municipal taxation level, housing prices, employment, community services. In view of the forthcoming parliamentary elections, respondents were asked what kind of policy they would like Members of Parliament elected from their own region to have on minority issues, EU enlargement, public services etc. Views were probed on how useful co-operation with certain other bodies (e.g. ministries, universities, employee and employer organisations) was to the municipality. Background variables included the number of inhabitants in the municipality, the respondent's status in municipal administration, gender, political party identification, and the region in which the municipality was located.