Summary information

Study title

Welfare Survey 1998

Creator

Social Insurance Institution of Finland
University of Turku. Department of Social Policy

Study number / PID

FSD1322 (FSD)

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD1322 (URN)

10.60686/t-fsd1322 (DOI)

Data access

Restricted

Series

Welfare Surveys

The joint research project of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (KELA) and the Department of Social Policy at the University of Turku focuses on Finnish experiences and opinions on welfare, social policy and social security. The survey series studies respondents' (aged between 18 and 74) main economic activity, employment status, health, housing, experiences of unemployment, social benefits and income transfers received, financial circumstances, and standard of living on the whole. Themes covered also include social relations, life events and life control. The surveys are...

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Abstract

The survey charted the spiritual, physical and material welfare of people living in Finland. Respondents evaluated their health and psychosomatic symptoms. They were also asked whether something, such as their health or the size of accommodation, prevented them from having a meaningful life. Opinions on social and health care services, social security, taxes, and unemployment were probed with attitudinal statements which were partly different in questionnaires A and B. In addition, respondents assessed the importance of different objectives of employment policy measures, for example, the prevention of social exclusion. Perceptions of the level of income support and the amount it should be as well as the household monthly income by income decile and monthly expenses were charted. Respondents also rated the living standard and income of their household. They were asked about saving, borrowing money and credit possibilities. Respondents' potential financial difficulties were charted by asking about insecurity caused by different economic factors, problems with paying the bills, frequency of money problems and strategies for solving those problems. People who were married or cohabiting were asked about their spouse's employment status, those who were employed were asked about their employment and those who were unemployed or laid off were asked about reasons and duration of unemployment or layoff. Opinions on the questionnaire and the subject of the survey were charted. Background variables included year of birth, gender, marital status, household composition, municipality, highest level of education, occupation, political party preference and main activity at the time of the survey and during past two years.

Methodology

Data collection period

03/1998 - 05/1998

Country

Finland

Time dimension

Longitudinal: Trend/Repeated cross-section

Analysis unit

Individual
Household

Universe

People aged between 18 and 74 living in Finland

Sampling procedure

Probability

Kind of data

Quantitative

Data collection mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Paper

Access

Publisher

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Publication year

2004

Terms of data access

The dataset is (B) available for research, teaching and study.

Related publications

  • Marski, Jarmo & Mäensivu, Vesa (1998). Hyvinvoinnin muutossuuntia 1998. Helsinki: Kansaneläkelaitos. Sosiaali- ja terveysturvan katsauksia; 30.
  • Lindholm, Hanna (2001). Suomalaisen hyvinvoinnin muutokset 1995-2000. Helsinki: Kansaneläkelaitos. Sosiaali- ja terveysturvan tutkimuksia; 63.