Finns optimistic about the New Year: Survey

Finns are more positive going into the New Year with 45 per cent expressing belief that 2018 will be better for the Finnish economy than 2017 was, according to the findings of a recent survey by the Finnish daily Helsingin Sanomat.

Over a million Finns are now optimistic about the economy compared to the findings by a similar survey three years ago.

One in every 10 Finns, however, predicted a downward turn, which also is clearly a lower figure compared to the 2014 survey which found 30 per cent of the respondents were of similar view.

On average, the most positive people going into the New Year are the highly educated and high income earners.

The supporters of Suomen Kuskusta (Centre Party of Finland), Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party) and Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party of Finland-SDP) are most optimistic about the New Year, whereas the supporters of Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party) and Vasemmistoliitto (Left Alliance) are on average pessimistic.

The survey also revealed that Finns are now more positive about their lives and future. More than 50 per cent of the respondents are fairly optimistic about the future while 10 per cent are very optimistic about the future prospects.

High income-earners and people in senior positions viewed their lives and future in a better light than others, while low income-earners, workers and students were more pessimistic about their future.

The survey was conducted by Kantar TNS in December 2017 in which more than a thousand Finns participated.