The joint research project of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (KELA) and the Department of Social Policy at the University of Turku (nowadays the Department of Social Research) 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 comparable to a large extent. The surveys were carried out in 1995, 1996, 1998 and 2000.
The survey charted the spiritual, physical and material welfare of people living in Finland. Respondents were asked to state their occupational title, type of work and employer and status in the labour market during the past three years. People who were married or cohabiting were asked about their spouse's employment status. The unemployed or laid off respondents were asked about unemployment benefits and duration of unemployment or layoff. The unemployed answered to questions about experiences of unemployment, job seeking,, the suitability of different options (e.g. retraining and odd jobs) in their present situation and the importance of different things (e.g. fear of coping in the job and improvement of income level) in accepting a job.
Respondents evaluated their general health, for example, psychosomatic symptoms, loneliness and the existence of a confidential friend. They were asked whether they have access to different leisure time activities. Households' monthly net income and monthly expenses were charted. Respondents' satisfaction with their living standard and monthly spending money of their household and its sufficiency were probed. They also rated the difficulty/easiness of obtaining income and the level of income in the next five years. Respondents were also asked whether they feel they are living in poverty or are over-indebted.
Respondents were asked to evaluate the frequency of financial difficulties and use of strategies to solve them. They were presented with a set of attitudinal statements about social security and public services. Perceptions of the sufficiency of the level of income support and different social security benefits were charted. Respondents assessed the amount of money that one adult needs monthly and the reasonable amount of social security benefits their household would require.
Background variables included year of birth, gender, marital status, household composition, type of place of residence, highest level of education and political party preference.
Simple random sampling. The sample of 4200 persons was selected from the population register in January 2000.
The final sample consisted of 4164 persons after 54 people who were unattainable, had died or been institutionalised were removed from the data. Non-response analysis was made by comparing respondents' age, place of residence and gender to the data of population register. Urban population and people aged between 55 and 64 were slightly overrepresented.