Finnish Local Government Barometer 2009: Inhabitants

The survey charted the respondents' attitudes towards municipalities and municipal service provision, especially in the light of the current economic recession. First, the respondents were asked whether they were worried about various things, such as the low availability of social and health care services, racism and hostility towards foreigners, criminality, unclean environment, traffic noise, and the development of the municipality's financial situation. They were also presented with a list of various objectives related to municipal services, finances, and administration, and asked which of them they would accept during the current economic recession. The objectives included raising the municipal tax rate, outsourcing municipal services, and decreasing the quality of municipal services. Next, the respondents were presented with a list of targets for public expenditure, such as the maintenance of parks and recreation areas, public transport services, support of business, child day care, and cultural services. They were asked which of these targets could be cut down when the municipalities have to reduce their expenditure. In addition, they estimated how various services, such as schools, social assistance, and health care services, were organised in their municipality of residence. They were also asked which of these services must absolutely be organised by the municipality, and which could be organised by the state, private companies, organisations, or the inhabitants of the municipality. Finally, the respondents were presented with a set of attitudinal statements on the allocation and privatising of municipal services and the power of municipal authorities and elected officials. Background variables included the respondent's gender, age, education, occupational status, household composition, province of residence (NUTS3), and household gross income.

本调查旨在描绘受访者对市政及其服务提供的态度，尤其是在当前经济衰退的背景下。首先，受访者被询问是否对诸如社会和医疗保健服务供应不足、种族主义及对外国人的敌意、犯罪行为、环境卫生不洁、交通噪音以及市政财政状况的发展等各个方面感到担忧。随后，他们被展示一系列与市政服务、财政和行政管理相关的目标清单，并被询问在当前经济衰退期间愿意接受哪些目标。这些目标包括提高市政税率、外包市政服务以及降低市政服务质量。接着，受访者面对一份关于公共支出的目标清单，例如公园和休闲区域的维护、公共交通服务、商业支持、儿童日托以及文化服务。他们被询问在市政不得不削减开支的情况下，哪些目标可以被削减。此外，他们还被要求评估居住地内各类服务，如学校、社会援助和医疗保健服务的组织情况。他们还被询问哪些服务绝对必须由市政组织，而哪些可以由国家、私营公司、组织或市政居民组织。最后，受访者面对一组关于市政服务的分配和私有化以及市政当局和当选官员权力的态度陈述。背景变量包括受访者的性别、年龄、教育背景、职业状况、家庭构成、居住省份（NUTS3）以及家庭总收入。