Finnish Local Government Barometer 1998: Municipal Managers, Chairmen of Municipal Executive Boards

The survey studied opinions of municipal managers and chairpersons of municipal executive boards on how to improve municipal finances. The respondents evaluated how acceptable it would be to increase local taxes, privatise municipal services or lay off/reduce municipal staff. The respondents were presented with several statements concerning citizens' inequality, municipal administration, finances and services, and asked whether they agree or not. Their opinions on how to balance their municipality's budget and which employee groups could be laid off were probed. In view of forthcoming elections, the respondents were asked to assess the members of parliament of their electoral district. One question examined which parties offer a good chance to influence municipal issues. Background variables included the respondents' sex, status, municipality size, and region of the municipality.