Poll: Majority of Finns Say Inequality Rising

Just one-sixth said inequality has decreased.

Many respondents said they were most troubled by a growth in regional inequality. Some 61 percent said they were concerned about deteriorating basic services in sparsely populated areas. Half of those polled said regional policies should strive to improve services in rural areas. Residents of eastern and northern Finland were the most concerned about regional inequality.

Respondents also said they've noticed an increase in economic inequality. Over half said tax breaks have benefited those who are already well-off. Meanwhile fifty percent of those polled said a significant number of people are forced to work longer hours just to make ends meet.

Members of the Centre Party, the Social Democratic Party and the Left Alliance were the most concerned about inequality. Just two-fifths of the members of the conservative National Coalition Party said they were worried about rising inequality. Meanwhile over half of the members of Finland's other political parties said they believe inequality has grown in the past decade.

Pollster TNS Gallup interviewed 1,170 people from across Finland over a five-day period in May and June of this year. The margin of error was three percentage points.