Study Finds Widespread Political Ignorance in Finland

A fresh study suggests that many Finns have inadequate knowledge of political decision making. Two out of three respondents to a survey conducted by the University of Turku were not able to correctly name the parties in the current government coalition.

Most knew the name of the Prime Minister, but only one in four felt that voting in the elections for the European Parliament is important.

The survey, involving interviews with 1,000 people last spring, found a strong correlation between political knowledge and a person's profession and income level. Researcher Kimmo Elo said that the most knowledgeable were white-collar employees and those in managerial positions. Those with lower incomes and the unemployed had the least knowledge.

The researchers behind the study had earlier established a low level of knowledge of decision-making among young Finns. Elo is concerned that the gap between those who follow politics and those who ignore it is growing fast.