The upsideFinland This article is more than 6 years old10 great Finnish innovations
This article is more than 6 years oldFrom boxes of baby clothes to free education to prevention of suicide – small country, big ideas
Maternity pack
Finland’s “baby box” was introduced for poor mothers in 1938 and extended to all in 1949, when it held fabrics, a sewing kit, baby clothes, nappies and a mattress (the box itself doubled as a cot). The contents has changed over time (it now includes a duvet, quilted suit, bonnet, socks and gloves) but it remains hugely popular: 95% of mothers choose it over a cash alternative.
Child day care
Since the 1980s, Finnish parents of children under three have been able to choose between local authority daycare and a parental “home care allowance” of about €330 a month for the first child (plus a means-tested extra of up to €180). Half as many Finnish toddlers are in daycare as in other Nordic countries.
Xylitol
Finland began researching the natural sweetener Xylitol and its capacity to dramatically reduce dental plaque in the early 1970s and developed and launched a Xylitol chewing gum – arguably the world’s first health-improving food product – in 1975.
Paternity leave
Paternity leave was introduced in Finland in 1978. A parental allowance is now paid for 263 working days, with the first 105 paid to the mother and the remaining 158 to either the father or mother. Fathers are also entitled to a “father’s month” off under certain conditions; around 35% take it.
National suicide prevention project
Finland has halved its suicide rate from 30.3 per 100,000 in 1990 to 14.2 last year after introducing the world’s first national anti-suicide strategy in the late 1980s. Exhaustive research to understand the causes of hundreds of cases produced a nationwide preventive programme.
Integrated health centres
Finland’s unique all-inclusive, integrated, municipal healthcare centres, introduced in 1972, offer community preventative, diagnostic and curative care; a dental service; GP-level (non-surgical) hospital care; home nursing services; mental health care; rehabilitation and occupational healthcare and ambulance services.
Principle of transparency
Finland has had a freedom of information act, stating that everyone has a right not just to access government documents but to copy them, since 1766. Documents are public unless ruled otherwise. Restrictions to the general rule must be legislated by parliament, and refusal to make documents public can be challenged in the courts.
Committee for the future
A long history of coalitions has encouraged stable government with an eye for the long term and the collective interest. But the Finnish parliament is also unusual in having, for the past quarter century, a permanent committee for the future in which MPs study and report on major social challenges for the coming decades.
Finnish free comprehensive education
Finnish law guarantees a free, high-quality, nine-year basic education (to age 15) in municipal-run schools to every child, regardless of where they live or the wealth of their parents, declaring it an essential human right. Half then go to high school or polytechnic, and half into vocational education, which is also free – as is further and university education. All school teachers have at least a university master’s degree.
Veikkaus
The national state-owned gaming company has the exclusive right to operate all gaming and gambling in Finland (including online gambling on the country’s largest webstore), and the responsibility for mitigating gambling risks. It employs 2,000 people and raises €1bn a year for health, social welfare, cultural, youth and scientific projects, distributed by the relevant ministries.
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