Income differences within municipalities in Finland, 1989–1997

Differences in income between population groups in Finland have begun to increase since the recession of the early 1990s. These differences are examined here in terms of mean taxable incomes per household in 1989, 1993 and 1997 in 1 × 1 km grid cells, and the results are compared with those obtained using postal districts and municipalities as areal units. In spite of the increase, taxable income differences within municipalities are still relatively small. It is clear, however, that incomes have risen more in areas of increasing population than in areas of declining population. The results also indicate that the smaller the areal unit used, the greater the income differences, and vice versa. Thus the results of analyses based on different areal units cannot necessarily be regarded as comparable.     

Effects of commune-internal migration in Finland on the spatial distribution of population and on dwelling house utilization

"The article is based on a programme of research which has been pursued for some years with the purpose of describing the extent and spatial orientation of commune-internal migration [in Finland], a topic about which very little has previously been known, relating this form of migration to total population movement and to dwelling house requirements and utilization. The analysis yields information on the dynamics of population changes occurring in areas on the margins of permanent settlement, while at the same time taking into consideration the effects of regional and in particular housing policy decisions upon the spatial distribution of population."     

Local and regional income differences in Finland in 1989 to 1997 — a GIS approach

Income differentials among the population of Finland began to widen in the latter half of the 1990s, as reflected in a geographical analysis based on 1 × 1 km grid cell data produced by Statistics Finland, where the most densely populated cells are seen to have lower mean income levels than the others, and the spatial differences in income level within the large towns and cities are seen to have increased. The income differentials between grid cells are fairly stable and the majority of the cells can be classified as representing the middle income bracket in terms of incomes subject to state taxation. Accurate geo-referenced data of this kind enable observations to be made concerning income differentials which would remain obscured if only administrative areal units such as local government districts were used.