The Changing Role of the State

During recent decades, the Finnish economy has been characterised by membership in the European Union (1995), adaptation to globalization and growth of high tech industries. Finnish Economy has been noted as an example of high growth associated with Nordic Welfare policies. Especially efficient schooling sector have gained international attention during the recent years as fifteen years old Finnish students outperformed the students from other OECD countries in so called PISA assessments (OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment). Also certain Finnish companies, especially Nokia, have been successful during the past years. The Institute for Management Development (IMD) ranked Finland as number six in terms of business competitiveness in 2005 and the World Economic Forum (WEF), for its part, ranked Finland as number one in terms of growth competitiveness in 2003.