WP 1. Financial inequality

  WP 2. Inequality of opportunities over the life course

  WP 3. Inequalities in health and well-being

 

WP 1. Financial inequality

1.1. Trends in and drivers of financial inequality

Team analyses long-term trends in and associations between financial inequalities measured by income, wealth and consumption. It examines the pure effects of the changes in tax-benefit system by making microsimulation evaluations about core reforms’ effects on income poverty, income inequality and work incentives.

Team leader:

Mikko Niemelä, University of Turku

Funded researchers:

Elina Ahola, Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela)
Pertti Honkanen, Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela)
Markus Jäntti, University of Helsinki
Esa Karonen, University of Turku
Taru Lindblom, University of Turku
Jussi Tervola, Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela)
Antti Veilahti, University of Turku

External research partners and teams:

Tax-benefit microsimulation model for the European Union (EUROMOD), University of Essex

 1.2. Long-term trends and short-term shocks in housing related inequalities

Team explores the links between urbanisation and long-term changes in housing wealth and housing costs but also focuses on short-term shocks on the local level with special emphasis on how shocks in housing markets affect households’ housing wealth and housing circumstances. It also analyses the significance of housing allowances and housing tenure for households’ moves into and out of poverty.

Team leader:

Hannu Ruonavaara, University of Turku

Funded researchers:

Aleksi Karhula, University of Turku
Timo Kauppinen, National Institute for Health and Welfare
Hanna Kettunen, University of Turku

External research partners and teams:

Stefan Olafsson, University of Iceland

 

WP 2. Inequality of opportunities over the life course

Finland is still an open society with a high social mobility. There are, however, considerable differences in health between population groups and, for example, poverty risk and educational level are affected by family background. Those in the worst socio-economic position are most likely to experience divorce and single parenthood. The labour market integration of immigrants poses a significant challenge.

TITA studies social mobility and inequality of opportunity over the life course and analyses the effects policy measures have upon them.

Scientific coordinator: Jani Erola, University of Turku

2.1. Education, social mobility and the welfare state

Team identifies historical changes in key policies influencing education, income (re)distribution, families and fertility since World War II and compares their effects on intergenerational equality of opportunity. It studies the effects of period changes in the life course and indentifies their impact on equality of opportunity. It estimates the importance of different policies in buffering the turbulence in equality of opportunity caused by economic cycles.

Team leader:

Juho Härkönen, Stockholm University

Funded researchers:

Erik Bihagen, Stockholm University
Jani Erola, University of Turku
Mikko Niemelä, University of Turku

External research partners and teams:

Elizabeth Thomson, Stockholm University

2.2. Families, family policies and social inequalities

Team analyses interdependencies between changes in families and socioeconomic inequalities in life course and identity factors creating barriers for family formation and stability. Team also analyses reasons, impacts and local variations of different child care choices of the families. It examines how childbearing, and long family leaves in particular, influence the employment trajectories and socioeconomic positions of women and men as well as multiple child outcomes.

Team leaders:

Anita Haataja, Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela)
Marika Jalovaara, University of Turku

Funded researchers:

Klara Capkova, Stockholm University
Ann-Zofie Duvander, Stockholm University
Marie Evertsson, Stockholm University
Michael Gähler, Stockholm University
Juho Härkönen, Stockholm University
Camilla Kantola, University of Turku
Karoliina Koskenvuo, Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela)
Eleonora Mussino, Stockholm University
Katja Pohjola, University of Turku
Per-Olof Robling, Stockholm University
Miia Saarikallio-Torp, Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela)
Maria Valaste, Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela)

External research partners and teams:

Gunnar Andersson, Stockholm University
Elise Haapamäki, The City of Helsinki Urban Facts
Ari Jaakola, City of Helsinki
Lea Juvonen, City of Helsinki, Department of Early Education and Care
Sanna Ranto, The City of Helsinki Urban Facts
Raila Tiainen-Ala-Maunus, City of Helsinki

2.3. Immigrants’ integration and social policy

Team analyses immigrant poverty, unemployment and social mobility, while taking emigration into account. It examines the influence of family policies on immigrats’ integration pathways.

Team leader:

Jussi Tervola, Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela)

Funded researchers:

Ann-Zofie Duvander, Stockholm University
Sol Juárez, Stockholm University
Andrea Monti, Stockholm University
Vitor Oliveira de Miranda, Stockholm University
Eleonora Mussino, Stockholm University
Ognjen Obucina, Stockholm University

External research partners and teams:

Ilari Ilmakunnas, National Institute for Health and Welfare

 

WP 3. Inequalities in health and well-being

In Finland, health and well-being have constantly improved since the 1970s. Still, differences between population groups remain remarkable.

TITA explores whether the development of financial inequality during the past decades has affected the individual social outcomes, such as material deprivation, cumulative disadvantage, social cohesion, health, crime, subjective well-being, and happiness.

Scientific coordinator: Jenni Blomgren, Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela)

3.1. Trends in inequalities in health and well-being

Team explores whether the development of financial inequality during the past decades has had effects on the social outcomes of the individual such as material deprivation, cumulative disadvantage, social cohesion, health, crime, subjective well-being, and happiness. It compares population level subjective well-being with the well-being of clients of food banks. It analyses unemployment and downward occupational mobility as a risk factor for mortality among middle-age and early old-age Finnish men and women. In addition it will examine regional differences in health and mortality.

Team leader:

Johanna Kallio, University of Turku

Funded researchers:

Sunnee Billingsley, Stockholm University
Sven Drefahl, Stockholm University
Sol Juárez, Stockholm University
Sakari Kainulainen, DIAK Polytechnic
Antti Kouvo, University of Eastern Finland
Tuomo Laihiala, University of Eastern Finland
Maria Ohisalo, University of Eastern Finland

External research partners and teams:

Gunnar Andersson, Stockholm University
Maria Bäck, Åbo Akademi
Christian Albrekt Larsen, Aalborg University
Elizabeth Thomson, Stockholm University

 

3.2. Improving validity of poverty measurement for decision-making

Team improves the validity of poverty measurement for decision-making by updating and extending the existing reference budgets for a decent minimum standard of living.

Team leader:

Pasi Moisio, National Institute for Health and Welfare

Funded researchers:

Kristiina Aalto, University of Helsinki
Piia T. Jallinoja, University of Helsinki
Anna-Riitta Lehtinen, University of Helsinki

External research partners and teams:

Elling Borgeraas, The National Institute for Consumer Research
Bérénice Storms, University of Antwerp

 

3.3. Socio-economic differences in use of work-disability benefits

Team analyses socio-economic differences in the use of work disability benefits. How do the routes to disability pension differ among socio-economic groups? Do the screening points in sickness allowance and disability pension systems work equally effectively in different socio-economic groups? Does the benefit system help decrease socio-economic differences in work ability or does it aggravate them?

Team leader:

Jenni Blomgren, Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela)

Funded researchers:

Laura Salonen, University of Turku

External research partners and teams:

Mikko Laaksonen, Finnish Centre for Pensions


3.4. Health, inequality and medicine reimbursements

Team examines equality in prescribing and medicine reimbursements. It studies the effects of the annual co-payment threshold effective January 2016 on different patient groups and in socio-demographic population subgroups. In addition, it analyses physician- and patient-level factors affecting prescribing of medicines and the consequences of economic shocks in terms of the local use of medicines as a cure.

Team leader:

Jaana Martikainen, Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela)

Funded researchers:

Katri Aaltonen, Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela)
Timo Maljanen, Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela)
Leena Saastamoinen, Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela)

External research partners and teams:

Center for Welfare State Research, University of Southern Denmark