From STT...

Finland is more affluent and uses more money on social security than ever, but the amount of social spending as a percentage of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) is still below the average across EU member states prior to its enlargement a year ago, shows a study made public on Monday by the Finnish National Fund for Research and Development (Sitra). The figures used in the study date back to 2003.

The authors of the report conclude that Finland is in a situation where it does not want to raise the overall tax burden even though the share of pensions in total social spending continues to increase. If the equation persists, the country must cut back its commitments in other areas, according to Matti Heikkilä, Juha Teperi and Mikko Kautto of Stakes.