74 Comments »

1. Did taxis come under the recent VAT reduction to 8% for services?

   Comment by Sirkuspelle — Mon, Jul 23rd, 2007 @ 3:57 pm

2. Yawn. Further reinforcement of the Kristian article writing formula.

   {Something quite expensive in Finland} x {One random statistic from elsewhere} + {A tenuos link to socialism} - {Any meaningful causal explanation} - {Exceptional standards of living in Scandinavia}= Cast iron proof that social democracy is bad.

   Comment by Rich — Mon, Jul 23rd, 2007 @ 4:23 pm

3. I don’t know Sirkuspelle, but check this out…

   It is possible to flag down a moving taxi and ask for a Kurzstrecke (short trip), for which you pay 3 Euros for a ride of 2km.

   http://www.soccerphile.com/soccerphile/wc2006/travel/city-travel.html

   If that were in Finland, you could go from—e.g. Sörnainen to Rautatieasema rather cheaply. Those taxis would actually get used instead of sitting for many hours ‘at idle’ while waiting for customer.

   Edit: I changed the title because I started feeling guilty. I didn’t want to imply that it’s the taxi drivers’ fault. They’re not the ones to blame. Rather, it’s a general economic problem. In my opinion, it now represents the truth better. Hope nobody minds.

   Comment by Kristian — Mon, Jul 23rd, 2007 @ 4:27 pm

4. Yeah, I just blogged about this raise as well - and used Berlin’s kurzstrecke to show that there’s really something wrong in Finnish pricing. Damn, 7,2€!!!

   Comment by Eero — Mon, Jul 23rd, 2007 @ 5:06 pm

5. The high taxi prices are in line with Finnish car rentals. It is funny to reserve the car in the US (The rates for Finland are cheaper than when reserving it through Finland) in that the agent always does a second check.

   - “It is showing at $96/day. That can’t be right.” No, unfortunately, it is.

   At least in some cases you don’t mind paying, such as when arriving at the airport with a load of stuff. It is worth the expense of just going straight home. Although the Finnair bus is great if your going to downtown. Even then, you are probably taking the stuff off of the bus and putting it in a taxi.

   However, the value is another story if you just need a lift home from around town.

   Then again, the prices sound right for a weekend night. After all, the drivers have to put up with all these drunk and sick Finns all evening.

   Comment by Fred Fry — Mon, Jul 23rd, 2007 @ 5:42 pm

6. What if I drive a car into Finland from the West, at one of the unguarded roads. Drive around Finland using my Sweedish plates. Will I get hauled in?

   Just asking to see if a loop hole in the high Tax rate exists.

   Comment by winter, "Yea, Proton Power, now in remission" — Mon, Jul 23rd, 2007 @ 7:55 pm

7. “What if I drive a car into Finland from the West, at one of the unguarded roads. Drive around Finland using my Sweedish plates.”

   My understanding is that you can bring a foreign car into Finland for up to a year before you have to re-register it in Finland if you are moving here. (Otherwise I think the limit is three months, unless you get an extension.) So this is possible for outsiders.

   Comment by Fred Fry — Mon, Jul 23rd, 2007 @ 8:55 pm

8. TAXI IN FLORENCE

   Starting rate: € 2,38

   Starting rate for night trip (from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.): € 5,16

   Starting rate for Sunday/holidays trip: € 4,03

   Price per kilometre:
   Underground area € 0,90 /km
   Non-underground area € 1,60 /km

   Luggage (max 4 pieces): € 0,57 per piece
   Other charges besides fare depends on the destination and supplements.
   (Animals not mentioned)

   Comment by strudel — Mon, Jul 23rd, 2007 @ 10:51 pm

9. A NIGHT IN MUENICH.

   Phil - Let’s go restaurant .
   Ursula - But, it’s only 6 pm
   Phil- I don’t want to risk to call a taxi after 22.00 on the way back, it would involve paying an extra-charge.
   Ursula - I want to eat pizza at Bella Napoli.
   Phil - Out of question, Bella Napoli is 5.01 km far from here, and as you know the taxi fare within the 5.00 is much cheaper.
   Ursula - Sgrunt .
   Phil - Uschi, would you mind going out and catching the randomly wondering taxi? It will save us the call charge and the waiting charge.
   Ursula - (Next time I will accept Strudel’s invitation, the old crap is not a miser at least.)
   Phil - And you hide the cat inside your bag, Ulla, we don’t want to pay the animal extra and spoil my statistics.
   END

   Comment by strudel — Mon, Jul 23rd, 2007 @ 11:07 pm

10. 1 year/ How will they catch someone who drives in from the west?

    Looks like a nice way out on some taxes. Just get a new car, drive it in, take it back for another. Has to be cheeper than paying 2x the price in taxes.

    Comment by winter, "Yea, Proton Power, now in remission" — Mon, Jul 23rd, 2007 @ 11:14 pm

11. Eero:
    Yeah, I just blogged about this raise as well - and used Berlin’s kurzstrecke to show that there’s really something wrong in Finnish pricing. Damn, 7,2€!!!

    I checked out your blog. Apparently someone you know had supposedly been to Ibiza. Some prices were quoted:

    Entrance: 60€
    Water: 10€
    Beer: 12€
    Drinks: 15€

    Clearly this person was messed up enough to imagine being on Ibiza, whereas (s)he was most obviously in Finland, which is the only place in the universe with high prices.

    By the way, speaking of people who don’t know where they are, here are some clips from Pori:

    A high moment of I Want To Take You Higher:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AkGXfLSzRY

    Sylvette Phunne Robinson rapping:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDHYtXJe7Y4

    Comment by Freeridin' Franklin — Mon, Jul 23rd, 2007 @ 11:42 pm

12. Something like Berlin’s kurzstrecke would be nice in Finland as well. I don’t consider taxis all that expensive here but the starting fees are admittedly salty.

    Comment by Freeridin' Franklin — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 12:00 am

13. One comparison between Germany and Finland:

    Germany:
    Yearly income: 70 000 euros, living in Munich, Tax class 1, Singles
    Rentenversicherung, pension insurance: 522
    Arbeitslosenversicherung, unemployment ins: 110
    Krankenversicherung, health ins: 281
    Pflegeversicherung, long term care ins: 40
    SoliZuschlag, =money for former DDR: 1574
    Kirchensteuer, church tax: 2289
    Lohnsteuer, income tax: 28612
    Net income: 36572

    Finland,
    Helsinki, 70 000 euros, single, Lutheran:
    All income related taxes: 24 515, (700 less if you are not
    a church member)
    Unemployment insurance: 490
    Health care fee: 1470
    Pension fee: 3220
    Net income: 40295

    About 3700 euros more than in Germany.

    Comment by tim73 — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 12:18 am

14. There is a fixed basic charge of €2.50 to which a graded fare per kilometre is added, as listed below.

    Price per kilometre:
    0 to 5 km: €1.45 per kilometre
    5 to 10 km: €1.30 per kilometre
    10 km or more: €1.20 per kilometre

    Oh, good, then it’s nice to know that Finland is cheaper.

    I just took a taxi in Tampere and the rate was 1,16 €/km, + 4 € starting fee (7€ during weekends and nights).

    Check out yourself.

    http://www.taksitampere.fi/taksat.html

    Can we do some more cherry-picking of statistics, please?

    Comment by Zarr — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 12:39 am

15. The prices are the same in Helsinki:

    http://www.taksihelsinki.fi/Maksuluettelo.htm

    Comment by Freeridin' Franklin — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 1:10 am

16. we all know the fix for this?

    Yes, it is to have the Government run them.

    It is a right to have transportation paid for by your wealthy neighbor? he will drive, so just tax him anyway.

    It is a right to leach off your neighbor for health care. He will go private when you force him to the back of a line.

    So where does this all stop? Humm.

    Comment by winter “Yea, Proton Power, now in remission” — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 1:15 am

17. tim73—

    I’ll check your numbers later, but you forgot to mention that earning €70,000 is MUCH more likely in Munich than anywhere in Finland. This, despite living costs being considerably less in Germany…not just taxis.

    But insofar as taxis go, if you take two-round trip taxi rides-per-week, in-town (e.g. 5km segments * 4), it’ll add an extra €750 to your yearly taxi bill in Finland—over what it would cost in Munich.

    Here is the difference calculation…
    Start Charge: 4*[€7.20-€2.50]= €20.80
    Kilometer Charge: 20km*[€1.16 - €1.45] = -€5.80
    Total Yearly Overcharge in Finland: 50-wks*[€20.80-€5.80]= €750

    That’s €750 extra that you pay each year to ride taxis in Finland compared to Munich. And since poor people are most likely to use taxis in this way, that’s an extra €750 in welfare that they need to receive.

    Is this a sensible way to do it?

    Comment by Kristian — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 2:49 am

18. 16: Sorry for being so dense, but since when was the taxi the preferred transport mode for the poor?

    I am poor at the moment, well relatively since I’m on ansiosidonnainen, and have yet to make my first taxi trip. Even when I was working and had an above average salary, I never took the taxi if I could avoid it. I have always relied on the public transportation system and my trusty steel dromedar. I have taken less than 50 taxi rides in my whole life.

    Since you’re so concerned about your chronic underfunding, maybe you should try my way. It’s amazing how much money you can save by just using the public transport, the nut-mangle or the apostle’s ride.

    Comment by Fat Bastard — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 3:22 am

19. Ugh. Would you please stop merely complaining about every last thing you can think of to kvetch about in Finland? What happened to the days when there were interesting, in-depth articles about politics, or the daily Finnish life as juxtaposed with the daily American life, or any of the great topics that made you think? The first few times you made a profound statement about how high prices affect your quality of life, that was fine. But this has descended into whining. Phil, please do something?

    Comment by stercus — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 5:29 am

20. 17 - Kristian,
    You should take into calculations the amount of kilometers you get to ride with the start charge before the km charge begins to run.

    Comment by hnd — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 6:56 am

21. The taxis are awfully spendy in Finland but on the bright side you get a decent ride with a driver who generally knows where he’s driving. The taxis in the US are usually shitty with dudes who hve no idea where it is that you’re wanting to go.

    Comment by hfb — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 7:52 am

22. … on the bright side you get a decent ride with a driver who generally knows where he’s driving.

    Häh, what the fuck! Unless they’re too drunk to drive in the first place, you mean?

    Anyway, I remember the times when the taxi business was regulated in a serious way in the 80s. A licensed driver- one who was allowed not only drive but also own taxis - could easily live more than a decent life by just sitting at home and by letting employees to do all the work. A license was worth a three-room flat or thereabouts.

    Nowadays Finland is, of course, among the least regulated economies. Anyone can get the permit after an exam and then a few years of professional driving (in principle, at least).

    Sure we could make it even more liberal. Why not let anybody to start driving a taxi? That would certainly bring prices down.

    Hmmm. Unfortunately taxis are just the kind of business that attracts weirdos and so I pay gladly a few more euros just to be sure that the guy behind the wheel is not planning to rob me or rape my wife.

    But, hey, this is my personal opinion. Why not have two taxi systems? Kristian could take his chances with an “unregulated tax”. The rest of could still use the safe ones.

    Comment by An — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 10:37 am

23. An,
    You could still have the safe taxis in a market system. The market process produces and utizes reputation. Well-reputed companies, even taxi companies, can charge a higher price and the customers are willing to pay the higher price if the quality is better. So you could have a choice of using a brand name taxi or a no-name taxi. The extra cost for your ability to choose what you want is the requirement that you should know what you want.
    There were plenty of anecdotes about the “swindler-taxis” of Stockholm when Finns traveled there and acted according to their traditional expectations about taxis in Finland. But later on Finns learned to find out which taxi companies had good reputation and used only those taxis. It’s the same thing in any market with brand names. Once you know the product, you do not need the assurance the brand gives you. You use the brand only to give quality assurances about yourself to others observing you using a branded product.
    So if you know the town and know the routes, you would have less risks of getting lost when choosing a no-name taxi. And if you speak the language and know the everyday mores of the town, it is easier for you to agree on the price at the beginnig of the ride and get a feel of the weirdoness of the driver.
    But if you want to innocently and ignorantly surrender to the care of the taxi driver, I understand that more regulated system appeals to you.

    Comment by Mara — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 12:06 pm

24. An,
    You could still have the safe taxis in a market system. The market process produces and utizes reputation. Well-reputed companies, even taxi companies, can charge a higher price and the customers are willing to pay the higher price if the quality is better. So you could have a choice of using a brand name taxi or a no-name taxi. The extra cost for your ability to choose what you want is the requirement that you should know what you want.
    There were plenty of anecdotes about the “swindler-taxis” of Stockholm when Finns traveled there and acted according to their traditional expectations about taxis in Finland. But later on Finns learned to find out which taxi companies had good reputation and used only those taxis. It’s the same thing in any market with brand names. Once you know the product, you do not need the assurance the brand gives you. You use the brand only to give quality assurances about yourself to others observing you using a branded product.
    So if you know the town and know the routes, you would have less risks of getting lost when choosing a no-name taxi. And if you speak the language and know the everyday mores of the town, it is easier for you to agree on the price at the beginnig of the ride and get a feel of the weirdoness of the driver.
    But if you want to innocently and ignorantly surrender to the care of the taxi driver, I understand that a more regulated system appeals to you.

    Comment by Mara — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 12:07 pm

25. Sorry for the double post, could not figure out how to retreave a post.

    Comment by Mara — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 12:22 pm

26. #23- Mara, that sounds like an excellent idea apart from the fact hat it would require one to think for oneself, an art that seems to be missing from the abilities of so many here in Finland. Deciding and choosing from a number of alternative options for yourself isn’t a strong point in the character of the average Finn. Stems from the old art of “being taught” rather than “learning” in the finest education system in the world

    Comment by Punter — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 12:31 pm

27. Fat Bastard: “since when was the taxi the preferred transport mode for the poor?”

    Ha! It most definitely isn’t the preferred way if you live in Finland—poor or otherwise. That’s why you see taxis sitting with their engines ‘at idle’ on all days except weekends. Your other choices (remember, this is a tripartite swindle) are overpriced cars and sparse public transit.

    So, better hope you live directly in Helsinki if you’re poor. Anywhere else, and you’re screwed…unless we pay you that extra €750 in welfare so you can make those two-trips to the grocery store each week.

    Just to clarify, I’d MUCH rather be poor in Munich. Having lived there for a large part of my life, I can say that with certainty. At least you can utilize taxis if you are—e.g. an older person with health problems, bad knees, etc.

    An: “Nowadays Finland is, of course, among the least regulated economies. Anyone can get the permit after an exam and then a few years of professional driving (in principle, at least).”

    Sorry if I misled, but I never meant to imply that taxis should be less regulated. I agree with all points above concerning that issue.

    Instead, I was referring to the general economy in terms of government monopolies and overtaxation; not specifically the taxi industry. It’s a macroeconomic problem that concerns purchasing power, standard of living, etc. Check the links in the post.

    stercus: “Ugh. Would you please stop merely complaining about every last thing you can think of to kvetch about in Finland?”

    While Phil is taking a well-deserved summer break, he told me to write some “complaining posts about every last thing” and to “kvetch” a lot. But, I am to make them convincing and meaningful with the purpose of actually improving things. That €750 is pretty convincing and meaningful, wouldn’t you say? You think we can make inferences about general price levels from that?

    hnd: “You should take into calculations the amount of kilometers you get to ride with the start charge before the km charge begins to run.”

    You get none. The meter starts running after the driver experiences his first neural impulse to commence driving.
    http://www.taksihelsinki.fi/taksihelsinkieng/Maksuluettelo.htm

    Otherwise, even the wait charge is over 50% higher—€33.20 in Finland vs. €21 in Germany.
    http://www.muenchen.de/Stadtleben/Transportation/Taxi/79577/01afares.html

    Comment by Kristian — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 12:35 pm

28. “earning €70,000 is MUCH more likely in Munich than anywhere in Finland. This, despite living costs being considerably less in Germany…not just taxis.”

    Maybe, but if you really wanna maximize your living standard, the principle “paycheck from first world, living in third world” is the absolute optimum. Move to Thailand (quite cheap) or Vietnam (cheap) or like real men do, Cambodia or Laos (really cheap). Water buffalo is included

    Comment by tim73 — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 12:50 pm

29. #2, you forgot the mandatory “Previously, we discussed…” to create a fake air of discourse.

    I’m wondering who that “we” is… I can’t see any value discussing with Kristian, seems he’s not really open to arguments when they’re not fitting his twisted logic (see #17).

    Maybe it’s “we” as in “Our highness” or something like that.

    Comment by Anon — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 3:44 pm

30. #26
    Punter,
    Could not agree more about your notion of the stereotypical Finnish attitude towards knowledge, learning, and education.
    But luckily, when there is real money to be saved (tax evasion, grey markets..), Finns have proven themselves to be rather quick to unlearn the “theoretical truth” and turn themselves towards the “practise”.

    Comment by Mara — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 4:48 pm

31. I agree with others that instead of this board being a place to discuss/learn something about politics in Finland it’s become a place to bitch and moan about prices, etc.

    Some of the people on here remind me of my late grandfather who used to spend his time bitching about the prices of oranges, or those “some bitch” liberals that want to “take all of his money.” You had to cut him a little slack since he was in his 90’s, though…

    Comment by dhen — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 5:08 pm

32. Mara, that sounds like an excellent idea apart from the fact hat it would require one to think for oneself, an art that seems to be missing from the abilities of so many here in Finland.

    Indeed! A few years back I was in India and at first it was a real thrill to able make the decisions by and for myself for the first time in my life. You know, whether to drink water from the tab or not, is this the place the guide book told to get the hell out as soon as possible, is this particular kid really dying of hunger or is she just pulling my leg. And, yeah, finding out which taxis we could trust - that was a special pleasure.

    But as a typical Finn, not being used making decisions, I grew tired soon.

    Now I understand that the Indian system wasn’t too liberal but not liberal enough. Why didn’t they let me decide whether I wanted the food poisoning or not. Hell, that one came out of nowhere. I guess the kitchen staff was full of fucking socialists.

    Anyway, just a bit more freedom and India could be the wet dream of you guys. I mean, I’m not the kind of guy who tells you what to do but … it’s possible to buy a one-way ticket from Hellsinki to Delhi, isn’t it?

    Comment by Anoon — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 5:33 pm

33. Mara—

    you might have a good point about deregulating the taxi system. Although I tend to lean toward a qualifications-based system, since a free-for-all is a bit risky in my opinion. Some ‘authority’ should be able to pull licenses from troublemakers. Bad taxis can damage the reputation of an entire region.

    But such things as maintaining high licensing fees, for companies, serve to prevent new entrants from joining the marketplace; a major benefit for existing companies.

    Admittedly, I find it strange to think in terms of ‘too little competition’ regarding the taxi industry. As I mentioned, taxis are usually empty—they seem to make the bulk of their earnings on Fri and Sat nights. Same with hairdressers.

    I don’t see this condition in other countries where people use these services more freely.
    Check-out the Tax Wedge graph linked below. I think it explains much of the market behavior in Finland…

    Following from the Law of Supply and Demand, as the price to consumers increases, and the price suppliers receive decreases, the quantity each wishes to trade will decrease.

    After a tax is introduced, a new equilibrium is reached where consumers pay more, suppliers receive less, and the quantity exchanged falls.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_wedge

    I guess one could explain Finland’s consumer behavior as ‘binge mentality’—less goods are exchanged, but at higher prices and at restricted times. But hey, even though it’s not at western levels yet, it’s better than every before. Hence…

    dhen—

    what you see above is a discussion interlaced with comments from those who’d like to convince us that all those news reports (not just FFT) from analysts about Finland’s economy being overpriced are wrong. Is this a conspiracy, in your opinion?

    Comment by Kristian — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 6:53 pm

34. Taxis are even more expensive for example in France, where drivers don’t always speak English at all.

    In Italy taxis are also very expensive, but the price doesn’t matter, because it’s almost impossible to find one in most cities.

    The cheapest taxis I’ve experienced in Spain and Barcelona, and they even speak English better than in France or Italy.

    In Sweden I paid (on company credit card) about the same money from Arlanda airport to centre of Stockholm city, but the cars aren’t as new and top-notch as in Finland.

    In Finland I use taxis a lot using our company’s taxi credit card, and I’m very happy with the service. It’s easy to get a taxi most of the times, cars are new and in good condition and taxis usually find we’re you want to go.

    Unfortunately, lately (for a couple of years) some taxi companies have started accepting foreigners as drivers who don’t speak Finnish. I hope Taksiliitto will put these in control.

    Comment by espoolainen — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 7:14 pm

35. “Otherwise, hopping across town to your favorite nightspot will cost you about €15 one-way—or €30 round-trip.”

    I suppose getting the bus never occurred to you… I’m not sure whether that makes your line of reasoning (in the loosest possible sense of the word) stupid, elitist or both.

    Comment by DavidH — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 7:16 pm

36. By the way, are taix supposed to very expensive in the U.S?

    The last time I was I stayed in one hotel on Collins Ave. up north and wanted to get to south close to Ocean Drive and where most restaurants etc are. It usually cost about US$8-10 for a ride. That didn’t feel very cheap, because in addition to that you had to pay the tax and tips.

    Oh, and the cars were very old and bad condition. Many of them didn’t even have seatbelts. Who wants that kind of taxi service to Finland?

    Comment by espoolainen — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 7:27 pm

37. Everything is too expensive in Finland…Taxis, medicine, cars, elderly care system, food and drink. Even escort girls. Taxes are high and salaries are poor. In addition we get too much vacation and eat too much sauce…

    Comment by T — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 7:41 pm

38. Taxis suck in Finland because:
    1) Too expensive. Especially the initial fee is plain robbery.

    2) You can’t get on during night time. 1-1½ hours wait for a taxi at 4am. Hows that sound? And ordering one won’t get you anywhere(except you get to pay for the call for nothing).

    Btw, in China when authorities wanted to raise(less than 10%) the taxi fees, drivers were against it because they were afraid of losing customers due to the high prices(yes, they work on a comission basis too). In Finland it seems taxidrivers can’t see the link between demand of taxis and the prices they request. I know taxidrivers aren’t making that much money. But is it because the prices are too low or is it because they spend half of the shift waiting for the customers?

    Comment by LaaLaa — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 7:47 pm

39. Even escort girls? Yes, but are they worth it?

    Comment by winter, "Yea, Proton Power, now in remission" — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 9:12 pm

40. Mara:
    Once you know the product, you do not need the assurance the brand gives you. You use the brand only to give quality assurances about yourself to others observing you using a branded product.

    Indeed, caveat emptor is the name of the game in a fully market-based system. We could, for instance, eliminate all regulation from medicine. Eventually the consumers would find out, by trial and error, which drugs and doctors don’t kill you. The victims and their families would find consolation in the fact that they died for the Cause. It would probably lower prices as well, testing is expensive!

    Personally, I’m happy to pay a couple of euros extra instead of researching which service providers don’t rob and kill me. But that’s just a case of diff’rent strokes for diff’rent folks.

    Comment by Freeridin' Franklin — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 10:35 pm

41. Labourers in lament
    I wonder why labourers are left standing, waiting for their bus.

    Why do they wait? Where do they go?

    I got an idea: maybe we can make them work a little longer until the bus arrives.

    Comment by strudel — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 10:48 pm

42. In Italy taxis are also very expensive, but the price doesn’t matter, because it’s almost impossible to find one in most cities.

    Next time you visit Italy please call a Radio-Taxi and get served in a few mins,24 hrs and 365 days, exept rush hours. (Just learn a few words of Italian, sorry) -

    In Italy, taxi are no more expensive then eleswhere, it’s that taxi drivers love you and won’t you to leave them so soon driving the straight way.

    Comment by strudel — Tue, Jul 24th, 2007 @ 11:04 pm

43. Anyway, I remember the times when the taxi business was regulated in a serious way in the 80s. A licensed driver- one who was allowed not only drive but also own taxis - could easily live more than a decent life by just sitting at home and by letting employees to do all the work. A license was worth a three-room flat or thereabouts.

    Nowadays Finland is, of course, among the least regulated economies. Anyone can get the permit after an exam and then a few years of professional driving (in principle, at least).
    ————————

    How was the problem of the transition to deregulation solved, In Finland ?

    __

    Comment by strudel — Wed, Jul 25th, 2007 @ 12:53 am

44. “Most of what we’re doing doesn’t get reported in the media,”

    wow, no wonder the BBC will not print this stuff. They like our Dem party want the USA and UK to lose.

    Iraq report

    Comment by winter “Yea, Proton Power, now in remission” — Wed, Jul 25th, 2007 @ 2:13 am

45. #19

    I agree. Time for me to start wasting my time somewhere else.

    Comment by Plas — Wed, Jul 25th, 2007 @ 2:39 am

46. re: #39

    Freeridin’ Franklin:

    Well, I would prefer less regulation in public transportation than in medicine, but I would prefer less regulation in medicine, too. The good thing coming from less regulation would be a lower “type two” error of allowing drugs to enter the market. The type two error happens when the patient is not allowed to use the drug because the regulator doesn’t know the drug would be safe&effective, and therefore denies the patient a safe & effective drug.

    Regulators are (quite rightly) emphasize avoiding the “type one” error (allowing a drug that is not safe or not effective), but unfortunately they tend to almost totally overlook the harm coming from ignoring type two error. I wish that they accepted a bit more of type one error in order to decrease type two error. For instance, I have often wished our Lääkelaitos would not regulate the nutritional supplements so much that in Finland I need to pay double or triple (as medicine from the regulated pharmacist) for the same stuff that is commonly sold in US at places like WalMart (that murderous free marketer).
    The regulation officials tend to behave in that lopsided way because they have personal career concerns to weigh in in their decisions. It is safer for the bureaucrat to avoid scandals coming from rare side effects than to consider the harm done to somebody who just didn’t have a better medication available and had to forego a potential good outcome. The serious risk of this institutional bias realizes in serious diseases, like with some cancer drugs. People do die from both types of errors.

    BTW I never heard stories about Swedish taxi drivers physically attacking their customers. But I have heard stories about Finnish taxi customers attacking drivers. Maybe the total amount of violent attacks between taxi customers and taxi drivers could be lowered if the were a bit more competition and reputation building between the two groups?

    Comment by Mara — Wed, Jul 25th, 2007 @ 3:35 am

47. Next time you visit Italy please call a Radio-Taxi and get served in a few mins,24 hrs and 365 days, exept rush hours.

    So in order to get a taxi in Italy, I have to wait a day and a year?

    (I’m sorry. Just couldn’t resist.)

    Comment by Kaj Sotala — Wed, Jul 25th, 2007 @ 4:02 am

48. 45: Who in their right mind would want less regulation for pharmaceuticals? Haven’t you been reading the news the last couple of years? There have been massive recalls of pain medication which have had serious, even deadly, side effects. Vioxx and Bextra come to mind.

    Then there was this funny incident in UK, where people in some clinical drug test were given medication in full doses simultaneously instead of the normal diluted doses in separate stages. As a result, all of them suffered extensive organ failure and two of them were critical.

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/story/0,,1731447,00.html

    http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/comment/story/0,,1767632,00.html

    Comment by Fat Bastard — Wed, Jul 25th, 2007 @ 4:19 am

49. -32 No, I’m not that big on conspiracy theories. Anyone who’s been to Finland knows it’s expensive. Bitching about the prices in Finland is a little like complaining that the food is too plain.

    Comment by dhen — Wed, Jul 25th, 2007 @ 4:24 am

50. So in order to get a taxi in Italy, I have to wait a day and a year?

    ————

    Ah, Ah, Kaj Sotala, I wanted to be nice with you, but now you are in the Italian Taxi Black List. Next time in Rome you will be driven from Coliseum to San Peter Basilika via Florence-Pisa Tower.

    Comment by strudel — Wed, Jul 25th, 2007 @ 9:59 am

51. Okay chaps and dolls, it’s time to give a rate to the taxi around the world.

    COUNTRY …..
    PRICE …..
    QUALITY OF SERVCE,,,

    Comment by strudel — Wed, Jul 25th, 2007 @ 10:10 am

52. Low paychecks and high costs of everything! Yeah it’s a lottery to born in Finland…but it’s nice that our ministers drive Mercedes and increase their own paychecks.

    Comment by Working class butt fucked! — Wed, Jul 25th, 2007 @ 12:00 pm

53. I see nothing wrong with letting private consumer advocacy firms test new medicines. It would be the perfect prescription for America’s overpriced, anti-competitive pharmaceutical industry. In fact, one such well-known agency has already existed for many decades; it’s very respected. Plus, by having multiple advocacy groups testing the same products, consumers would have the best information possible—without political and legislative bias.

    Insofar as taxis go, I don’t see why consumer reporting agencies—such as the one above—couldn’t rate taxi companies as well. But the information would need to be available, internationally, so that tourists have accurate information.

    Comment by Kristian — Wed, Jul 25th, 2007 @ 2:41 pm

54. Respectable ladies and gentlemen, after reading your wise comments from all over the world, I realize that taxi will never be a real alternative to bus or going on foot. Should we switch to pedal-cab ? Pedal cab is echological, cheap, safe, and when the dtiver is a chick no more boring trips behind the niceness of her bum.

    Comment by strudel — Wed, Jul 25th, 2007 @ 3:29 pm

55. time for a new thread

    Comment by winter, "Yea, Proton Power, now in remission" — Wed, Jul 25th, 2007 @ 4:24 pm

56. New Proton Center for Cancer (building construction started) happened yesterday in Norfolk, VA. The building process is 3 years for these 150M $ machines, but zapping Cancer is worth the wait.

    So we now have 5 on line Proton sites in the USA, with 4 more under construction.

    I told the Engineers at work, its like going into a giant Microwave oven, for your 3 minutes of cooking every day for 44 days. They naturally, were wanting to donate the company’s Microwave oven, as a cheep fix. I naturally did not want them to made the other lunch room folks unhappy by doing such a thing to our oven.

    I think Moscow is also getting one.

    Comment by winter, "Yea, Proton Power, now in remission" — Wed, Jul 25th, 2007 @ 6:50 pm

57. 53: OMG! You can’t be serious. Testing medicine is *slightly* different from testing which toaster makes the best toast. And a lot, lot more expensive. Don’t forget these private firms have to funded somehow as well. Yes “without political and legislative bias”, just then it would be the money doing the talking.

    Comment by Pyroptera — Wed, Jul 25th, 2007 @ 7:43 pm

58. #51- Good idea.

    Country- Australia
    Price- Dirt Cheap
    Quality of service- Piss Poor!!!

    Reason? I was back there in 04 and was picked up close to downtown with my wife after dinner and a “few” by an Indian taxi driver. After giving my address (approx 8 kms) he shot down the motorway and proceeded to get himself lost. Told me he’d lived in Melbourne less than a week and only 2nd night on the job. I had to direct him home.
    A few nights later we were out again with a friend from Tasmania visiting the casino and required taxi service. First in line was another Indian so I asked sarcastically if he knew my neighbourhood and street. “Of course I do” he replied after which I apologised for my tone of voice. By this time, our friend mentioned how big Melbourne casino was compared to that at home in Tasmania and I had said to my wife, in Finnish, how I hope this driver knows where he’s going.
    You can imagine what proceeded this. Off he went telling me all the time to be aware of these “rouge drivers” from Asia as they will take you for a ride while driving in a less than direct route himself. I mentioned this to my wife in Finnish and said he has 3 intersections left to turn prior to a point of no return and a motorway in the wrong direction. As the third passed us by I shouted to him to STOP THE F’ing CAB and asked what game he was playing? His reply was to inform me that he had lived in Melbourne for a few years and as a tourist I should be quiet and let him take us home “the fastest way possible.” You an imagine the look on his face when I told him that this tourist had grown up in Melbourne and spent close to 25 years learning the city like the back of my hand and that he had in fact better turn the cab around, turn the meter off and get us home ASAP or else.
    Well his answer to that (and every comment there after) was a confident F YOU despite the ladies in the back. To end it all, he left our home with his wheels spinning at 2am. Needless to say I took down his ID number, name and taxi reg and called the 24hr hotline to report it immediately. The following morning I got a call back to take further details but also to inform me that the driver matching those details had his licence cancelled and isn’t driving. His address was non existant and he could not be found despite several complaints.
    The only thing in his favour (and other taxi drivers) in Melbourne is the fact that all passengers are photographed upon entering the car to protect the driver. The cars are fitted with security devices and so if one takes “navigation” into there own hands, you’ll always lose.

    PS. A few nights later, a good “old fashioned” cabbie drove a friend and I home, via the drive in bottle shop and pizza store (off meter while waiting) in a direct and friendly manner. The $50 tip I left on top of a $9.50 fare was well earnt and reluctantly accepted by a cabbie showing it aint all bad (but very nearly is.)

    Comment by Punter — Wed, Jul 25th, 2007 @ 8:11 pm

59. Pyroptera–I understand your point, but I don’t agree. Here are two approaches:

    1). Consider that nearly every private company pays an Accounting firm money to audit it’s finances. The report can be good or bad, and the accounting firm must adhere to a set of practices (e.g. US GAAP). If they don’t, then they lose their licenses to practice.

    Investors, banks and other financial institutions rely on this information. So why can’t the same approach be used in pharmaceuticals?

    2). Mandate pharmacists and doctors to pay for the consumer reports on a subscription basis. The same way that individuals subscribe to get the best toaster.

    Comment by Kristian — Wed, Jul 25th, 2007 @ 11:27 pm

60. stridel wrote: “I realize that taxi will never be a real alternative to bus or going on foot. Should we switch to pedal-cab ? Pedal cab is echological,”

    It’s all very relative. Go to for example to Thailand as tourist and you can drive on an air-conditioned taxi where ever you want cheaper than by bus in Helsinki area in Finland.

    Of course, you need to be there with your European income level amongst the poor Thai people.

    Unfortunately, globalization threatens to take away this benefit from us …

    Comment by espoolainen — Thu, Jul 26th, 2007 @ 12:38 am

61. Well, if you cannot pay for the taxi, wait until 5am for the first buses to run.

    Comment by Hank W. — Thu, Jul 26th, 2007 @ 3:22 am

62. Maybe Kristian should start his own blog at http://www.finlandisexpensive.net. His record player seems to be stuck on repeat.

    Comment by disposable — Thu, Jul 26th, 2007 @ 11:01 am

63. Yeah it’s a lottery to born in Finland…

    It’s a lottery indeed, but not so much than most other countries. In places like the US the social mobility (aka The American Dream TM) doesn’t work anywhere near as well as in Finland. In other words, there the parents you happen to “win” really count.

    Comment by Anoon — Thu, Jul 26th, 2007 @ 1:14 pm

64. Maybe Kristian should start his own blog at http://www.finlandisexpensive.net.

    The would be way too expensive, at least zillion trillion euros. Not to mention the authorities you would have to give blowjobs in order to get the PERMIT.

    Comment by Anoon — Thu, Jul 26th, 2007 @ 1:20 pm

65. Well Anoon, one could also say that Cuba has better social mobility than the USA. So, would you rather be born to parents in Cuba?

    Comment by Kristian — Thu, Jul 26th, 2007 @ 1:28 pm

66. Kristiam, I think Anoon is Cuban. At least seems to share in the ideas of the great Cuban leader Fidel.
    Yeah Anoon, here in Finland (and probably Cuba too), regardless of your parents, everyone loses evenly. Great!!!!!!!

    Comment by Punter — Thu, Jul 26th, 2007 @ 1:50 pm

67. We should note that Cuba even has better social mobility than Finland.

    Viva Fidel, indeed

    Comment by Kristian — Thu, Jul 26th, 2007 @ 2:52 pm

68. COUNTRY - Italy
    PRICE - Open to alternatives
    SERVICE - Taxi drivers are regular cheaters. Always show them your map and say - I want to get from here to there the shortest route. They will reply -You cannot get from hiah to theah - and cheat you same. Taxi drivers are all Italian and born the same toww the drive their taxi.

    Comment by strudel — Thu, Jul 26th, 2007 @ 4:14 pm

69. We should note that Cuba even has better social mobility than Finland.

    I wouldn’t necessarily say so. Power seems to run in the family, much like in the US.

    Comment by Freeridin' Franklin — Fri, Jul 27th, 2007 @ 1:29 am

70. The taxi cars of Cairo: some have doors, some don’t. Some have windows, some don’t. And should they have windows, they don’t have the device needed to wind it down. But they all come equipped with your own state of the art driver who manages to make even atheists call to God for help once in their life.
    Al Baal Café

    Comment by strudel — Sat, Jul 28th, 2007 @ 10:40 pm

71. Thinking that social mobility is not important puts you guys in the same category with the most hard-boiled conservatives, aristocrats and fascists. But I guess you feel at home with them. Even the libertarians, excluding a few utter propel heads, think that social mobility is important. They just don’t understand that their utopias don’t bring about much of it.

    And sure, guys, Finland is just like Cuba, just a bit worse. Ten credibility points once again.

    Comment by Anoon — Sun, Jul 29th, 2007 @ 12:30 pm

72. Cuba has low consumer prices, the prostitutes in particular being a bargain. What more could you expect from a society?

    Comment by Freeridin' Franklin — Mon, Jul 30th, 2007 @ 1:20 am

73. What more could you expect from a society?

    If only Cuba was closer to Germany then it would be perfect.

    Comment by Anoon — Mon, Jul 30th, 2007 @ 2:16 pm

74. TAXI . Is pedal-cab the solution ? — The rickshaws in Pakistan: tiny, three wheeled yet carries up to a total of 4 grown ups, still maintains a high speed and manages to re-arrange your entire organ content, ending up with your heart literally in your throat, for a mere price of 15 rupees.

    Comment by strudel — Mon, Jul 30th, 2007 @ 3:55 pm

RSS feed for comments on this post.

Leave a comment

Mini Phillip

Get your own WidSets Pet