The report was written by Lauri Finér, executive director of the Kalevi Sorsa Foundation, and Jussi Systä, an economic policy expert. Photo: Emmi Korhonen / Lehtikuva

Finland’s main economic forecasting institutions have repeatedly missed actual GDP growth by wide margins, according to a new study by the Kalevi Sorsa Foundation, which argues that fiscal policy should rely less heavily on forecasts and more on confirmed economic data.

The report examined forecasts from the Ministry of Finance, Bank of Finland, Etla, Pellervo Economic Research, Labore, Nordea and OP Pohjola.

Sausages and meat products often contain preservatives.

A study involving more than 112,000 adults has found links between several widely used food preservatives and a higher risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

Researchers in France tracked participants for up to eight years and found that people with the highest intake of certain preservatives faced greater rates of hypertension, heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular conditions.

The findings were published in the European Heart Journal.

European Union Flag. Photo: Håkan Dahlström via Flickr

Most Finns want the European Union to strengthen its security role, reduce dependence on foreign powers and build greater control over critical technologies and resources, according to a new survey by Sitra and the Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVA.

The study found that Finnish attitudes towards the EU have shifted as global tensions and economic uncertainty reshape expectations of the bloc.

Researchers said Finns no longer see the EU mainly as an economic project or regulatory body.

White Kia Niro EV SG2 EV SUV. Photo: Damian B Oh via Wikipedia Commons

A study of almost 10,000 battery tests on used electric vehicles in Sweden found that several models retain more than 95% of their original battery capacity after driving more than 100,000 kilometres.

The analysis, released by Swedish used electric vehicle retailer Carla, examined 9,954 battery tests carried out between 2022 and 2026 using diagnostics from Austrian battery testing company AVILOO. The data covers a broad selection of electric vehicles sold on the Swedish second-hand market.

Photo: ICPonline

Sickness-related absences from work cost Finland about €5 billion each year in lost productivity, according to a new study that highlights the wider economic impact of illness on businesses and public finances.

The report estimates that workers were absent for around 25 million working days in 2023, equivalent to roughly 110,000 full-time working years.

Photo: Lehtikuva

Children and young people with foreign backgrounds in Finland report weaker health, wellbeing and safety than their peers, while showing stronger attitudes towards school, according to a new national survey.

The findings come from the 2025 School Health Promotion Study by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), which examined pupils from primary school to upper secondary level across the country.

A woman working at an office in Helsinki. Photo: Emmi Korhonen / Lehtikuva

Most people in Finland now see paid work primarily as a way to finance other parts of their lives rather than as a source of personal fulfilment, according to a new survey published by the Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVA.

The findings suggest attitudes towards work have shifted over the past 15 years, with financial security and work-life balance becoming more important than work itself.

A person generating an image using artificial intelligence. Photo: Heikki Saukkomaa / Lehtikuva

Artificial intelligence use is expanding across Finland, with new surveys showing that many workers and entrepreneurs believe the technology improves productivity, although concerns about job losses and uneven adoption remain.

Data released by Statistics Finland showed that nearly half of Finnish consumers now use artificial intelligence for personal matters, while more than one in four use it in work-related tasks.

Processing of mushroom samples at the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority laboratory. Photo: STUK

Radioactive fallout from the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster remains detectable in mushrooms across Finland, although levels have declined over time, according to a new nationwide study by the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority.

The findings are based on a large dataset collected with the help of mushroom pickers, who submitted 875 samples during the 2025 harvesting season. The samples covered 187 municipalities and included 60 different species.

Pet dog microbes may protect children under one year of age. Photo: Heikki Saukkomaa / Lehtikuva

Children who grow up in homes with pet dogs experience fewer respiratory tract infections during their first year of life and require fewer courses of antibiotics, according to new research from Finland.

Researchers found that microbes carried by dogs into the home account for part of the health benefit, helping shape the microbial environment that young children are exposed to during early life.

Children and teenagers in Helsinki are moving more than they did eight years ago, but new research shows widening gaps between social groups, with family income and immigrant background linked to lower activity levels among some young people.

A study published by the City of Helsinki found that regular physical activity among children and teenagers increased between 2017 and 2025. More young people now exercise for at least one hour a day, while the share of those with little physical activity has fallen.

Soldiers during Nato Cold Responce 26 military exercise in Rovaniemi, Finland on March 17, 2026. Photo: Jarno Vuorinen / Str / Lehtikuva

Young adults in Finland show strong support for national defence while expressing concern about the country’s future security environment, according to a new survey commissioned by the Finnish Defence Forces.

The study, conducted by E2 Research, found that 47 per cent of respondents aged 18 to 30 are concerned about Finland’s current security situation and external threats. More than 40 per cent believe people in Finland will live in a less secure world within five years.

Photo: Heikki Saukkomaa / Lehtikuva

Finland’s electricity system may face supply pressures in the early 2030s as electric vehicle use grows and power production becomes more dependent on weather, according to new research from Aalto University.

The study warns that cold, low-wind periods in early winter pose the clearest risk. Demand rises during those conditions, while wind power output often falls.

Aalto University researchers said charging patterns for electric vehicles will play a large role in whether the system copes with peak demand.

Most Finns said they did not trust the United States to defend Nato’s European member states during President Donald Trump’s presidency. Photo: Piroschka Van de Wouw / AFP / Lehtikuva

Most Finns believe the rules-based international system has already weakened and expect Finland and Europe to respond with stronger foreign and security policies, according to a new study led by the University of Helsinki.

The report found that 71 percent of respondents think the international order based on common rules and agreements has broken down. Many said Europe should take a larger role in defending international cooperation against pressure from major powers.

Finns show low trust in the United States under Donald Trump in a new survey. Photo: Annabelle Gordon / AFP / Lehtikuva

A new survey shows that 80 per cent of Finns believe trust in society has weakened in recent years, with confidence in the United States falling to one of the lowest levels among major global powers.

The study, commissioned by SuomiAreena and the Nordic Council of Ministers and conducted by Verian, found that only 4 per cent of respondents believe the United States increases trust in the world. The figure places the US alongside China and India at 3 per cent and above Russia at 1 per cent.