The present report contains far-reaching time series about the following phenomena: satisfaction with the service and matters of one's own municipality (14 items), the finances and economy of the city, child day care, the use of physicians' services, satisfaction with health centre services, schools, and everyday problems. Economic highs and lows seem to have influenced the opinions of Helsinki residents about their city and its public services.

The opinions of Helsinki residents about their own home town and the service it offers have been surveyed with similar studies in 1983, 1989, 1993, 1997, 2001 and 2005.

The material was gathered by means of a posted questionnaire, which 1 937 people in Helsinki answered.  Comparisons are made with Espoo and Tampere, above all.

The City of Helsinki added a few questions on the care of elderly people in Helsinki, the IAAF World Championships in Helsinki 2005, and people's opinions about civic participation.  

Satisfaction with public services was lowest during the economic peak in 1989 and highest during the depression year of 1993. Differences between municipalities in this respect have been decreasing since 1983, and satisfaction has grown in Espoo, especially. During all the years studied, people in Tampere have been most satisfied with the public services of their city.

Helsinki residents were most satisfied with the following items: the drinking water, public transport, the municipal libraries, arts & culture services, green areas and parks, safety in neighbourhoods, market squares and market trade, museums, waste management, and public order and safety.

City of Helsinki Urban Facts
Finland
Mr. Vesa Keskinen (Researcher), tel. +358 9 169 2430

01/06/2006

Vesa Keskinen

research

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Quality of life

Social services