Finnish Response to the First Wave of COVID-19 Accentuated Persuasion

Abstract

While the first confirmed case of COVID-19 had appeared in Finland at the end of January 2020, the first wave of the pandemic remained less serious in Finland than in other European countries. In this chapter, we look at how Finnish society responded to and acted during the first wave of the pandemic, which lasted until June 2020. We review key societal and political responses within a systemic framework focused on community well-being and individual quality of life (QOL), as proposed by Shultz et al. (The handbook of community well-being, Springer, 2017, pp. 403–422). The government led the Finnish response, and their actions prompted dramatic restrictions on the freedom of personal movement and new labor market arrangements. Additionally, significant financial support was given to businesses. Schools went online, as did many workplaces. While people at times expressed uncertainties about the effects of these responses, the actions resulted in fewer deaths and less of a drop-in economic activity than in other European countries. Persuasion rather than “command” was the central characteristic of the Finnish response. Examining the process and outcomes within the well-being framework highlights the way in which goods and services as well as recreational and cultural opportunities can be provided to citizens and consumers and where the government should focus their attention during this and future pandemics or public health emergencies.