High taxes, higher rewards: How Finland ensures a high quality of life
Finland has some of the highest tax rates in the world 鈥 what do citizens get in return?
Smart urban planning makes daily life smooth in Finland
Easy access to green areas and an environment of trust are some of the ingredients for success
This article is part of an English-language series on Finland and what makes the Nordic country's wheels turn.
For several years in a row, Finland has topped the prestigious World Happiness Report, bringing a lot of attention to the modest Nordic country of 5.5 million people. What鈥檚 the recipe for a content and healthy city in a country that鈥檚 roughly the size of California?
鈥楢 functional and happy city like Helsinki should facilitate a smooth daily life for its people. There should be access to nature, recreational areas and a child-friendly environment,鈥 says Marketta Kytt盲, professor of land use planning at Aalto University.
鈥榃e also want the public to participate in planning. I believe having a say in your own environment plays a huge role in happiness,鈥 she adds.
These days city dwellers in Finland鈥檚 capital city can make their voice heard in ways that move beyond conventional practices, like voting online for special projects or budgets. Through groundbreaking research that asks the public opinions about their city, researchers have started to understand what kinds of environments are perceived to be positive, and what elements cause negative reactions. These findings could be the secret to developing cities that promote health and happiness among their inhabitants.
To your health, happiness and environment
鈥楢 person鈥檚 environment plays a big role in their happiness which makes the topic of health promotion in cities very important. It鈥檚 closely related to social sustainability and whether you feel connected to your community,鈥 explains Kytt盲.
Data suggests that two important factors for promoting mental and physical health in cities鈥 at all ages.
鈥楾here are two main takeaways from the current information available. The first is that nature promotes mental wellbeing 鈥 it has this amazing ability to reduce stress within minutes. The other data focuses on physical health. Here we鈥檙e talking about environments that promote an active lifestyle,鈥 Kytt盲 emphasises.
An active lifestyle can take many forms, but in a city like Helsinki it means 鈥榩eople can get to their daily destinations easily 鈥 that means having mobility without cars and access to recreational areas,鈥 Kytt盲 describes.
Kids and their communities
Throughout Finland children grow up trusting in their environment, allowing for parents to breathe a sigh of relief. With smart urban planning kids are given mobility and freedom to easily get to their schools and social structures, helping them navigate their environment independently.
For example, a 7-year-old walking to school alone is considered part of normal life. These elements of trust woven into the day-to-day help foster the feeling of shared responsibility among parents, and ultimately, their communities.
鈥楾here鈥檚 a silent understanding that if something happens to my kid at the park, another adult will step in and make things right. This notion of trust and shared responsibility is unique in Finland and is an important factor in health and happiness,鈥 Kytt盲 says.
She explains that Finland is a good example of how you can combine data on environmental health promotion with the public鈥檚 opinion on how to make a city better, to help steer urban planning.
鈥榃e hope to influence decision-makers by encouraging people to be an active part of the city they want to live in.鈥
By Michele Lawrence
Other articles in this series
Why the world鈥檚 happiest country (and yours) should think more about people鈥檚 wellbeing
How a country鈥檚 institutions take care of its people shows up in how satisfied people are with their lives
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