The cuts planned by the Finnish government will hit everyone, and society will pay the price. All Finns will be affected, not just disadvantaged and low-income groups.
The cuts currently planned by the Finnish government will be painful for many people. Anne Kouvonen, Professor of Social Policy at the University of Helsinki, is particularly concerned about children.
"Families on low incomes will face the fallout."
Kouvonen studies health inequalities between social groups. Research has shown that persistent low income is damaging, especially for children.
Childhood poverty and financial stress are associated with insecurity, low education levels, mental health problems, addiction and unemployment in later life. All these have negative health effects.
"Health inequalities emerge early in life. That's what's most devastating."
Increasing health inequalities
The government led by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (National Coalition Party) is planning cuts targeting groups that are already struggling financially, such as housing benefit recipients, unemployed persons, family carers and students.
Kouvonen is frustrated. Although politicians justify cuts with efforts to save money and curb public debt, cutting benefits actually costs us dearly.
Studies have shown that financial cuts are clearly connected with increasing health inequalities. Kouvonen mentions the UK as an example.
When the Labour Party came to power in 1997, it began to invest especially in child wellbeing. Health gaps narrowed.
But when the coalition government of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats took over in 2010, benefits were cut. The life expectancy of the poorest 10% of the population declined, whereas that of the affluent continued to increase.
Risk of more people unfit for work
Anne Kouvonen says that Finland is now pursuing similar policies as those implemented in the UK. This will exacerbate social disadvantage and thereby increase costs.
The effects will not be fully visible until today's children have grown up. A specific risk is that more people will be assessed as unfit for work for mental health reasons.
This is difficult to reconcile with Finland's ageing population.
"We can't afford to have young adults rendered unfit for work. We need every single person in our country. But you have to be healthy enough to work."
Inadequate use of research knowledge
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health recently published a report outlining measures to reduce health inequalities.
