Can Finland change the world?

After two decades of center-right policies, €4billion in austerity cuts resulting in workers wages and rights being curtailed. Finland’s electorate handed the Social Democrats a win in 2019. By December they had handed over the reigns to the youngest female Prime Minister the world has ever seen.

Photo of Finland’s national flag by Joakim Honkasalo on Unsplash

At a time when the United Kingdom is at the edge of the cliff, the United States has reduced itself to a reality TV show. With the rest of the world growing tired of “old white men” calling the shots, Finland has taken the first step.

Sanna Marin was 34 years old when she took over the top job of steering a five party coalition, all with female leaders, some younger than her, through the changes needed to drive Finland forward.

This is not to say that all was bad during those two decades of right-wing party rule. Yes, workers wages and rights were cut, so was homelessness. Finland was able to reduce its debt and narrow the wage gap between male and female salaries.

While the world was dealing with the largest economic crisis since the 1930s, Finland introduced policies to keep families in their homes. Using government benefits to pay rent, rather than hostel and hotel fees.

This policy resulted in a 21% cut in homelessness and a savings of €15,000 per capita. By 2020 earnings for women grew to 83.2%…