Latest news and press releases
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Helsinki GSE economic situation room supports fast decision making amid the coronavirus crisis
News 2.12.2021
The project highlights Finland as a solid example of effective and timely policy decisions due to availability of data. The latest report (December 2) provides insight on the latest developments in the labour market and for households and firms.
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Open position: Senior Researcher - Business Taxation and Regulation
News 1.12.2021
We are looking for a senior researcher to a permanent position to strengthen our Business taxation and regulation research group. A senior researcher's research projects mostly focus on the effects of taxation and business subsidies on company decisions. Research projects may focus on the effects...
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VATT Institute for Economic Research is part of Centre of Excellence on Tax Systems Research
Press release 13.10.2021
The consortium consisting of the University of Tampere, VATT and the University of Helsinki has been selected for the Academy of Finland's Centre of Excellence programme. The consortium will be directed by Professor Kaisa Kotakorpi from the University of Tampere, and its subprojects will be led b...
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Welcome to VATT day 2021!
News 30.9.2021
VATT day 2021 will be organized as an online seminar on 1st October 2021 at 13.00 with the theme labour market and employment. The seminar focuses on measures to increase employment.
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Firm-level payroll tax cuts may alleviate unemployment during economic downturns
Press release 21.9.2021
A new study on the effects of payroll tax cuts on firm-level activity by Youssef Benzarti and Jarkko Harju was recently accepted for publication in the Journal of Public Economics. The study shows that firm-level payroll tax reductions make firms more resilient and less hampered by negative effec...
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VATT receives significant funding to study challenges posed by demographic change
News 15.9.2021
The Strategic Research Council granted the project almost 1 million euros for 2021–2024. VATT’s project seeks ways of responding to the economic challenges arising from the ageing of the population.
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Higher payroll tax rates lead to substantial employment responses
Press release 2.7.2021
A new study on the firm-level payroll taxes by Youssef Benzarti and Jarkko Harju was recently published in the Journal of European Economic Association. The study shows that firm-level production and input factor choices are clearly affected by payroll taxes. Employment of workers with lowest edu...
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Research Director Essi Eerola appointed to the Board of the Academy of Finland
News 24.6.2021
On 23 June 2021, the Finnish Government appointed a new board for the Academy of Finland for the period 1 January 2022–31 December 2024.
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The Finnish Basic Income experiment failed to produce any sizable short-term employment effects
Press release 7.6.2021
Finland carried out the first nationwide randomized experiment on basic income. A study by the VATT Institute for Economic Research and the Labour Institute for Economic Research shows that replacing minimum unemployment benefits with a basic income of equal size has minor employment effects at b...
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Covid-19 vaccines also protect unvaccinated family members
Press release 4.6.2021
New findings from Finland show benefits from Covid-19 vaccines extend beyond recipients
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Research group recommends mine tax to be based on profit
Press release 28.5.2021
According to a study, levying taxes on profit from mining operations would be the most effective way to implement a separate mine tax.
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Academy of Finland Awards presented to Teemu Lyytikäinen
News 27.4.2021
Housing market and urban economics researcher Teemu Lyytikäinen wins Award for Scientific Courage.
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Pre-electoral coalitions can prevent absolute majorities from forming in municipal councils
Press release 26.3.2021
A recent study shows that pre-electoral coalitions (PEC) do not seem to have a large impact on coalescing parties’ seat shares. However, PECs can prevent large parties from receiving an absolute majority of seats. Additionally, PECs are common between parties of equal size and similar ideology, a...
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Monitoring study interim report on the student admissions reform published
Press release 17.2.2021
The objective of the student admissions reform is to streamline the transition to higher education and to improve the allocation of student places. In the monitoring study commissioned by the Ministry of Education and Culture, researchers from the Labour Institute for Economic Research (PT) and t...
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Re-elected representatives secure parties more seats in municipal executives
Press release 16.2.2021
According to a recent study, political parties with more re-elected incumbent representatives fare better in coalitional bargaining. Incumbent representation is particularly useful when a party is in a disadvantaged position or when the bargaining environment is more complex.