Measurements in support of policy decisions Kaija Hovi, Director of Business Structures, Statistics Finland

Information society - Finland as a nation information society - knowledge-based society - network society interaction - communication - new ways of doing things Finland fared well in international comparisons and benchmarking exercises homogenous social structure - social equality - solidarity - Nordic welfare state

National Strategies towards the Information Society 1995: first national information society strategy by the government ->reform 1998 1999: key objectives: skills, research and education, information networks, services 2003: to improve competitiveness and productivity, social and regional equality

Information Society Programme 2003 - impact objectives high marks in international comparisons, influence international developments ICT used in all organisations with the aim of improving service standards, making operations and processes more efficient and maintaining and improving competitiveness

Information Society Programme - impact objectives: indicators Share of investment in ICT of total GDP (OECD) Contribution of investment in ICT capital to GDP growth (OECD) ITU Digital Access Index ITU) Impact of information and communications technology on the value added to market production (Statistics Finland) Use of the Internet at work (Statistics Finland)

The plan for implementing the Information Society Programme: Sections Telecommunications infrastructure and digital television Citizens’ ability to utilise the information society Training, working life, research and development Electronic services in public administration Social welfare and health Electronic commerce and digital contents and services Government IT services Legislative measures

Penetration of broadband connections, other Internet connections and PCs according to the size of a household in April-May 2004 as a percentage of all households Source: Consumer Survey. Statistics Finland.

Citizens’ ability to utilise the Information Society Share of citizens who feel that they have been pushed aside by the rapidly developing information technology Use of the Internet for different purposes

The usage of the Internet during past 3 months as a percentage of the age group Source: Net Commerce Survey. Statistics Finland.

Respondents who agree with the statement ”I feel completely overwhelmed by the advance of new information technology”, per cent of the age group Sources: Net Commerce Survey, spring 2004; Leisure time survey 2002; Finns and the future Information Society 1996-1999

Number of people completing degrees and qualifications in information technology and media studies in 1997 - 2002 Source: Statistics Finland, education statistics

Number of people who buy or have bought via the Internet, percentage of 15-74 years old population Source: Consumer Survey

Indicators (cont.) R&D expenditure Number of new patents Involvement of information society sectors in innovations Basic public services available on the Internet Study on the use of public Internet services and user satisfaction

Conclusion an accurate account of what is going on in society relevant, reliable and up-to-date numerical information and support globalisation: international comparisons official statistics international co-operation

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