Finland’s sickly economy is shrinking again

[Tennis]

https://qz.com/1053926/finland-gdp-t...rinking-again/

There are a fair few countries with a claim to being called “the sick man of Europe,” but Finland continues to make its case.

The Finnish economy shrank in the second quarter of this year, versus the first quarter, a reversal from a series of better-than-expected results in recent periods. A monthly measure of output fell year-on-year for the first time since 2015, according to data released today.

Although the euro zone’s beleaguered south has captured more attention, the Nordic country’s protracted stagnation grinds on. The Finnish economy is still smaller than it was in 2008. Even Spain regained its pre-crisis growth rate earlier this year.

The decline of Nokia, which at its height accounted for 4% of Finland’s GDP and more than 20% of its exports (pdf), is one factor in Finland’s malaise. The steady decline of the forestry industry and EU sanctions against Russia, which shares an 800-mile border with Finland, haven’t helped, either. Add in a dose of political turmoil and the prognosis for the economy isn’t great.

Although most forecasters expect the Finnish economy to record respectable, if unspectacular, growth this year, it will be a while before the country fully recovers from the global financial crisis. According to the IMF, Finland’s GDP won’t regain its 2008 level until 2020.

Yikes. What do you think should be done to heal the struggling Finish economy?

For starters they need to end the mandatory military service. It's a waste of resources and young individuals could spend their time in a much more productive manner.

[Aggrophobic]

It's not a "waste of resources" when you live next to Russia.

[Deleted]

Join the Russian Federation.

[Livnthedream]

Service guarantees citizenship!

[Deleted]

They should export thier national past time. Suicide.

[LedZeppelin]

Want to know more?

[Independent voter]

More like the Japan of Europe.

[ReD-EyeD]

It's not a "waste of resources" when you live next to Russia.

It actually is. It's like sharpening toothpick against a bear.

Finland was selling A LOT of stuff to Russia before the sanctions and they're hurting tremendously because of these restrictions now.

[Tennis]

It's not a "waste of resources" when you live next to Russia.

Whether they have an army of 1000 or 50 000 it will not make a difference when it comes to Russia.

[Independent voter]

It actually is. It's like sharpening toothpick against a bear.

Finland was selling A LOT of stuff to Russia before the sanctions and they're hurting tremendously because of these restrictions now.

If we let Russia get away with annexing Crimea like we let Hitler get away with annexing the Sudetenland, Finland will be annex next.

The sanctions against Russia are to prevent this from happening.

[Aggrophobic]

It actually is. It's like sharpening toothpick against a bear.

Finland was selling A LOT of stuff to Russia before the sanctions and they're hurting tremendously because of these restrictions now.

That is hardly true and Russia messing up their econamy is not the main reason Finland is doing poorly.

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Whether they have an army of 1000 or 50 000 it will not make a difference when it comes to Russia.

Sure it will. Thats a silly argument.
If it costs to invade you will think twise befor doing so. If it's free then why not just go right away?

[Tennis]

That is hardly true and Russia messing up their econamy is not the main reason Finland is doing poorly.

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Sure it will. Thats a silly argument.
If it costs to invade you will think twise befor doing so. If it's free then why not just go right away?

But it's not free. Canada, U.S. and the Euros will defend Finland.

[Deleted]

Whether they have an army of 1000 or 50 000 it will not make a difference when it comes to Russia.

Finland can never beat Russia in a war, the only thing Finland can do is ensrue the price to invade will be high, hence it act as a deterrent, and yes Russia politic is sensitive to losses... not that Russia have chosen to classified military casualties think about that...

[Aggrophobic]

But it's not free. Canada, U.S. and the Euros will defend Finland.

Yeah, probably not and hardly fast enough.

[Azadina]

Let's see....Gets called on his BS by someone from Finland = immediately posts some Finland bashing thread.

Hilariously sad, especially when talking something about "spending their time in more productive manner" The irony is sweet.

[Deleted]

Well I can say is that according to all the polls I've read, we Finns like to keep our mandatory military service, and so do I personally (I've served it, it's really normal). More of a problem is our income support, which makes it possible for people to stay unemployed on purpose and spend tax money, without doing any work for improvement for our country. And yes the Russia sanctions hurt.

[Deleted]

Whether they have an army of 1000 or 50 000 it will not make a difference when it comes to Russia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_War

[Livnthedream]

Whether they have an army of 1000 or 50 000 it will not make a difference when it comes to Russia.

It mattered for Poland.

[ReD-EyeD]

If we let Russia get away with annexing Crimea like we let Hitler get away with annexing the Sudetenland, Finland will be annex next.

The sanctions against Russia are to prevent this from happening.

Not sure if you're following me, but I was talking about Russia's counter sanctions, not the western ones. And to be honest they're not preventing anything, but even more promoting the cold war standing.

[Armourboy]

But it's not free. Canada, U.S. and the Euros will defend Finland.

They really won't, and if they do by the time they wait for the UN and all of the other red tape to get done Russia will have already entrenched itself.

And that's not casting any ill will to the Finns, heck both of our goalies are from Finland, I'm not about to have a bad thing to say about them.