Social an Cultural Eco-efficiency Indicators in Southeast Finland

Transcription

1 Social an Cultural Eco-efficiency Indicators in Southeast Finland Mr. Niilo Melolinna Senior Researcher, Licentiate in Social Sciences. The Employment and Economic Development Centre for Southeastern Finland Presentation in the International Seminar INTEGRATED SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT AND REPORTING Portugal, Algarve, Vilamoura 22 October 2007 Niilo Melolinna 1

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3 My presentation I will start in opposite direction with some conclusions and suggestions based on our work and my own views and opinions The second part shows our indicators and the way we try to illustrate them Niilo Melolinna 3

4 Some conclusions and suggestions for the future 1 Developing the regions needs long term thinking Good analysis, not only grapichs. Multiplier effects (over time) are often neclected. If we do not see multiplier effects, it may be difficult to realise what is an investment and what is a mere cost One problem in modern western societies is sectoral thinking and calculating costs and benefits only inside one sector (or one firm) not between sectors. Niilo Melolinna 4

5 Conclusions and suggestions for the future 2 Opinions of the residents? (Difficult to get good information?) People are living in communities. County based indicators do not reveal the quality of their community. Everyday physical environment is important as well as social environment. These two are connected. (Community based indicators are difficult to get because of lack of statistics) Not too many indicators The need for actions and cross-sectoral cooperation. Niilo Melolinna 5

6 The basic requirement We need good regional statistics and time series Niilo Melolinna 6

7 Why social and cultural indicators There are 3 sectors in the society: 1) Production, 2) Environment and the use of land and other natural rersources and 3) People All three are connected and influence each other As we all know: It is sometimes forgotten that the well being of the people living in the region (and visiting it) is the main goal and economy is only one means to create well being Economy and the use of environment may cause unwanted results. These can be traced with social and cultural indicators Niilo Melolinna 7

8 Social and cultural Indicators in Southeast Finland Indicators are under some themes: Population Employment Health Safety Social exclusion Education Culture Local identity Niilo Melolinna 8

9 Social indicators Excess of births Net migration Number of foreign citizens Unemployment rate Job structure (the share of the service sector) Women s wages % of men s Number of entrepreneurs Persons receiving social assistance Dependency ratio: the number of non-employed per employed Suicides Sickness ratio Number of deaths before the age of 65 Life expectancy of newborns Traffic violations Violent crimes Road traffic accidents Number of secondary and higher education graduates R&D expenditures Niilo Melolinna 9

10 Cultural indicators Net public expenditure on education and culture (of the municipalities) Number of loans in public libraries Voting rate in municipal elections Nights spent in hotels Circulation of local newspapers Niilo Melolinna 10

11 The analysis Indicators may be divided in two: Indicators telling us how good or bad the situation is. Such indicators as: employment and unemployment, suicides and violent crimes, road traffic accidents, household receiving social assistance etc. And indicators showing the potential of the region. Such as: expenditure in education and culture, nights spent in hotels, circulation of newspapers e.g Or taken from another sector of the economy: the good quality of air, the quality of land use e.g. Niilo Melolinna 11

12 Some interesting indicators in southeast Finland Sickness rate (An indicator which connects regional death-rates, work disability pensioners and persons who have some common diseases). What are the connections to other indicators or phenomenons. Road traffic. The burden of heavy truck traffic to and from Russia puts pressure on road safety etc. Local Identity. It is sometimes said that local identity is not very high in our area Local identity may be one of the most important forces for the future develpoment of the area Niilo Melolinna 12

13 How to illustrate the results Each indicator is on its own page. There is a graph (with numerical results, too) and a text telling the analysis and conclusions etc. We also use traffic lights to show the development inside the region (to better or worse) Beoynd that we use two-by-two tables -thinking The variables in these are: The status better or worse than the average in Finland The development in recent years better or worse than the average Niilo Melolinna 13

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16 ANOTHER POSSIBILITY TO ILLUSTRATE DEVELOPMENT FROM THE YEAR 2000 BETTER THAN NATIONAL AVERAGE WORSE THAN NATIONAL AVERAGE BETTER THAN NATIONAL AVERAGE Violent crimes Number of entrepreneurs Nights spent in local hotels County of South Carelia 2006 THE STATUS IN 2006 OR THE LATEST YEAR WORSE THAN NATIONAL AVERAGE Unemployment rate The share of services Persons receiving social assistance Voting rate in municipal elections Deaths before the age of 65 Life expectancy of newborns Secondary and higher education graduates R&D expenditures Women's wages % of men's Dependancy ratio Number of foreign citizens Number of loans from public libraries Excess of births Suicides Sickness rate Net public expendire on education and culture Absolute development NEGATIVE Absolute development POSITIVE Niilo Melolinna 16