Austerity hits Finnish women hardest


A new report, produced by a research unit based within the Finnish prime minister’s office, finds the government’s own policies of cuts and freezes in benefit payments and social support are more damaging to women than to men. 


Women make up a majority (55%) of those losing more than ¤50 (£45) a year, and their disposable income has declined by more than men’s. 


The report concludes that the government failed to take account of the greater impact on women of its ¤6 billion (£5.4 billion) cuts in government spending, which led to increased inequality between the sexes. 


It recommends that government extend the use of gender impact assessments to the broad budgetary process.