Etla - research to support policy-making

Research activities focus on two thematic areas

Impact of Economic Policy. The aim is to find out how economic policy can promote competition between companies, improve operating conditions in Finland and boost the competitiveness of Finnish production on the world market.

Impact of Major Movements (Megatrends). Research examines the effects of key major movements (megatrends) on operating conditions in the business sector and the preconditions of Finland’s economic policy.

Research is carried out in four research groups

ETLA Economic Research is engaged in applied economic research with emphasis on questions central to the Finnish economy and business sector.

Labour market and education

Labour market and education

The focus of labour market and education research is the transformation taking place in work and adaptations to it. Technological development, globalisation and demographic changes affect the labour market in many ways and pose challenges to labour force and education policy. This research group investigates these phenomena thoroughly.

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Growth, international trade and competition

Growth, international trade and competition

This research group examines the effects of competition, digitalisation and the data economy, as well as public sector actions such as policy run regulations and how they affect on company strategy, commercial innovations and market operations. One particular topic of interest is what opportunities are available through innovation-driven growth in Finland and what measures could be taken to promote growth. The group also studies how export companies become successful as well as trade policy changes and their economic effects.

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Macroeconomy and public finances

Macroeconomy and public finances

The main focus of public finance research is on issues related to the funding of social security and the division of labour between the private and public sectors. Economic policy is analysed with an emphasis on, the sustainability of public finances and the creation and evaluation of related operational strategies. From a macroeconomic perspective, the group studies the development of both the Finnish economy as a whole and the overall global economy and their effects on Finnish business life.

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Business renewal

Business renewal

This research covers the renewal of companies, industries and the national economy. Discontinuities and transitions related to globalisation, technological development and company structures are often a focus of interest. Almost every project involves cooperation with companies or other stakeholders.

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Selected research

Research began 2024 Research ends 2025

The project investigates the growth opportunities of the Finnish biotechnology industry and provides important information about the high-tech industry that lies between the more well-known industries, which can produce important solutions for many other industries. The project generates new

Research began 2024 Research ends 2025

The EU's carbon border mechanism has been in use since October 1, 2023. Importers of imported products are obliged to report information on the emission content of the products covered by the mechanism, both in terms of direct and

Research began 2025 Research ends 2025

The goal of this project is to assess the economic significance of whether it is possible to meet the workforce needs of the technology industry sector. An estimate of the structure and amount of skilled workers needed in the

Research began 2025 Research ends 2025

This project examines public-sector wage formation in different European countries. Wage formation in the public sector is an important theme in all European countries because earnings development in the public sector directly affects the financial position of the public

Research began 2025 Research ends 2025

This research project investigates the extent to which entrepreneurs who have sold their companies use their assets and expertise to establish and finance new companies. In addition, this project investigates the effects of capital and the experience of previous

Research began 2025 Research ends 2025

This research project compares the magnitudes of the harm caused to the economy by different tax forms. Based on the results of the project, recommendations are offered towards a more efficient tax system that is less harmful to economic

Research began 2024 Research ends 2026

5G and 6G technologies are not only essential for promoting Europe's digital transformation, but are also linked to economic growth, strategic autonomy and security. The rapidly evolving geopolitical and technological landscape is reshaping the global mobile industry. The research

Research began 2024 Research ends 2026

The project widens the impact assessments of taxation to the tax system. The clearest lack of knowledge is the empirical literature's focus on the short-term effects of marginal taxes (forgetting the longer-term, broader effects. With the help of research,

Research began 2024 Research ends 2025

This research project analyzes the product-specific global demand of the export industry and the cost structure of Finnish production. The project produces information about the export industry's demand in the world market. Demand modeling provides information on the geographical

Research began 2024 Research ends 2025

The project examines the effects of the green transition on the labor market and the ability of companies to operate. First, we will examine how the Finnish labor market has adapted to the green transition, and how easily people

Research began 2024 Research ends 2026

In this project, information is produced about the forces of change shaping the business operations and labor market of companies, as well as the welfare effects of innovations and the green transition. Research topics and questions include, for example,

Research began 2024 Research ends 2026

This project focuses on new sources of innovation-driven economic growth, with an emphasis on sustainable development and international trade mechanisms. The project provides research-based information on how regulation and policy measures can promote such growth in Finland. The research