Who supports privately provided public services? - An analysis of finnish citizens'attitudes toward public service marketization

Abstract

This study examines Finnish citizens' attitudes toward public service marketization. Traditionally the public sector has dominated the market of public services, such as education, healthcare and social care. Since the mid-1990s, the market of public services has been diversified thus allowing the third and private sector more avenues to provide services. However Finnish citizens have held a reserved attitude toward privately provided services. Support for public service marketization has decreased at the same time that the role of the private sector has increased. In this regard this study explores which factors (demographic, practical, or ideological) predict positive attitudes towards public service marketization, based on a survey of 1,135 respondents. The main results of the study indicate that ideological factors predict the respondents' positive attitude towards marketization. I Ideological factors especially choice (OR = 2.052***) and inequality (OR = 1.555***) had key roles in supporting marketization. Demographic factors had the most significant influence: the older the respondents, the more they have reservations about marketization. Practical justifications (such as high taxes) were not associated with positive attitudes towards marketization. Supporting marketization is an ideological issue which is not necessarily justified by demographic and practical factors, although the practical justifications are the most commonly presented in the media when quoting politicians and top officials.