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05.06.2026

28.05.2026 | Impact stories

Impact story: Disseminating research findings in the national media

Authors of the impact story: Marjukka Hourunranta and Kaisa Kotakorpi, Tampere University

Finnish Centre of Excellence in Tax Systems Research FIT
Leader of the CoE: Kaisa Kotakorpi, Tampere University
Authors of the impact story: Marjukka Hourunranta and Kaisa Kotakorpi, Tampere University

Impact objective

One of the main goals of the Finnish Centre of Excellence in Tax Systems Research (FIT) is to strengthen evidence-based policymaking. FIT works to increase the uptake of research results among policymakers and to support informed public and political debate.

Means

The Finnish Centre of Excellence in Tax Systems Research carried out a set of activities before and during the 2025 Finnish government budget negotiations. These activities focused on the timely dissemination of research, active media engagement, and direct interaction with policymakers to ensure that research evidence informed public debate and policy decisions at critical moments.

In the pre-negotiation phase, researchers prioritized accessible communication of up-to-date evidence on taxation and economic growth. On 9 October 2024, article #8 in the FIT Writing series, written by Jarkko Harju, Aliisa Koivisto, and Tuomas Matikka, synthesized the latest research on the effects of corporate taxation, making complex academic findings available to a broader audience, including journalists and policy stakeholders. This was followed on 29 October 2024 by a press release distributed through the STT Info service, which highlighted that changes in taxation are not simple tools for boosting economic growth. The press release was cited in newspapers and digital media.

Closer to the actual budget negotiations, engagement continued in the form of direct policy interaction and targeted communication. On 27 January 2025, Kaisa Kotakorpi participated in an expert hearing convened by the Prime Minister’s Office Growth working group, providing an opportunity to present research evidence directly to key policymakers involved in shaping fiscal policy at an influential stage of the negotiations.

In February 2025, further efforts were made to consolidate and communicate the research evidence base. An article by Kaisa Kotakorpi and Jukka Pirttilä in the FIT Writing series provided a concise overview of how taxation affects economic growth, supporting both policymakers and the media with clear, researchbased conclusions during a critical decision-making period. In parallel, a formal written statement was submitted to the Parliament’s Finance Committee, Subcommittee on Taxation, addressing the taxation of owner-entrepreneurs in unlisted companies. This statement, prepared by Jarkko Harju, Kaisa Kotakorpi, and Jukka Pirttilä, translated academic research into concrete policy-relevant analysis, directly informing parliamentary deliberations.

Together, these activities created a continuum of impact: from raising awareness and shaping public
debate through media engagement, to directly informing policymakers through expert hearings and formal statements. By aligning the timing of communication with the budget negotiation cycle, the researchers ensured that their research findings were visible at key moments, thereby contributing to more inform ed public discourse and supporting evidence-based decision-making.

  • 09.10.2024: Article #8 in the FIT Writing series by Jarkko Harju, Aliisa Koivisto and Tuomas Matikka: “What new do we know about the impact of corporate taxes. “FIT-kirjoitussarjan artikkeli FIT #8/2024: ”Mitä uutta tiedämme yritysverojen vaikutuksista?”

  • 27.1.2025: Kaisa Kotakorpi in the Expert hearing in the Prime Minister’s Room for Growth working group. Kaisa Kotakorven asiantuntijakuuleminen Valtioneuvoston Kasvuriihi-työryhmässä

Results

During the government budget negotiations in April 2025, FIT researchers achieved strong and sustained visibility in major Finnish media within a short timeframe. Between 19 and 30 April, researchers were featured repeatedly in leading outlets such as YLE, Helsingin Sanomat, MTV, and other national and regional media, through interviews, expert commentary, and citations.

FIT experts, including Jarkko Harju, Kaisa Kotakorpi, Tuomas Matikka, and Tuomas Kosonen, were prominently present in both print and digital news, as well as on television and podcasts. Their researchbased assessments were covered in multiple high-profile formats, including YLE’s main news broadcasts and widely read online articles, as well as Helsingin Sanomat print and digital coverage, and national podcast platforms. In addition, FIT research outputs, such as the FIT Writing series, were directly referenced in media reporting, including an editorial in Helsingin Sanomat, further extending their reach. The media engagement was continuous throughout the negotiation period, with multiple appearances on key decision days (particularly 24 April), ensuring that research evidence was visible at critical moments. The coverage consistently highlighted research on taxation, public economics, and economic growth, positioning FIT researchers as central expert voices in the national debate.

Overview of media visibility of FIT related to the government budget negotiations in 2025

19.4.2025YLE: Hallitus kaavailee tulo- ja yhteisöveron laskemista – tätä siitä seuraisiJarkko Harju ja Tuomas Matikkahttps://yle.fi/a/74-20156752
21.4.2025HS: Hallitus aikoo keventää yhteisöveron 17–18 prosenttiinViittaus ja linkki FIT-kirjoitus-sarjaanhttps://www.hs.fi/politiikka/art-2000011181677.html
21.-22.4.2025HS printti (22.4.): Yhteisöveron keventäminen heikentäisi julkista taloutta ja verkko (21.4.): Taloustieteilijät varoittavat: Yhteisöveron keventäminen kiihdyttäisi Suomen velkaantumistaTuomas Kosonen, Sami Jysmähttps://www.hs.fi/politiikka/art-2000011182149.html
23.4.2025Uusi Juttu -podcast: Verojen alentaminen sotii hallituksen velkatavoitetta vastaan, sanoo verotuksen huippuasiantuntijaKaisa Kotakorpihttps://www.uusijuttu.fi/juttu/sZRTksqW-aVTH6fEX-f7e00
24.4.2025YLE: Tutkijat: Riihen päätökset lisäävät velkaantumista – lisäkasvua voi tulla, mutta se ei suinkaan maksa itseään takaisinTuomas Matikkahttps://yle.fi/a/74-20157635
24.4.2025HS: Suomella ei olisi varaa näin mittaviin veronalennuksiin, sanoo professoriKaisa Kotakorpihttps://www.hs.fi/politiikka/art-2000011188632.html
24.4.2025YLE pääuutislähetys, haastattelu puoliväliriihen veronkevennyksistä ja talouden tasapainottamisestaKaisa Kotakorpihttps://areena.yle.fi/1-72361911
24.4.2025MTV3: Taloustieteilijä: Hallituksen päätökset lisäävät Suomen velanottoa tulevaisuudessaTuomas Kosonenhttps://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/taloustieteilija-hallituksen-paatokset-lisaavat-suomen-velanottoa-tulevaisuudessa/9143458
24.4.2025YLE verkko: Taloustieteilijät paukauttavat suorat sanat hallituksen päätöksistä: “Numeroiden kaunistelua”Kaisa Kotakorpihttps://yle.fi/a/74-20157952 
25.4.2025Uusi Suomi: Professoreilta kovaa kritiikkiä hallitukselle – Näin kokoomuspomo puolustaa: ”Pienellä veromuutoksella ei saada suurta vaikutusta”Viittauksia aikaisempiin haastatteluihin / Kotakorpi, Kosonen,  Matikkahttps://www.uusisuomi.fi/uutiset/professoreilta-kovaa-kritiikkia-hallitukselle-nain-kokoomuspomo-puolustaa-pienella-veromuutoksella-ei-saada-suurta-vaikutusta/174250ca-f3ad-42c6-9d8f-4b316e987939
26.4.2025YLE verkko: Taloustieteen professori arvostelee yhteisöveron laskua: Tehoton keino talouskasvuunJarkko Harjuhttps://yle.fi/a/74-20158071
28.4.2025Etelä-Saimaa, Keskisuomalainen ja muita konsernin maakuntalehtiä: Hallitus päätti alentaa ruoan arvonlisäveroa – se voi laskea elintarvikkeiden hintoja tai sitten eiTuomas Kosonenhttps://www.esaimaa.fi/uutissuomalainen/8477391
 
28.4.2025YLE pääuutislähetys, haastattelu veroleikkauksistaTuomas Kosonenhttps://areena.yle.fi/1-3235352
30.4.2025YLE (verkko): Ministeriön paperit julki: Tähän ”dynaamiset” vaikutukset perustuvatTuomas Kosonen, Tuomas Matikkahttps://yle.fi/a/74-20158758

Impacts

Researchers’ active and concentrated media presence significantly amplified the visibility and accessibility of research on public economics, contributing to informed public discussion and increasing the likelihood that research findings reached policymakers during the budget negotiations. Generally, being recognized in the national media as a top researcher eases access to decisionmakers at all levels. CoE FIT researchers’ frequent parliamentary hearings and expert statements provide direct input into the policy-making process, when new legislation is being drafted. While the precise causal impact cannot be directly measured, sometimes research results find their way into the policy documents. Prior to the government budget negotiation phase discussed in this paper, a clear example on our impact on taxation, facilitated by strong media presence, can be found: Namely, the research on sin taxes (excise taxes on sweets, ice cream and soft drinks) had large visibility in the national media. The research results contradicted previous proposals to implement a broad-based health tax, and such plans were abandoned. The research was cited in a government proposal to increase the VAT on sweets (which was also later abandoned). The research also attracted interest beyond Finnish borders.

In addition to visibility in national media on almost daily basis, CoE FIT was also referenced twice (8.3. and 28.4.2025) in the popular prime-time political satire programme Kovan viikon ilta. In these segments, FIT research was used to challenge unsubstantiated or misleading claims made by politicians. While appearances in a satirical context during a politically sensitive period could carry reputational risks, the coverage did not generate negative attention; rather, it further underscored the relevance of FIT’s research in public debate.

The media coverage also translated into increased public interest in CoE FIT and its research outputs. According to Google Analytics data, traffic to the FIT website (verotutkimus.fi, taxresearch.fi) peaked in April 2025. For example, the site recorded 514 new visitors on 21 April 2025, when FIT was directly linked to an online article by Helsingin Sanomat. In addition, FIT Writing Series article #9 on taxation and economic growth has been read more than 2,000 times, demonstrating that FIT research reached audiences beyond the academic community and engaged a wider public interested in economic policy. Maintaining dialogue with policymakers and the media requires continuity, responsiveness, and clear communication. Rather than focusing only on peak moments such as budget negotiations, CoE FIT aims to engage regularly by disseminating research findings through press releases, news stories on its website and various social media channels. FIT Writing Series continues to engage a wider Finnish-speaking audience interested in public economics beyond the academic community. FIT researchers maintain direct relationships with trusted journalists and offer timely expert commentary on emerging issues both in the media and to various actors within public administration. Continued participation in expert hearings and targeted events can further strengthen relationships with policymakers, supporting CoE FIT’s role as a trusted source of evidence in public debate.

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