Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the Finnish economy but emphasizes the need for fiscal consolidation and structural reforms to support economic recovery and growth potential [25][30]. Core Insights - The Finnish economy is slowly recovering from a recession, with a projected real GDP growth of 0.7% in 2025 and 1.1% in 2026, driven by declining interest rates and improved purchasing power [30][32]. - Finland has a strong comparative advantage in renewable electricity and engineering, which positions it well for the green industrial transition, but faces challenges in productivity growth and labor market mismatches [25][28]. - The report highlights the importance of attracting foreign talent to address skill shortages and enhance economic growth, alongside the need for reforms in higher education to increase attainment rates [51][43]. Summary by Sections Economic Recovery and Public Finances - The Finnish economy is gradually recovering, but growth lags behind Nordic peers and the OECD average, with a contraction of 0.1% in 2024 [31][30]. - Fiscal pressures are increasing due to rising defense, health, and pension expenditures, with a fiscal deficit of 4.4% of GDP in 2024 [37][30]. - Structural reforms are necessary to improve public spending efficiency and address labor market mismatches to sustain recovery [39][30]. Higher Education Attainment - Finland's higher education attainment rate has stagnated, ranking 30th among OECD countries, contributing to labor shortages in highly skilled positions [44][43]. - The higher education system is primarily publicly funded, and reforms are needed to increase the number of first-entrant places and expand the range of post-graduate qualifications [49][43]. - Encouraging business funding for higher education research is essential to free up resources for new entrants [25][43]. Attracting Foreign Talent - Attracting high-skilled foreign workers is crucial for addressing current and future skill shortages, particularly in sectors like ICT and green energy [51][52]. - Language proficiency remains a barrier for foreign workers, necessitating expanded language training programs and flexible workplace language policies [53][52]. - Initiatives to provide more internship opportunities for foreign students are needed to improve retention rates post-graduation [54][52]. Transition to Net Zero - Finland is not on track to meet its 2035 net zero greenhouse gas emissions target, with a need for increased forest growth and reduced soil emissions [57][56]. - Investment in low-emissions technologies is essential, but current policies and emissions accounting methods hinder progress [67][56]. - The report emphasizes the importance of public-private partnerships to crowd in private investment for the green transition [67][56].