Large companies don´t trust in govt’s ability to balance public finances

About 68% of big companies find that Finnish political leadership causes uncertainty for companies, according to a survey commissioned by OP Financial Group. Only a fifth of large corporations believe that public finances are being balanced, said OP in a press release on Friday referring to the Survey of Large Corporations. Of all the measures implemented by the Finnish government, large corporations assess that cuts to corporate tax are the most impactful. Faith in the balancing of public finances is especially being tested. In 2023, when the four-party alliance government led by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo had just started, 36% of large corporations believed that public finances would be balanced. Only 22% believe this now. “During Sanna Marin’s term, less than five per cent of large corporations believed that public finances were improving. While the situation is significantly better with the current government, faith in Orpo’s government is clearly waning. The number of large corporations that believe that public finances are being balanced has fallen by 40% in two years,” said Professor Jaakko Aspara, director of the survey. In its 2025 framework and budget discussions, the Finnish government decided on several measures with the aim of accelerating Finland’s economic growth. Of all the measures implemented by the Finnish government, large corporations assess that lowering corporate tax from 20 to 18% is the most impactful. About two thirds of large corporations estimate that this will increase their desire to grow and invest at least somewhat. About half of the respondents also believed that the reduction in the top marginal taxes from 59 to 52% would increase the desire to grow and make investments. “However, it seems that the government’s measures are still not sufficient incentives for growth. Less than 20 per cent of large corporations believe that these two measures will provide a significant boost and less than 5 per cent believe this will decisively increase corporations’ desire for growth and investments,” said Aspara. The results are based on OP’s annual Survey of Large Corporations, which measures large Finnish company executives’ views on business and economic developments. A total of 155 senior executives representing 139 large Finnish corporations and large subsidiaries operating in Finland responded to the survey. According to their latest certified financial statements, the responding companies have a combined revenue of over 248 billion euros, and they employ over 585,000 people in total. The survey was conducted in autumn 2025. OP carries out the Survey of Large Corporations in partnership with the Nordic Institute of Business and Society (NIBS) think tank founded by Aalto University professors.