Matti Paavonen

As Sitra’s Chief Economist, I am responsible for ensuring that all essential information on factors affecting Finland’s long-term economic development is taken into account in Sitra’s activities. Economic growth is not an end in itself, but rather a means to improve the well-being of Finnish people.

In my work, I focus especially on the anticipation of futures, the long-term prospects in the economy and a broad-based analysis of economic growth. Therefore, I am interested in matters such as the developments in the supply of labour and productivity, the economic operating environment and the impact of innovations on the economy.

Economic analyses must be comprehensible, credible and useful. I know the Finnish and international sources of information better than people do on average, but my task is above all to form a clear overall picture of the extensive data material and communicate it with clarity.

I have worked as an economist in different organisations for three decades. I also have experience in the production of statistics and working as the chief business officer of a consulting firm.

In my opinion, the most important skill for an economist is the ability to identify with the position of another person because it helps us to anticipate people’s actions.