This old piece of economic wisdom—most famously popularized by economist Milton Friedman—is more relevant than ever. At its core is a simple, often forgotten truth: nothing is truly free. If you aren’t paying, someone else is. And even when no money changes hands, time, effort, labor, or other resources surely have. Yet we live in … Read more
The composition of the boards of municipally owned companies is a topic that inevitably resurfaces after local elections. Who gets a seat at the boardroom table? These positions can be filled based on political representation, administrative leadership, or external expertise — and each approach brings both justification and risk. Appointing elected officials to municipal company … Read more
When catching up with friends from different parts of the world, it quickly becomes clear how differently people view global events depending on where they live. Here in Europe, conversations often revolve around Russia’s war of aggression and the security concerns it has brought to our doorstep. But elsewhere, people might be focused on entirely … Read more
Digitalization, rapidly evolving job roles, and a shortage of skilled workers are pushing companies to rethink how they recruit and organize work. In many workplaces, the day-to-day reality is fragmentation: tasks pile up on individual employees to the point where efficiency is lost in the rush. At the same time, vocational special education schools are … Read more
The election battle is heating up, and candidates are fighting for every vote — just as they should. Despite it all, the atmosphere between us candidates has remained warm, and we’ve been having real conversations about Pieksämäki’s future. Props to all of us! Still, some campaign promises make you do a double take: a marina, … Read more
Let’s set aside the popular topic of change management for a moment and focus on the current challenges of leadership and supervisory work amidst ongoing changes. How can leaders navigate rapidly evolving work environments? Leadership has always been a cornerstone of success in businesses and organizations. However, the significance and methods of leadership and supervisory … Read more
Local elections are the closest form of democracy we have, where citizens have the opportunity to influence matters at the local level in their own municipalities. Unfortunately, too many people approach voting with passivity or even negativity – which is why it’s crucial to recognize the impact of not voting. In municipal politics, many decisions … Read more
How do you know an election is coming up? You don’t need to follow the news or scroll through social media. Just head to the town square or pop into your local grocery store for some milk. That’s where you’ll find them — candidates lined up, big smiles on their faces, coffee thermoses ready. These … Read more
Thank you, Riitta Sippo, for your article (March 20, 2025) in the local Newspaper ‘Pieksämäen Lehti‘ discussing the situation and future of Pieksämäki. However, one point you made raised eyebrows among us at Tapahtumaverkko ry association — and rightfully so. You wrote: “Tourism and travel are not Pieksämäki’s thing. Has anyone seen a tourist here? … Read more
In recent years, electric vehicles have gained an increasingly strong foothold, with massive investments fueling their development. But what if the same level of investment had been directed toward making the traditional internal combustion engines more sustainable? Could traditional engine technology still have a future—one that is greener and more viable? The biggest challenge facing … Read more