Distinct From the Nordic Revolving Door? The Before and Post-Appointment Employment of High-Ranking Political Aides in Finland

Abstract

The movement of political aides to the Finnish government between businesses or lobbyist organisations and government roles—the revolving door—has been debated since the 2000s. That scrutiny has included political state secretaries. However, little research has been conducted on the subject in Finland, though it has been examined in other Nordic countries. The study is based on information on state secretaries (n = 83) working in the Finnish government between 2003 and 2023 and information on their employment before and after their state secretary posts. A significant proportion (about 36%) of Finnish state secretaries were employed by interest groups (businesses, business lobbying groups or trade unions) before their appointment to the government role. However, most state secretaries move to the role from policymaking (27%), business (23%) or public sector (20%) roles. Most state secretaries with an earlier background in politics transition to either the private or public sector after their term of office. About half of the state secretaries change their sector of employment after as a state secretary, most of whom move to the private sector. Six typologies of state secretaries' professional profiles were identified: career political aides, career civil servants, career politicians, between business and politics, trade union experts and leaders, and municipal leaders, indicating the elite nature of the state secretary post.