A half-baked approach?

This news is a couple of weeks old, but it's just come to my notice.

Police [in Finland] are requesting citizens to inform them of pizzerias that offer their meals at less than 6 euros [about US $6.60] each. Their campaign is directed mainly at social media, where people have been quick to ridicule the seemingly trivial measure, but one which the authorities say is the first decisive step towards rooting out the country's grey economy.

"We need tips from citizens. You can post them on our web site or contact us on social media. Unless a pizza is on temporary sale there is no way a legitimate establishment can offer pizza at less than 6 euros," claims Minna Immonen from the Uusimaa police department.

. . .

The few weeks the campaign is scheduled to last will be followed by further measures to combat the grey economy and unlawful financial activities. Police say that instead of arousing outrage their pizza campaign should entice the public to work with them, not least of all because the issue represents millions of dodged tax euros.

"It's important to remind people that a low price is not the only indicator, and that not being offered or given a receipt is another red flag people should be aware of," says Immonen. "As nice as a cheap pizza seems, especially with food prices as high as they are, too cheap and it makes it possible for some entrepreneurs to hatch money-grabbing schemes."

There's more at the link.

When I first read this report, I was nonplussed.  Why would anyone in his right mind report a pizzeria for selling cheap pizza?  Surely he'd simply take advantage of the low price?  Puzzled, I contacted a Finnish friend of mine who's now living elsewhere.  She pointed out that the mindset in Finland is very different to that in some other countries, particularly the USA and the UK.  She said that Finland's 'welfare state' programs rely on taxation to fund them, so cheating on taxes is publicly portrayed - not just by the government, but by many news media as well - as also cheating those in need who are supported by those programs.  From that point of view, she says, the campaign makes perfect sense.

I don't see it that way, of course.  I'd prefer to have most welfare programs cater for only the bare essentials, and encourage participants - by their threadbare nature - to get back on their own two feet as quickly as possible so as to earn their way to a better life, rather than have it handed to them at taxpayer expense.  However, that's apparently not the way many Finns see it.  Different strokes for different folks, I guess . . .

(Nevertheless, if I ever visit Finland and get the chance to buy a decent pizza on the cheap, I'm highly unlikely to do anything other than wolf it down!)

Peter