In a recent appearance on A-studio, Juhana Vartiainen, a prominent economist and former mayor of Helsinki, argued that Finland's welfare system needs reform to encourage personal responsibility. He suggests that like Denmark, Finland should require beneficiaries to meet obligations and engage in services to receive social support. Vartiainen expressed concern that the current system allows for a lack of accountability among those receiving welfare, which he believes leads to a systemic failure in addressing poverty.

Vartiainen criticized the Finnish welfare system for its low level of obligation compared to Denmark, where recipients risk losing their benefits if they do not take proactive steps in improving their circumstances. He mentioned that in Denmark, even the poor are not worse off than in Finland, implying that stricter rules could lead to better outcomes for those in need. Vartiainen believes that people are more likely to seek employment when there are real consequences for not doing so, hence creating a more dynamic job market.

Despite Vartiainen's advocacy for a more demanding welfare approach, there are dissenting opinions. For instance, the University of Helsinki's Hiilamo has rejected Vartiainen's views, suggesting that imposing strict conditions can be detrimental to those who genuinely struggle. The discourse raises critical questions about balancing social safety nets with incentivizing personal responsibility, highlighting ongoing debates about welfare reforms in Finland.