Overview

Background

Ruled by Sweden from the 12th to the 19th century and by Russia from 1809, Finland finally won its independence in 1917. During World War II, it successfully defended its freedom and fended off invasions by the Soviet Union and Germany.

In the half century that followed, the Finns made a remarkable transformation from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy, with a per capita income that is now on par with Western Europe.  As a member of the...