ABSTRACT
Finland is one of the Scandinavian welfare societies. The social security networks and systems in the country provide remarkable social benefits, for example, in case of unemployment and sickness. Education, including higher education, is free. Nominal health care charges have been introI duced during 1990s. In Russia the social security system has suffered seI verely since the collapse of Soviet Union. The Soviet Union, which was a socialist welfare society, guaranteed basic services for the population. Privatization has been a keyword in the Russian educational and health care sectors. Pensions have not been paid or their purchasing power is minimal. The same applies to unemployment benefits and even salaries in most areas of the public sector.
