Concepts: V

The concepts described on these pages are words and expressions used in statistics with a specific, limited meaning. In everyday speech the word may have a different meaning. The same concept may mean a different thing in different sets of statistics. For example, the concept “unemployed” has three different definitions.

In connection with each definition you can find information about which sets of statistics use the concept. If you are looking for statistical figures, go from the definition to the statistics page.

A driving licence is valid for a specified time period. The validity of a driving licence expires when the right to drive a vehicle ends or if the holder of the right to drive has several rights to drive with different expiry dates, when the right to drive that ends first expires. Last day of validity is marked on a driving licence.

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With the exception of some variables concerning population and labour, the system shows all flows and stocks in monetary terms. The system does not attempt to determine the utility of flows and stocks. Instead, flows and stocks are measured according to their exchange value, i.e. the value at which flows and stocks are in fact, or could be, exchanged for cash. Market prices are thus the basic reference for valuation in the national accounts.

In the case of monetary transactions and cash holdings and liabilities, the values required are directly available. In most other cases, the preferred method of valuation is by reference to market prices for analogous goods, services or assets. This method is used for e.g. barter and the services of owner-occupied dwellings. When no market prices for analogous products are available, for instance in the case of non-market services produced by government, valuation should be made according to production costs. If neither of these two methods are feasible, flows and stocks may be valued at the discounted present value of expected future returns. However, due to the great uncertainty involved, this last method is only recommended as a last resort.

Stocks should be valued at current prices at the time to which the balance sheet relates, not at the time of production or acquisition of the goods or assets that form the stocks. It is sometimes necessary to value stocks at their estimated written-down current acquisition values or production costs.

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Value added (gross) refers to the value generated by any unit engaged in a production activity. In market production it is calculated by deducting from the unit's output the intermediates (goods and services) used in the production process and in non-market production by adding up compensation of employees, consumption of fixed capital and possible taxes on production and imports.

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Almost all sales of goods and services in Finland are subject to VAT. However, real estate is subject to VAT for services rendered on its own account and by its own staff on the real estate. These services include construction, repair and real estate management services.

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A value index is a measure (ratio) that describes change in a nominal value relative to its value in the base year. The index point figure for each point in time tells what percentage a given value is at that point in time of its respective value at the base point in time. Thus, in monthly statistics the value index point figure for an examined month describes the percentage share of the value of that month of the average monthly value for the base year.

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Value of inventories includes all goods that according to a company's book-keeping form its current assets. According to Section 4 of the Book-keeping Act (1336/1997), current assets refer to commodities intended for assignment or consumption as such or after further processing.

Inventories also include purchases of goods abroad and binding purchase agreements where they represent the company's current assets. Inventories arising from commissioned work are reported by the commissioning company.

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Value-added tax (D.211) is a tax on goods or services collected in stages by enterprises and which is ultimately charged in full to the final purchasers. Value-added tax (VAT) comprises the value added tax which is collected by the General government and which is applied to national and imported products.

For the total economy account, VAT is equal to the difference between total invoiced VAT and total deductible VAT.

In the national accounts, taxes are recorded on an accrual basis. The accrual-basis method of recording differs from the cash-basis method of recording in certain respects. Tax amounts recorded on cash basis express the amount accrued on the cash account. Tax amounts recorded on an accrual basis show the amount of tax accruing from the transaction over the period of time when the tax liability was incurred.

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A vehicle manufactured for the transportation of goods. Total weight of no more than 3,500 kg.

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Number of road vehicles registered at a given date in a country and licensed to use roads open to public traffic. This includes road vehicles exempted from annual taxes or license fees; it also includes imported second-hand vehicles and other road vehicles according to national practices. The statistics should exclude military vehicles.

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Number of axles of the vehicle of a train X corresponding train-kilometres.

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There are several definitions for this concept

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Vehicle-related taxes are environmental taxes levied on motor vehicles. Vehicle-related taxes in Finland comprise automobile tax, vehicle tax and motor vehicle tax.

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A vessel registered abroad which a Finnish enterprise has time chartered (hired) for its own use.

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The combined weight of the vessel’s cargo, fuel, water supplies, stores and people according to the Plimsoll line, i.e. the vessel’s carrying power.

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Comparison figure based on the total volume of closed-in spaces of a vessel.

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Measurement of a vessel’s available capacity.

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If the injured party is also the victim of an offence, a separate entry is made of this into the PATJA system. At the moment, it is obligatory to record victim data only in attempted homicides, assaults and other crimes against life or health, sexual offences, human trafficking offences and in some offences of Chapter 25 of the Criminal Code.

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The main unit in the Border Interview Survey is one visit to Finland made by a non-resident of Finland. A visit starts at the border crossing on arrival into Finland and ends at the next border crossing on departure from Finland. A visitor may make several visits to Finland during one trip. As a rule the Survey data concern the specific visit at the end of which the data are collected.

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Visits to friends and relatives (VFR) are so-called social visits. They are usually undertaken for relaxation, and they are often seen as a sub-category of leisure, recreation and holidays. The WTO's definition refers to the motive of the visit, and not to the mode of accommodation. In the classification by purpose they constitute a sub-category of leisure trips.

In the Finnish Travel survey visits to friends and relatives are a sub-gategory of leisure trips in which other leisure trips are combined (excl. visits to one's own holiday home). As a means of accommodation, staying with friends and relatives is classified into the category of private non-rental accommodation.

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There are several definitions for this concept

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Vocational education refers to initial or further vocational education leading to a vocational qualification. Initial vocational education is education leading to upper secondary level vocational qualifications. Education leading to further or specialist vocational qualifications are further vocational education.

Until the end of 2021, vocational education can be curriculum-based education or preparatory education for a skills examination. New students are no longer admitted to these types of education. According to the Vocational Education and Training Act (531/2017), vocational education and qualifications can be completed as education in educational institutions, based on a training agreement, apprenticeship training and/or a combination of these starting from 2018.

Apprenticeship training is mainly training organised at the workplace in connection with practical tasks, which is supplemented if necessary by studying in other learning environments. Apprenticeship training is an employment contract between a student and an employer.

In education based on a training agreement, the student acquires skills at the workplace in connection with practical tasks, which are supplemented if necessary by skills acquisition in other learning environments. The student is not in an employment relationship, for which reason he/she is not paid wages or other compensation.

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Education and training completed after the comprehensive education syllabus, aimed at producing vocational competence.

Comment:
Initial, further and specialist vocational qualifications can be obtained in vocational education and training.
In addition to completing a qualification, parts of a qualification can also be completed in vocational education and training.

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A qualification intended to increase and maintain professional skills and demonstration of professional competence.

Comment:
Vocational qualifications are initial, further and specialist vocational qualifications.

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There are several definitions for this concept

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The volume index is a ratio describing the relative change in volume relative to the base period. It describes changes in output at fixed prices. The volume index can be formed by deflating from the turnover indices or the value data of output, directly from the quantity data of output or by means of input data, such as hours worked. The volume index takes into account the qualitative development of products and inflation. Volume indices are produced on industry and services, while quantity indices are produced on trade and construction.

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The volume index of industrial output describes the relative change in the volume of industrial output when compared with a specific base time period. In the beginning of 2002, the index with fixed weights was replaced with an index with changing weights, which takes the structural change occurring in industry into account better than the index with fixed weights.

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The volume index of sales of building construction companies describes development in the output of the industry. The index describes relative change in the volume of output compared to the average output in a base year.

The base year of the volume index is 2000 and the series starts from the year 1995. The index is published quarterly. Apart from the original index series, a seasonally adjusted series and a trend series are also calculated.

The index is calculated from deflated data on turnover by individual enterprise. The deflator is the implicit price index of Statistics Finland's volume index of newbuilding.

Data on the turnover of building construction companies are obtained from the Tax Administration's value added tax payment and reporting control records and from Statistics Finland's inquiry of large enterprises. The calculation is based on the so-called estimation of change. Included are enterprises for which comparable data are available for the examined month and for the corresponding month of the previous year. A change percentage is calculated for the industry with the data on these enterprise and the index series is then continued with this figure.

Up to the end of 2001, the 1995 Standard Industrial Classification was used in the calculations. The 2002 Standard Industrial Classification has been used as of the beginning of 2002.

Compilation of the statistics is influenced by the EC Regulation of Short-Term Statistic (No. 1165/98, http://forum.europa.eu.int/Public/irc/dsis/bmethods/info/data/new/legislation/sts.html).

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The volume index of sales of civil engineering enterprises measures development in the industry's volume of output. The index describes relative change in the output volume compared to the average output in a base year. The base year of the current volume index of sales of civil engineering enterprises is 2000. The index series starts from 1995.

The index is published quarterly. Apart from the original index series, a seasonally adjusted series and a trend series are also calculated.

Detailed data from the Tax Administration's value added tax payment and reporting control records and data obtained with Statistics Finland's inquiry of large enterprises are exploited in the index calculations. The observation unit is an enterprise or kind-of-activity unit. Additionally, Statistics Finland's cost index of civil engineering works is utilised in the calculations.

Up to the end of 2001 the 1995 Standard Industrial Classification TOL was used in the calculations. The 2002 Standard Industrial Classification TOL has been used as of the beginning of 2002.

The calculation of the index is based on the so-called estimation of change. The calculation is done with data on the volume of domestic sales liable for value added tax by individual enterprise. Enterprises whose development deviates significantly from general development within the industry are left out of the calculation. Included are enterprises for which comparable data are available for the examined time period and the corresponding time period of the previous year.

An annual change percentage for the industry is calculated with the data for the enterprises included in the calculation. The index series is continued with this figure. The effect of price changes is removed from the index series thus obtained by deflating it with the cost index of civil engineering works.

Compilation of the statistics is influenced by the EC Regulation of Short-Term Statistic (No. 1165/98, http://forum.europa.eu.int/Public/irc/dsis/bmethods/info/data/new/legislation/sts.html).

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The volume index of sales of construction enterprises describes development in the output of the entire construction industry. The index describes relative change in the volume of output compared to the average output in the base year.

The volume indices of sales of construction enterprises are obtained by weighting together the volume indices of sales of building construction, civil engineering and specialised construction activities. The used weights are the value added of output in the base year.

The index is published monthly. Apart from the original index series, a seasonally adjusted series and a trend series are also calculated.

The index is calculated using the Tax Administration's enterprise-specific periodic tax return data and data from Statistics Finland's sales inquiry. The observation unit is an enterprise or a local kind-of-activity unit.

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A voluntary association is an association founded by at least three private persons intending to join it as members or by an agreement of a corporation or foundation, and entered into the register of associations maintained by the National Board of Patents and Registration, the purpose of which is non-profit making (in other words the purpose may not be acquisition of profit or other financial benefit for the members). A voluntary association may engage in a trade or other gainful activity if an order concerning this is included in the association's by-laws or if such activity relates direct to the realisation of the association's purpose, or if the activity can be regarded as financially insignificant. E.g. sports association, political party, trade union, scout association.

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Voting percentage = proportion of voters of persons entitled to vote.

Statistics on general elections include four different voting percentages:
1) the voting percentage of Finnish citizens resident in Finland
2) the voting percentage of Finnish citizens resident abroad
3) the total voting percentage which includes both of the above
4) a separate percentage for persons belonging to group 2 above and living in Sweden.

In European Parliamentary elections a voting percentage is calculated also for citizens of other EU Member States.

In municipal elections the right to vote is not based on Finnish citizenship, but on municipality of residence (See Entitled to vote).

In municipal elections voting percentages by nationality of foreign voters are presented in addition to the total voting percentage: EU Member State, Iceland and Norway, Other country. (See also Advance voting percentage).

The right to vote in county elections is determined in the same way as in municipal elections, their municipality of residence is a municipality belonging to the wellbeing services county.

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Jaa