The Scoop
Finland is likely to implement a kilometer-based tax within two years, triggering widespread anger. Thousands of angry comments flooded online discussion forums in response to the proposal.
The Context
The proposed kilometer tax is intended to replace or supplement existing vehicle taxes and fund infrastructure maintenance and development. Similar systems are already in place in other European countries, but the idea is politically sensitive in Finland, where car ownership is high and public transportation is less developed in rural areas. The backlash suggests significant public resistance to the new tax.