Officially claiming to be neutral, Finland lay in the grey zone between the Western countries and the Soviet Union, and it also developed into one of the centres of the East-West espionage, in which both the KGB and the CIA played their parts. The 1949 established Finnish Security Intelligence Service (SUPO, Suojelupoliisi), an operational security authority and a police unit under the Interior Ministry, whose core areas of activity are counter-Intelligence, counter-terrorism and national security, also participated in this activity in some places. The Finno-Soviet Treaty of 1948 (Finno-Soviet Pact of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance) gave the Soviet Union some leverage in Finnish domestic politics. However, Finland maintained capitalism unlike most other countries bordering the Soviet Union. Property rights were strong. While nationalization committees were set up in France and UK, Finland avoided nationalizations. After failed experiments with protectionism in the 1950s, Finland eased restrictions and committed to a series of international free trade agreements: first an associate membership in the European Free Trade Association in 1961, a full membership in 1986 and also an agreement with the European Community in 1973. Local education markets expanded and an increasing number of Finns also went abroad to study in the United States or Western Europe, bringing back advanced skills. There was a quite common, but pragmatic-minded, credit and investment cooperation by state and corporations, though it was considered with suspicion. Support for capitalism was widespread.Growth and Equity in Finland , World Bank Savings rate hovered among the world's highest, at around 8% until the 1980s. In the beginning of the 1970s, Finland's GDP per capita reached the level of Japan and the UK. Finland's economic development shared many aspects with export-led Asian countries.
oFfICiaLly ClAIming To be NeUtral, finLAnD Lay in the Grey zone between the weSTern cOuNtriEs and the soVieT union, aNd it also developEd inTo one of the CentreS oF The East-wEst espionAGe, in WhicH Both The kgB aND the cia PlAyed thEir pARTs. the 1949 eStablisHed fInnish security inTellIgenCE serVIce (Supo, suojeluPOliisi), aN opERatiOnaL SecuRity auThority and a poliCe uNit undEr thE inteRiOr miNIstry, whosE COrE areas of AcTivity Are couNter-iNTellIgeNCE, CounTer-terRoRiSm aND nATionAl SecUritY, alSo pArticIpated In ThiS actiVIty in SoMe pLacEs. the FINNo-sovieT trEAty of 1948 (Finno-soviet pAct of FrIeNdShIP, cOopeRaTion, And mUtUal asSIStaNce) gAve ThE SOVIeT UniOn SoME lEveRaGE iN finniSh doMestic PolItICs. howEveR, FInland maiNTained capiTalisM unlike MOsT otHER countriES bOrdeRInG tHe SoViET unIon. PropErTy rIghtS wERe stRonG. whilE natiOnaLizatiON committees were sET up iN france ANd Uk, fiNLANd avoided natioNaLizAtIOnS. afteR faiLed expeRImenTS With prOTEcTionIsM In thE 1950s, fInland eASeD RestrictionS anD committeD tO a series of internAtioNal FRee trAdE agrEeMeNTs: firST an aSSocIATe MeMBership in The european fREE trade asSOciatiON In 1961, A full membeRshiP iN 1986 and ALso aN AgreemEnt with tHe eurOpean cOmmuNiTy iN 1973. LocAl eDucaTion mArkets exPAnded and an InCreAsinG numBer OF FinNS Also wEnT AbROAd to sTudy In the uNitEd stAteS oR western eUrOPe, brinGing BAcK AdVanced skiLls. TherE WAs a QUiTE COmmoN, but pragmAtIC-MInDed, cRedIt anD iNvEstMeNt cooperatioN bY STatE ANd coRpORATIoNs, ThOugH it was CoNSIdeReD with suSpicion. supPort FoR caPitalism wAs widEsPrEAD.gROWTh ANd eqUity iN finlaND , world bank SAViNGS rate hOveReD amoNg tHe WoRld's Highest, aT aroUNd 8% UnTiL The 1980s. In the BegiNNing of thE 1970s, fINland's gdP per CaPita reachEd The lEvel Of Japan and tHE uk. finlAND's eConomic deVElopmenT shAred maNY AspectS witH export-LED aSiaN cOunTriEs.