EconReads
Donate

The Nordic Economies

Finland: Nokia's Rise and Fall

Finland's economy was transformed by Nokia's success in mobile phones, and hit hard by its decline, but the country rebuilt through new industries.

A single company shaped a nation.

Rise

In the 1990s and 2000s, Nokia became the world’s leading phone maker, driving Finnish growth.

Fall

Competition from smartphones hit Nokia hard, and its handset business was sold in 2014.

Rebuilding

Former employees and engineers started new firms, in gaming, software and clean tech.

Lesson

Diversification and skills help absorb shocks.

A start-up wave

Laid-off engineers founded new companies, including well-known game developers.

Assuming dependence on one firm is safe

It is risky.

Key takeaways
  • Nokia drove Finnish growth.
  • Its decline was a shock.
  • New firms emerged.
  • Diversification matters.
1 min read

No recording for this one yet - EconReader can read it aloud for you.

Welcome to EconReads

This site is made for visually impaired learners, so our read-aloud reader is already switched on to help you explore hands-free.

You're in control - turn it off any time using the Reader button at the top of the page.

EconReader Ready