Up to 2000 private capital flowed to the United States as returns on financial assets were perceived as being higher than in other advanced countries, due also to faster economic growth. As a result, a self-reinforcing effect set in. The capital inflows to the United States boosted asset prices and returns, thus stimulating additional flows of capital.
This has called for a broad consensus on the current state of the economy among the political parties and the social partners. The Bank of Finland also later made its analyses available to decision-makers, for use as a basis of decisions. The analysis conducted in 2015 on cost competitiveness played a crucial role for the decisions taken in recent years.