V. J. Sukselainen was one of the most significant Finnish politicians and builders of the welfare state from the 1940s to the 1960s.

During the war years from 1941 to 1945, Sukselainen worked as the closest aide for a total of five prime ministers. In 1945, he was chosen as the chairman of the Agrarian League (currently the Centre Party of Finland). In addition to his career as a professor, he was influential during his tenures as Finnish minister of the interior and minister of finance.

Sukselainen built his academic career in economics and social policy. His work, Perhekustannusten tasaaminen (Equalisation of Family Costs), was based on a new take on social policy that sought fairness and an increase in consumption in order to strengthen the economy with the help of income equalisation.