MOSCOW, March 19, 2019. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a study describing the Russian attitudes towards Yegor Gaidar and his economic reforms.
Yegor Gaidar is known to most of Russians (86%), especially to persons aged 60 and over (96%) and KPRF supporters (93%). Today the 1990s reformer basically evokes indifference (31%); 19% of respondents report distrust; 18% express disappointment; 13%, dislikes; 11%, condemnation.
Moreover, the share of those who think that the reforms started by the Gaidar government in 1992 had a damaging impact on the Russian economy has increased from 23% in 2010 to 44% in 2019; this stance is shared by 59% of older persons (aged 60 and over) and 63% of the KPRF supporters. A further 15% of respondents believe that the reforms were necessary, though traumatizing. Every tenth (10%) considers that there was no need in reforming. Only 1% of Russians say the reforms have had positive effects.
Russians tend to have negative views of the performance of Gaidar and his team: 44% say that the Gaidar’s team was intentionally ruining the economy and made great progress in that (62% of A Just Russia supporters and 50% of the 45-59-year-olds). One-third of Russians (32%) say that Yegor Gaidar and his team were going in the right direction but failed to achieve the goals they set; this opinion is more popular among the supporters of non-parliamentary parties (45%).
VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on January 18, 2019. The survey involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
The 2010, 2016 results are based on household surveys.
Do you know who Yegor Gaidar was? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and over |
Yes, I am well aware | 29 | 3 | 9 | 27 | 40 | 41 |
I heard something about him | 57 | 54 | 58 | 62 | 55 | 55 |
I know nothing/This is the first time I hear about him | 14 | 43 | 33 | 11 | 5 | 4 |
What feelings does Yegor Gaidar evoke in you? (close-ended question, up to 2 answers, % of those who heard about Yegor Gaidar) | ||
| 2016 | 2019 |
Indifference | 24 | 31 |
Distrust | 15 | 19 |
Disappointment | 19 | 18 |
Dislikes | 16 | 13 |
Condemnation | 17 | 11 |
Respect | 6 | 7 |
Skepsis | 4 | 6 |
Liking | 4 | 5 |
Trust | 2 | 3 |
Hope | 2 | 2 |
Admiration | 1 | 0 |
Don’t know | 8 | 10 |
In your opinion, what impact have the reforms initiated by the Gaidar’s government in 1992 had on the Russian economy? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
| 2010 | 2019 |
Definitely positive effects | 7 | 1 |
They were traumatizing but necessary | 29 | 15 |
There was no need in those reforms | 15 | 10 |
They have had damaging effects | 23 | 44 |
Don’t know | 26 | 30 |
In your opinion, what impact have the reforms initiated by the Gaidar’s government in 1992 had on the Russian economy? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents | A Just Russia party | LDPR | KRPF | United Russia | Non-parliamentary parties |
Definitely positive impact | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
They were traumatizing but necessary | 15 | 15 | 14 | 9 | 18 | 16 |
There was no need in those reforms | 10 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 |
They have had a damaging impact | 44 | 54 | 44 | 63 | 31 | 47 |
Don’t know | 30 | 22 | 31 | 17 | 37 | 26 |
Which statement describing the performance of Yegor Gaidar and his team do you most agree with? (close-ended question, one answer, % of those who heard of Yegor Gaidar) | ||
| 2016 | 2019 |
They achieved a lot: they saved the country from devastation and laid the foundation for the market economy | 6 | 4 |
They were going in the right direction but failed to achieve their goals | 31 | 32 |
They were intentionally destroying the Russian economy and made great progress in that | 49 | 44 |
Don’t know | 14 | 20 |
Which statement describing the performance of Yegor Gaidar and his team do you most agree with? (close-ended question, one answer, % of those who heard of Yegor Gaidar) | ||||||
| % of those who heard of Yegor Gaidar | A Just Russia party | LDPR | KRPF | United Russia | Non-parliamentary parties |
They achieved a lot: they saved the country from devastation and laid the foundation for the market economy | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
They were going in the right direction but failed to achieve their goals | 32 | 25 | 30 | 27 | 37 | 45 |
They were intentionally destroying the Russian economy and made great progress in that | 44 | 62 | 46 | 55 | 31 | 37 |
Don’t know | 20 | 8 | 21 | 14 | 27 | 13 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!