MOSCOW, September 23, 2009. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the information about how Russians perceive the crisis in metropolitan areas and other cities of Russia, which behavior models they choose, and what protest potential is in different locations.

Residents of both capitals faster adapt to crisis. The share of Russians having adapted to changes keeps growing (from 55% in July to 59% in September). This figure is the highest in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg (76% versus 56-58% in other locations). At the same time, the part of those who have been planning to get adapted to the current circumstances has declined (16% versus 23% in June) - most of them live in middle-sized cities (19%). And finally, 15% consider that they will never be able to adapt to changes - most of them are Russians living in small cities (20%).

The summer added up optimism towards situation in the country - most of optimistic respondents are from rural areas. Every second thinks that the situation in the country is normal (49%). Those who negatively assess the current situation have lessened (from 58% in March to 35% in September); 8% assess the situation positively. Nevertheless, the positive assessments are given by 10% of rural area residents and only by 4% of Muscovites and St.Petersburgians. On the contrary, 39% of metropolitan inhabitants and 28% of rural area residents say everything is bad.

The majority of respondents feel hardships, but they can tolerate this; however most of Muscovites and St.Petersburgians live in favorable conditions.  The relative majority of Russians live hard, but tolerate this (59%, in August - 62%). Most of those who think so are from North-Western and Volga Districts (65 and 66% respectively), as well as residents of middle-sized and small cities (63-65%). As in the previous month, the situation is favorable for every fourth respondents (25%) - mostly they are residents of Central District (29%), Muscovites and St.Petersburgians (38% versus 21-24% living in other locations). Those Russians who can no longer tolerate hardships are in the minority as before (13%) - most of them are Southerners (18%), residents of the Urals (17%) and far-easterners (18%), as well as respondents living in big cities (19%).

More and more Russians - especially those residing in big cities - feel optimistic about the future. The share of such respondents has increased again after a slight decrease in August (33% versus 25% in August). The share of those who do not expect any changes has come to the same level (44% versus 62% in August). The share of pessimistic respondents has remained relatively stable (12%). Residents of Central District and Siberia (36% for each), as well as residents of middle-sized and bigger cities (35-37%) wait for positive changes. Residents of the Urals (59%) and small cities (48%) are confident that everything will be the same. Those who expect changes for the worst  are basically inhabitants of Central and North-Western Federal Districts  (16% for each), Moscow and Saint-Petersburg and small cities (15% and 16% respectively).

Big cities residents feel crisis more acutely. Eighty-four percent of Russians feel unstable economic situation: 46% clearly feel the impact of crisis (in July - 51%); other 38% partly feel it (41% a month ago). This figure is the highest in big cities (88%). The share of those who have not experienced consequences of crisis has slightly increased (from 9 to 12%) - they are mostly residents of middle-sized cities (14%).

Crisis and behavior of Russians

Residents of small cities and rural area often face inflation; those living in big cities face income decrease. Whereas the basic crisis signs remain the same, Russians rarer point out them over the recent months: the share of those who mention prices increase has decreased from 86% to 81% compared to July,; and those who mention income decrease has decreased from 45 to 41%.  Inflation is most acutely felt by inhabitants of small cities and rural areas (83-84%); income decrease is mostly felt by big cities residents (49%). Muscovites and St.Petersburgians often complain about delayed payment of salaries, pensions and scholarships (18%). 

A vast majority of Russian population, and first of all millionaire cities` residents, tries to economize (83%):  48% economize on everything, 35% partly decrease costs. Residents of big cities tend to change their consumer behavior (88% versus 78% among rural area residents). Those who do not economize at all are in the minority (16%) - most of them live in middle-sized cities and rural areas (18 and 19% respectively).

What should be done?

Muscovites and St.Petersburgians are ready to be mobilized but not to protest.  Although the proportion of Russians with active and constructive position is dominant, the share of such respondents has decreased by the beginning of September (47% versus 53% in August). On the contrary, the part of those who suggest passive waiting has grown (from 29 to 36%): 22% think so because the situation will change for better, and 14% think that there is no point in protests (a month ago 18 and 11% respectively). The share of those who are ready to actively resist has been decreasing since July (from 9 to 7%); the lowest level of protest potential is observed in metropolitan areas (1% versus 7-9% in other locations). Most of those who are ready to be mobilized live in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg (55% versus 43-46% in small cities and rural areas). Residents of small cities and rural areas also see no point in any kind of actions (16-18%).

Metropolitan residents and respondents from big cities consider protests to be possible. Despite "hot autumn" expectations, the level of protest expectations are almost the same in September: two-thirds think that protests are hardly to happen (67%), unlike 24% of those who think they are real. Muscovites and St.Petersburgians, as well as residents of big cities (33-38%) think such actions can happen in their residence areas. Inhabitants of middle-sized, small cities and rural areas think that protests are unlikely to happen (71-75%).  

The least active protesters live in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg. At the same time, the share of them has decreased over the recent two months: whereas in July every fourth was ready to protest (25%), now only every fifth would support such actions (20%). The share of those who are not ready to participate in protest actions has increased (70% versus 66% in July). The protest activity is the highest in small cities and rural areas (22-23%); in metropolitan areas this figure makes up only 8%.

The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on September 12-13, 2009. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia. The margin oferror does not exceed 3.4 %.

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or www.wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM,

the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!