Moscow, February 10, 2010. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) in the framework of research consortium ‘Eurasian monitor' presents the data concerning the influence of world economic crisis on the economies of CIS countries and economic situation of their population, how differ the strategies of ‘survival' in the countries with common history and what forecast is.
About life today
The population of countries participants in research demonstrates high degree of concern over the crisis: more concerned by economic situation are Russians (80%), Kazakhs (79%), and Armenians (78%).
The strongest impact of the unstable situation in economy is felt by Ukrainians (64%). The result is lower in Lithuania (here the crisis is felt by every second inhabitant - 49%) and in Russia (45%). The population of Belarus rarer than other respondents feels the influence of unstable economic situation (31%).
The main ‘symptom' of the crisis is the rise of prices on goods and services - it is noticed by Ukrainians (86%), Russians and Byelorussians (81% and 79%). The second place among the crisis companions belongs to reduction in income. It is a problem for Byelorussians (45%), Ukrainians (43%) and Russians (41%). The third indication of the crisis - refusal from some goods - is mentioned by Byelorussians (37%), Ukrainians (28%) and least Russians (23%). Reduction in salary is felt by Byelorussians and Russians (20%).
How do they overcome the crisis?
In the first place Armenians and Ukrainians have to save their money (65% and 62%). In Russia and Ukraine every second respondent cuts down his expenses (49% and 48%), in Belarus - 45%.
Clothes and shoes are the first goods to cut down expenses on. That is peculiar to Ukrainians (51%) and Russians (46%). Byelorussians and Kazakhs save money on clothes and shoes rarer (41%). The second popular strategy of saving money is to cut down expenses on food (48% of respondents in Ukraine,47% in Belarus, 43% in Russia, 32% in Kazakhstan). The third popular way of saving money - cutting down of expenses on vacation - is helpful for 43% of Russians, 41% of Kazakhs, 39% of Ukrainians and for only 30% of respondents in Belarus. Other items of expenses good for saving money are entertainment (34% of Russians and Kazakhs, 33% of Byelorussians), big household appliances and serious purchases (42% of Respondents in Kazakhstan).
What is next?
The citizens of various countries differ in their assessment of the crisis phase. Thus the most of Lithuanians are sure that their country has just entered the crisis (76%). Very diffused opinion in Ukraine is that country is on the top of the crisis (51%) and in Kazakhstan is that country is on the way out (42%). In different ways the phase of the crisis is assessed in Russia and Belarus. Russian respondents practically equally suppose that country is either on the top of the crisis (31%) or on the way out of it (29%). The same is with Belarus (30 and 35%).
In general respondents demonstrate not very high protest potential: answering the question what particular actions of massive protest they are ready to support most respondents in Russia and Belarus (53 and 66%), 45% in Ukraine declare that they won't participate in any of them. , At the same time Ukrainians demonstrate more readiness for participation in signing petitions, appeals and demands At the same time Ukrainians demonstrate more readiness for participation in signing petitions (27%), rallies (25%) and strikes (11%).
The initiative Russian opinion poll January 30-31, 2010. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia.
Timed opinion polls with the same tools was conducted on September-November 2009. 1.100-2.000 respondents were interviewed in 6 countries (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, and Armenia). The margin of error does not exceed 3.4 %.
Did you and members of your family feel the impact of economic crisis? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||
Russia | Ukraine | Belarus | Lithuania | |
Yes | 45 | 64 | 31 | 49 |
In some aspects | 43 | 29 | 53 | 44 |
No | 10 | 6 | 12 | 5 |
Hard to tell | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
In your opinion in what phase of the crisis is your country at the moment? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||||
Russia | Ukraine | Belarus | Kazakhstan | Lithuania | |
Our country only enters the real crisis | 13 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 76 |
Our country is on the top of the crisis | 31 | 50 | 30 | 21 | 18 |
Our country gradually recovers from the crisis | 29 | 18 | 35 | 42 | 3 |
Indeed there is no crisis | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Hard to tell | 14 | 10 | 15 | 13 | 4 |
If you have to defend your interests what actions of massive protest are you ready to take part in? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||
Russia | Ukraine | Belarus | |
In signing of petitions, appeals, demands | 22 | 27 | 16 |
In rally, demonstration | 15 | 25 | 8 |
In strikes | 7 | 11 | 3 |
In occupying of buildings, siege of communications | 3 | 3 | 1 |
In armed conflict | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Won't participate in any actions | 53 | 45 | 66 |
Other | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Hard to tell | 12 | 7 | 12 |
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!