Inflation, introduction of paid healthcare and education, loss of job are main fears Russian have today. Least of respondents are afraid of the introduction of censorship, establishment of dictatorship, the return of the “wild 90-s” and armed conflicts against other countries.
MOSCOW, March 14, 2012. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data concerning the threats Russians think are possible, as well as the events they are most afraid of.
Assessing the probability of different negative events in the life of the country in the next one or two years, most of Russians point out the increase of prices for first need products (81%). Other two-thirds of respondents are confident that the following events are hardly to happen in the near future: terrorist attacks (63%), mass unemployment, enterprises` shutdown and second wave of economic crisis (60% for each), surge in crime (59%). This is followed by such national threats as a switch to fully paid healthcare and education, and natural disasters (55% for each). Every second respondent expect the devaluation of rubble (52%), increase of pension age (51%) and interethnic conflicts (49%).
Respondents think that political chaos (55%), establishment of dictatorship and military conflicts against other states (for each 57%), return of the “wild 90-s” (64%) and civil war (66%) are very unlikely to happen.
Most of Russians are afraid of negative changes in social sphere and economy: inflation (40%), introduction of paid healthcare and education (30%), large-scale unemployment (28%), and new wave of economic crisis (25%). Second group of reasons that cause big anxiety involves natural disasters (24%), terrorist attacks (23%), and crime (20%). Least of Russians are afraid of political and military threats, interethnic conflicts and establishment of dictatorship in the country.
Elderly respondents are anxious about inflation (46%), devaluation of rubble (25%) and paid healthcare (34%). Young respondents and middle-aged Russians are often concerned about unemployment (33-34%).
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted January 28-29, 2011. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
In your opinion, are the following events possible to happen in the next one or two years? | |
1.Increase of pension age |
|
Rather possible | 51 |
Rather not possible | 35 |
Hard to tell | 14 |
2.Introduction of fully paid health care system and education |
|
Rather possible | 55 |
Rather not possible | 36 |
Hard to tell | 9 |
3.Civil War |
|
Rather possible | 18 |
Rather not possible | 66 |
Hard to tell | 16 |
4.Second wave of economic crisis |
|
Rather possible | 60 |
Rather not possible | 24 |
Hard to tell | 16 |
5.Unemployment/large-scale dismissals/ enterprises` shutdowns |
|
Rather possible | 60 |
Rather not possible | 27 |
Hard to tell | 13 |
6.Natural disasters, cataclysms |
|
Rather possible | 55 |
Rather not possible | 30 |
Hard to tell | 16 |
7. Devaluation of ruble/ currency devaluation |
|
Rather possible | 52 |
Rather not possible | 33 |
Hard to tell | 15 |
8. Massive upheaval |
|
Rather possible | 38 |
Rather not possible | 47 |
Hard to tell | 15 |
9. Political chaos, chaos in the country |
|
Rather possible | 28 |
Rather not possible | 55 |
Hard to tell | 17 |
10. Establishing a dictatorship, censorship |
|
Rather possible | 22 |
Rather not possible | 57 |
Hard to tell | 21 |
11. Return of the “wild 90-s” (likhie 90-e) |
|
Rather possible | 18 |
Rather not possible | 64 |
Hard to tell | 18 |
12. New war in Caucasus |
|
Rather possible | 30 |
Rather not possible | 47 |
Hard to tell | 23 |
13. Armed conflicts against other countries |
|
Rather possible | 21 |
Rather not possible | 57 |
Hard to tell | 22 |
14. Terrorist attacks |
|
Rather possible | 63 |
Rather not possible | 21 |
Hard to tell | 16 |
15. Increase in crime rate (thefts, fights, murders) |
|
Rather possible | 59 |
Rather not possible | 25 |
Hard to tell | 16 |
16. Increase of prices for first need products |
|
Rather possible | 81 |
Rather not possible | 14 |
Hard to tell | 6 |
17.Interethnic conflicts |
|
Rather possible | 49 |
Rather not possible | 33 |
Hard to tell | 19 |
Which of these events are you most afraid of? | |
Increase of prices for first need products | 40 |
Introduction of fully paid health care system and education | 30 |
Unemployment/large-scale dismissals/ enterprises` shutdowns | 28 |
Second wave of economic crisis | 25 |
Natural disasters, cataclysms | 24 |
Terrorist attacks | 23 |
Increase in crime rate (thefts, fights, murders) | 20 |
Devaluation of ruble/currency devaluation | 20 |
Increase of pension age | 20 |
Civil war | 11 |
Massive upheaval | 9 |
New war in Caucasus | 7 |
Interethnic conflicts | 7 |
Political chaos, chaos in the country | 7 |
Armed conflicts with other countries | 6 |
Return of the “wild 90-s” (likhie 90-e) | 4 |
Establishing a dictatorship, censorship | 3 |
Hard to tell | 15 |
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!