MOSCOW, April 8, 2009. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) in partnership with «Ciao Surveys-Greenfield online-Company» have conducted a large scale study devoted to the opinion of Russians, Europeans and Americans on the current economic situation, its reasons and what they think about the work the Governments of their countries do to combat crisis.
The subject of crisis is most actively discussed in Russia - 97% of respondents take part in such discussions (in Germany - 85%, in Great Britain and Poland - 82% for each, the least active ones are Americans - 80%). Poles more often than others report that such discussions are being held but they do not participate in them (11%). Finally, British people and Americans mostly tend to say that there are no crisis talks in their circles (11%).
In Russia those who talk about crisis most are medium skilled workers (100%), office workers, as well as representatives of senior and middle management (92-95%). Those who actively discuss the economic situation in Poland, Great Britain and the US are top-management representatives (90-91%).
The pessimistic forecast made by those who predict that the crisis will continue for a long term is the least popular for Poles (51%) and Russians (63%). On the contrary, those who consider that the crisis is a long term process and there will not be a sooner way out of it are typically residents of Germany (82%), Great Britain (81%), and the United States (76%).
Those who are confident that the crisis will last for long are mostly CPRF party supporters (81%), in Germany - "left", ‘green" and "Christian Social Union" parties adherents (83-85%), in Poland - those who support such parties as "Civic Platform" and "Law & Justice" (49% for each), in Great Britain - conservatoires (85%) and Liberal Democrats supporters (84%). And finally, as for the US, both Republicans and Democrats share the opinion that the present crisis will not end soon (75% for each).
In Russia representatives of senior and middle management, as well as office staff (65-68%) tend to think that crisis will last for long. Those who have such opinion are mainly average skilled personnel in Poland (65%), senior management, qualified and average skilled workers in Germany (82-83%), qualified personnel in the UK and the US (82% for each).
Russians, Europeans and Americans ambiguously assess the causes of the crisis. Both Russians and Germans point out ineffective monetary policy of the US to regulate financial markets (62% and 57% respectively), as well as short-sighted financial strategies of banks management (55% for each, British also name such reason - 57%). Respondents from the UK, the US and Poland think that ineffective policy of the governments of their countries to regulate financial markets also should be taken into account: 56% of British, 53% of Americans and 42% of Poles think so (in Russian and Germany - 38% and 31% respectively). As for other reasons, Germans tend to mark incompetence of the international financial organizations (43% against 27-31% among other respondents), Poles point out the lack of long term planning and risk assessment skills of those who got bank loans (36%), Americans report large expenses to maintain military operations in "hot spots" (28%).
Those who assess the work of their Government to fight crisis as being positive are Russians and Poles - significant improvements is seen by 16% and 11% respectively (only 5-8% in Germany, the UK and the USA), those who are awaiting the effects of anti-crisis measures are 58% and 54% respectively (in Germany, the UK and the USA less than half of respondents said so - 45-48%). Germans and residents of Great Britain tend to be more pessimistic assessing the activity of their governments to combat crisis: no any positive changes are expected by 33% and 30% respectively (in other countries - 24-27%).
As for Russia, the positive attitude towards measures taken by the Government is mostly typical for "United Russia" party supporters (23%); as for Poland, they are typical for representatives of such parties as Self-Defense (20%) and Civic Platform (18%). On the contrary, those who are pessimistic regarding governmental anti-crisis work are "left" in Germany (46%), and conservatoires in the UK (49%). The positive opinion is expressed by Democrats in the USA (12%), they are also those who expect positive effects of the work of their Government (65%). Republicans, on the contrary, more often doubt about success of the Government to combat crisis (43%).
On-line opinion poll was conducted by «Ciao Surveys-Greenfield online-Company» in March, 2009. 500 of respondents in each of five countries (United States of America, Great Britain, Germany, Russia, Poland) were interviewed.
Are questions dealing with the global economic crisis discussed in your family circle, with friends, and colleagues? If yes, do you participate in such discussions? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||||
| Great Britain | USA | Germany | Russia | Poland |
They are discussed, and I take part | 82 | 80 | 85 | 97 | 82 |
They are discussed but I do not take part | 4 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 11 |
No, they are not discussed | 11 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 5 |
Hard to tell | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
Which of the following judgments are mostly consistent with your opinion? (close-ended question, one answer)
| |||||
| Great Britain | USA | Germany | Russia | Poland |
The present global financial crisis will not last for long, the situation will soon be stabilized | 14 | 16 | 13 | 31 | 46 |
The present global financial crisis is a long term process, and it will not end fast
| 81 | 76 | 82 | 64 | 51 |
Hard to tell | 5 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
In your opinion, what caused the current crisis economic state of your country? (open-ended question, not more than three answers) | |||||
| Great Britain | USA | Germany | Russia | Poland |
Ineffective monetary policy of the USA to regulate financial markets | 39 | 0 | 57 | 62 | 40 |
Short-sighted financial strategies of the management of the banks
| 57 | 51 | 55 | 55 | 38 |
Incompetence of international financial organizations (International Monetary Fund, rating agencies et cetera)
| 31 | 31 | 43 | 27 | 27 |
Ineffective policies of the government of the country to regulate financial markets
| 56 | 53 | 31 | 38 | 42 |
Lack of long term planning and risk assessment skills of those who got bank loans
| 22 | 32 | 15 | 29 | 36 |
Huge expenses of the states to maintain military operation in "hot spots"
| 11 | 28 | 11 | 17 | 22 |
Other | 5 | 17 | 9 | 2 | 5 |
Hard to tell | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 4 |
Could you please tell how you estimate the measures taken by the Government of your country to overcome the consequences of the financial crisis? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||||
|
USA |
Great Britain | Germany | Russia | Poland |
Quiet successful, I can see significant shift towards best | 8 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 11 |
No positive changes are observed, but I expect that anti-crisis measures will bring positive results | 48 | 46 | 47 | 58 | 54 |
There are no any positive changes and they are hardly to come | 27 | 35 | 33 | 24 | 27 |
Hard to tell | 17 | 15 | 13 | 2 | 8 |
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!