MOSCOW, December 24, 2009. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the information which describes what Russians think about the reforms of Yegor Gaidar and his team, what feelings he evokes among Russians, and how they assess his role in shaping Russian history.
A majority of Russians recognizes the need of "Gaidar`s reforms": 16% think Russia did not have any alternative (8% thought so a decade ago); 39% think the reforms were needed but should have been implemented gradually (in 1999 - 44%). The number of those who consider these reforms should have not been introduced has decreased from 35 to 18%. Mainly supporters of Fair Russia party and respondents with high level of education (65% for each) are those who are confident the reforms were needed. Those who oppose them are basically CPRF adherents (33%) and Russians with low level of education (24%).
The confidence of Russians in actions of Gaidar`s team has grown over the recent two years: the number of those who think that the team achieved a lot has almost doubled (from 6 to 10%); the number of those who think that Gaidar`s reforms were needed but were unsuccessful has increased from 18 to 24%. On the contrary, Russians rarer report Gaidar`s team were going in the wrong direction (from 28 to 24%) and that they were deliberately destroying Russian economy (from 25 to 16%). Those who are confident that Gaidar`s team were acting correctly are mainly Fair Russia supporters (42%) and respondents with high level of education (40%). Those who think they were wrong are mostly CPRF supporters (60%).
Most of Russians are indifferent toward Yegor Gaidar (29%), but still 21% of respondents do respect him (21%). Those who feel disappointment and distrust are 8% for each group. The number of those who liked him is equaled to the number of those who express antipathy towards Gaidar (7% for each). Other 7% express condemnation; 6% express hope. Rarer Russians mention admiration, trust and skepsis (3% for each). Least indifferent are elderly respondents: most of them respect Yegor Gaidar (23%), or feel antipathy, but at the same time likes him (11%) and are inclined to condemn him (12%). As a rule, 18-24 year olds are indifferent toward Gaidar (41%).
Our fellow citizens unambiguously assess the role of Yegor Gaidar in Russian history: 29% call him irresponsible leader; on the contrary, 31% call him ideologist of Russian reforms; 40% are undecided. Those who called him irresponsible leader are mainly CPRF and LDPR supporters (46 and 41% respectively), respondents aged above 45 (35-38%) and Russians with low financial income (37%). They are opposed by Fair Russia adherents (35%), 35-44-year-old respondents and those with high income (35 and 44% respectively).
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on December 19-20, 2009. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia. The margin oferror does not exceed 3.4 %.
Yegor Gaidar is... (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||
| Total respondents | Financial self-assessment | ||
Very good, good | Average | Bad, very bad | ||
Ideologist of Russian reforms; thanks to him, Russia managed to shift from a planned economy to a market economy over the short period | 31 | 44 | 31 | 26 |
Irresponsible leader, guilty of impoverishment of Russian people and allowing enterprises be captured by oligarchs | 29 | 16 | 28 | 37 |
Hard to tell | 40 | 40 | 41 | 37 |
What feeling does Yegor Gaidar evoke? (close-ended question, not more than two answers) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Age, years | ||||
18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and above | ||
Indifference | 29 | 41 | 35 | 28 | 23 | 23 |
Respect | 21 | 18 | 19 | 22 | 20 | 23 |
Disappointment | 8 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 7 |
Distrust | 8 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 |
Likes | 7 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 11 |
Antipathy | 7 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 12 |
Condemnation | 7 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 12 |
Hope | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
Trust | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
Skepsis | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
Admiration | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
Hard to tell | 15 | 23 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 11 |
Which statement comes closest to your point of view? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||
| 1997 | 1999 | 2009 |
There was no any alternative other than "Gaidar`s reforms" , | 13 | 8 | 16 |
Reforms were needed, but should have been implemented gradually, without "shock therapy" | 50 | 44 | 39 |
Reforms should have not been introduced | 23 | 35 | 18 |
Hard to tell | 14 | 12 | 27 |
Which of the following statements about the work of Gaidar`s team do you most agree? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||
| 2007 | 2009 |
They achieved a lot; they saved the country from ruin and laid the foundations of the market economy | 6 | 10 |
They were going in the right direction but did not manage to achieve their goals | 18 | 24 |
They were going in the wrong direction though they tried to do their best | 28 | 24 |
They deliberately tried to destroy Russian economy | 25 | 16 |
Hard to tell | 22 | 26 |
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!