MOSCOW, July 11, 2007. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents information concerning how Russians estimate the level of social equality in our society; what spheres of life lack social equality, in which ones there is too much of it; in what cases its realization is a merit, and in what it only does harm.
No more than 1% of the respondents assume that the level of social equality in our society today is high. One fifth (21%) characterizes it as average. The majority of the respondents, however, (71%) consider this level to be generally low (the figure includes the 25% who identified it as very low); the share of "low" estimations is gradually reduced from 82% in the group of the respondents with low financial standing to 58% in the group of those, who identify themselves as possessing high financial standing. The share of those assuming that the level of social equality is average grows simultaneously (from 12% to 34%).
15% of the respondents identify that there is a lack of social equality in all spheres of social life. About the same number of the respondents (14%-16%) note a lack in the social equality, first of all, in the public health system and education; 10% each see it in the distribution of incomes and material goods; social and pension coverage. Such spheres as labor relations; housing (5% each), etc. were called more rarely. 40% of the respondents find it difficult to provide an answer.
Twice as high is the percentage of those who find it difficult to name the spheres with excessive level of social equality (80%). 12% assume, however, that there are no such spheres. Only a small part of the respondents notes the surplus of social equality in economy (3%); administration (2%); taxation (1%); public health system (1%) and some other spheres (less than 1%).
The realization of the principle of social equality in the education and public health system (14% each); social and pension coverage (9%) is the most useful. No more than 3% of the respondents mentioned any other sphere. 5% consider this principle to be useful in all spheres. More than half of the respondents - 60% - find it difficult to provide an answer.
The overwhelming majority, 86%, find it hard to name the spheres where the realization of this principle could cause the most harm. 3% more assert that there is no such sphere. A few indicate that the social equality is detrimental in administration, economy (2% each), distribution of incomes, taxation and some other spheres (not more than 1%).
The All-Russia opinion poll was conducted by VCIOM on July 7-8, 2007. 1599 respondents were interviewed in 153 population areas of 46 regions of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4%.
How would you characterize the level of social equality in our society? | ||||
| Total respondents | Estimation of own financial standing | ||
Very high, high | Middle | low, very low | ||
Very high | 0 | 1 | 0 | - |
High | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Middle | 21 | 34 | 22 | 12 |
Low | 46 | 38 | 49 | 44 |
Very low | 25 | 20 | 21 | 38 |
Hard to say | 7 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
What spheres of our society do you think lack social equality? (An open-answer question, up to three answers) | |
In the sphere of public health | 16 |
In all spheres | 15 |
In the education sphere | 14 |
In the sphere of the distribution of incomes and material goods (division of the society into the rich and the poor, the difference in wages, the material position) | 10 |
In the sphere of social and pension coverage (the policy regarding socially disadvantaged layers - children, pensioners, physically challenged people). | 10 |
In the sphere of job placement and working relations | 5 |
In the sphere of housing (accessibility of dwelling, housing conditions) | 5 |
In the sphere of law (law-enforcement agencies, law court, equality before the law) | 3 |
In the sphere of economy and business | 3 |
In the sphere of regional policy (problem of rural regions) | 3 |
In politics (elections, government) | 2 |
In the sphere of culture and science | 2 |
In the sphere of service and rendering of the housing and utilities services | 1 |
in the sphere of everyday life (relations between people, family) | 1 |
In the sphere of international relations | 0 |
In the army | 0 |
Other option | 1 |
Hard to say | 40 |
What spheres of our society do you think possess too little of social equality? (An open-answer question, up to three answers) | |
In the sphere of taxation | 1 |
In the sphere of administration | 2 |
In the sphere of economy | 3 |
There is no such sphere | 12 |
in the sphere of labor | 1 |
in the education sphere | 0 |
in the sphere of public health | 1 |
n the spiritual sphere | 0 |
In the media and television | 0 |
Other option | 1 |
Hard to say | 80 |
Where and in what cases do you think social equality does the most of good? (An open-answer question, up to three answers) | |
in the education sphere | 14 |
in the sphere of public health | 14 |
In the sphere of social and pension coverage (the policy regarding socially disadvantaged layers - children, pensioners, physically challenged people). | 9 |
In all spheres | 5 |
In the sphere of law (law-enforcement agencies, law court, equality before the law) | 3 |
In the sphere of the distribution of incomes and material goods (division of the society into the rich and the poor, the difference in wages, the material position) | 3 |
In the sphere of housing (accessibility of dwelling, housing conditions) | 3 |
In the sphere of job placement and working relations | 2 |
In politics (elections, government) | 2 |
In the sphere of economy and business | 1 |
In the sphere of regional policy (problem of rural regions) | 1 |
in the sphere of everyday life (relations between people, family) | 1 |
In the sphere of culture and science | 1 |
In the sphere of service and rendering of the housing and utilities services | 0 |
In the sphere of international relations | 0 |
In the army | 0 |
Other option | 1 |
Hard to say | 59 |
Where and in what cases do you think the realization of the social equality principle does the most of harm?? (An open-answer question, up to three answers) | |
There is no such sphere | 3 |
In the sphere of administration | 2 |
In the sphere of economy | 2 |
In the sphere of distribution of incomes | 1 |
In education | 1 |
In the sphere of labor | 1 |
In the sphere of taxation | 1 |
In the sphere of housing | 1 |
In the sphere of culture and science | 1 |
Encouragement of spongers, tramps and drunkards | 1 |
in the sphere of public health | 0 |
In sports | 0 |
In the army | 0 |
Other option | 0 |
Hard to say | 86 |