MOSCOW, March 31, 2009. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data on which life's goals Russians set, which priorities are most crucial for them, how they manage their life in this difficult economic period, whether they feel happy and what this is connected with.

Which priorities and goals in life do we set?

As a year before, most of the time Russians set the goal to live not worse than the majority of the families in their city, region (47%, in 2008 - 45%). Meanwhile, the share of those who are trying to survive and to make ends meet has increased: if in 2008 every fifth (21%) said so, then now they are a quarter (26%).  On the contrary, Russians rarer set the goal to live as the majority of the families in their city or region does (21% in 2008 against 16% in this year). 6% are trying to reach the level of the average family in Western Europe or the United States of America; 2% seek to exceed this level of living.

The main priority for Russians is still modest but guaranteed earnings and their confidence in the future (52%); compared to 2008 the part of such respondents has increased by 8%. Most of them are women (55% against 48% of men). The share of those who prefer working hard and making a lot of money taken no future guarantees into account has went down - from 34% in 2008 to 28% in 2009. Men more often than women tend to say so: 31% against 25% among women. 8% choose running their own business at their own risk; small earnings with a lot of free time is the least popular answer (3%).  

As in previous year, the job for the majority of Russians is the direct source of their livelihood (63%). Respondents find work equally important and interesting irrelatively to the payment (12%), but they put work far from the first place in their life (11%). Finally, 3% of respondents treat labor as unpleasant duty which they would better avoid. 10% were undecided. The data has almost not changed since previous year (not more than 2%).

Russians with average or low financial state self-esteem are more likely to think of their job as a source of livelihood (63-65%); the respondents estimating their financial state as being "good" more often than others report that their work is interesting for them regardless of payment (21%).

Russians still consider that for the time being people are lacking material wealth, but the share of such respondents has decreased (from 71% to 66%). The second place is held by the self-confidence (26%). This is followed by moral principles and culture, breeding (21% and 20% respectively), diligence and managerial skills (16%), respect to the past (10%), ability to have a rest (8%) and political rights (6%).

Most often Russians say that in this difficult period they live the way they lived (45%). 31% of our citizens have to find additional job to ensure their livelihood. 16% report that they are not able to adapt to the present changes; on the contrary, 3% are able to exploit new opportunities.

North-Western and Volga Districts residents often say that they live the way they lived earlier (53% and 52% respectively). Residents from the South of Russia report they have to find additional job and take up any work (39%); Siberians more than other Russians say they cannot adapt to the current circumstances (23%). 

How do we cope with our problems?

Since 2001 the portion of those who cannot cope with their problems has decreased: eight years ago 48% of respondents told so, now they are 29%.

Russians also rarer report they feel lonely (31% in 2001 against 20% now).

The share of those who do not know how to live from now on has decreased almost twice: from 45% to 25%.

If in 2001 approximately half of Russians thought the only way they could get success was breaking all the rules, now only 36% of respondents think so.

Our citizens are less likely to agree that the majority of law violators can avoid prosecution (79% against 62%).

The share of those who consider that no one cares what is happening to other people has also dropped over the recent 8 years: from 73% in 2001 to 60% in the current year.

Russian rarer report dissatisfaction with their job, too: in 2008 24% of Russians did not liked their job, now this share makes up 19%.

Are we happy?

The part of happy Russians has declined over the year - from 77% in 2008 (55% - rather happy, 22% - definitely happy) to 69% in the current year (50% and 19% respectively). On the contrary, now Russians tend to have the opinion that they do not feel happy: if in 2008 the share of such respondents was 15% (12% - rather no, 3% - definitely no), then now - 21% (16% and 5% respectively). 11% were undecided. Residents younger than 34 (76-78%) are more likely to feel happy, the unhappy ones are mainly among the elderly citizens (30%).

Compared with the previous year, Russians feel happier due to their families` well-being (24% in 2008 against 30% in the current year). The joy of communicating with children and grandchildren (14% against 17%) and good and interesting job or studying are prized more by Russians (8% against 11%).  Russians rarer feel happy according to such answers as: "everything is OK" (8%), love and health (7% for each). There are also such arguments as"I am happy to live" (5%), financial income (3%), possibilities to make plans come true or apartment (3% for each). 2% are happy because they have parents; those who named friends, youth, beauty and health are 1% for each group. And finally, 2% do not find reasons to feel sad. 30% were undecided.

The main reason our citizens feel unhappy is poverty (meanwhile, in 2008 the share of such respondents decreased from 22% to 17%). The second position is held by the old age, diseases (10% in 2008 against 6% currently), followed by loneliness, the absence of good job, confidence in the future  (4% for each), great amount of problems (3%). Those who say "everything is bad, nothing makes me glad" or "life is hard, life is passing by" are 2% for each. however, such reasons as anxious situation in the country and prices increase is marked by only 1% of Russians, along with the absence of the possibility to make a family (1% for each); other 1% report that they "do not live, they survive". 64% were undecided.

Russian and Atlantida: problems of international cooperation.

(Has the crisis influence the ability of Russians to perceive jokes?

Russians divided in opinion on the establishment of diplomatic relations with Atlantida. Every third Russian (33%) do not support the idea (among them 28% - do not know about it but do not support, 5% - know about it but do not support), and 30% do not oppose the idea (among them 21% - do not know about it but support, 9% - know and support). 37% were undecided.

The Southerners more often then other respondents (46%) show their support of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Atlantida. Those who are negative towards this idea are mainly Siberians (42%) and Russians with elementary and incomplete secondary education (37%).

Russia-Atlantida dispute over continental shelf is not a primary problem for Russia in a time of crisis. This is why Russia should not do anything - those who think so are 18%.  Every tenth (11%) propose to apply to the United Nations International Court of Justice to resolve the dispute. Both points of view are expressed often by Democrats (24% and 18% respective). There were also the following proposals: to set up a naval base on the border with Atlantida and conduct military training (6%), send a note of protest or break diplomatic relations (3% for each). Meanwhile, 52% of Russians do not know what is better to do in this situation.

More than half of Russians (52%) are confident it is necessary for Russia to protect the interests of the Russian-speaking population in Atlantida. Those who think so are often Southerners (60%) and residents of both capitals (56%). Every tenth (11%) consider that Russia should protect the rights and interest of the residents residing in Russia; those who think so are Urals` residents (21%) and respondents living in big cities (18%). 37% of Russians were undecided. 

The initiative Russian opinion poll was conducted on February 28 - March 1, March 7-8 and 21-22, 2009. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia.

The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.

*Abbreviations

CFD - Central Federal District

NWFD - North-Western Federal District

SFD - Southern Federal District

PFD - Volga Federal District

UFD - Urals Federal District

SFD - Siberian Federal District

DFD - Far-Eastern Federal District

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!