67% of respondents support the initiative of Vladimir Putin to oblige officials report revenues and expenditures. However, 42% are confident that this measure will not help combat corruption.
MOSCOW, April 26, 2011. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing the attitudes of Russians toward a new initiative of V. Putin to oblige officials to declare not only income but expenditure as well; whether Russians think this measure would be effective or not.
The majority of Russians know about the initiative of V. Putin to oblige officials to declare not only revenues, but expenditures (62%): 28% are well informed, 34% heard something about that. Thirty seven percent of respondents heard for the first time about that from the interviewer.
Those who are familiar most with the prime minister`s proposal are Russians aged above 45 (30-33%) and respondents with secondary special and higher level of education (32%). Those who did not hear anything about that are Russians aged 18-24 (52%) and those with low level of education (41%).
Sixty seven percent of respondents support V. Putin. Most of them are residents of middle cities (73%) and CPRF adherents (78%). Those who support the initiative think that it will allow revealing mismatch between income and expenditures and decrease the level of corruption (48%). Respondents are also confident that such measure is fair (22%), that the need for such an initiative has long been ripe (9%). Some people believe that the measure will prevent the officials from deceiving; 5% generally positively assess the measure.
Only 6% are negative toward the idea, mostly because they believe the measure will be ineffective (51%). The second reason why Russians disapprove of the proposal is their confidence that the initiative is populist.
Russians are hard to give the definite assessment of the effectiveness of the proposed measure. 45% of respodnents think that declaration of both incomes and expenditures will be an effective measure against corruption. Those who think so are basically supporters of the United Russia party (53%) and non-parliament parties (52%), as well as residents of middle cities (49%). On the contrary, 42% of respondents believe the measure will be ineffective: mostly LDPR adherents (48%), Muscovites and St.Petersburgians and residents of big cities (46-48%).
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on 16-17 April, 2011. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
Do you know/have you heard/ do you hear for the first time about the initiative of V. Putin to oblige officials declare revenues and expenditures? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | 60 and above |
I know about that | 28 | 21 | 25 | 26 | 30 | 33 |
I heard something, but not in details | 34 | 27 | 32 | 39 | 35 | 36 |
I hear for the first time | 37 | 52 | 42 | 34 | 33 | 29 |
Hard to tell | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Do you generally support the proposal? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Moscow an St.Petersburg | More than 500 thousand | 100 - 500 thousand | Less than 100 thousand | Rural area |
Definitely support | 41 | 29 | 37 | 54 | 42 | 39 |
Rather support | 26 | 34 | 29 | 19 | 24 | 27 |
Rather not support | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
Definitely not support | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
Indifferent | 23 | 21 | 24 | 19 | 24 | 25 |
Hard to tell | 4 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
Why do you support the proposal? | |
It will allow revealing mismatch between incomes and expenditures, decreasing the level of corruption | 48 |
It is fair when people know how the state officials live and what deputies spend money on | 22 |
The measure is ripe; the state officials are afraid of nothing | 9 |
It will prevent the officials from telling lies when declaring | 3 |
General positive assessment | 5 |
Other | 1 |
Hard to tell | 15 |
Why did not you support this proposal? | |
Ineffective measure; the state officials will find ways to bypass it; no one will declare the true information | 51 |
Populism, obvious failure | 39 |
Hard to tell | 10 |
In your opinion, is the declaration of revenues and expenditures by state officials an effective or ineffective measure against corruption? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Supporters of parties | |||||
CPRF | LDPR | Fair Russia | United Russia | Other parties | I would not participate in elections | ||
Rather effective | 45 | 45 | 42 | 45 | 53 | 52 | 32 |
Rather ineffective | 42 | 45 | 48 | 44 | 34 | 38 | 55 |
Hard to tell | 13 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 13 |
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!