MOSCOW, 11 April 2022. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a survey on what Russians think about the withdrawal of certain foreign companies from the Russian market.
Will we miss them?
Half of Russians take an indifferent attitude towards foreign companies suspending operations in Russia in response to Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine (50%).
Those who show indifference are mainly persons who do not expect any changes resulted from the withdrawal of foreign brands (68%). Respondents who are confident that foreign products can be replaced with the domestic ones will not miss the foreign brands, too (56% vs 16% of those who are skeptical).
Russians who express regret for the withdrawal of the foreign brands often point to specific brands (IKEA — 6%, McDonald’s — 5%, Apple — 3%, Renault, Procter & Gamble and H&M — 2%, each), as well as specific sectors (car manufacturing — 6%, pharmaceutical, manufacturers of equipment, air carriers — 2%, each).
Foreign business withdrawal: assessing the impacts
More than half of Russians consider that the withdrawal of foreign companies from Russia will affect their life; 12% say it will have a big effect; 23% point to a mild effect; 21% think it will have a low impact on their life. Thirty-nine percent of Russians say that the withdrawal of the foreign companies will not have any impact on their life.
Changes that might happen as a result of foreign companies suspending their operations in Russia are as follows: price increase (14%), decline in living standards (6%), unemployment (5%), low availability and shortage of goods (4% and 3, respectively) and certain categories of goods (car parts — 6%, electronics — 4%, medicines — 3%). Forty-one percent of respondents do not expect any changes to come; those are basically older generations (47% and 52% respectively) and rural area residents (46% and 53% respectively).
Toward import substitution
Eighty-five percent of Russians think import substitution will be successful. One in five respondents consider that the domestic manufacturers will be able to fully replace the products of the foreign companies (20%); 48%, to replace most of the foreign goods and services; 17%, to replace a small number of products.
They are opposed by 9% of Russians. Young respondents aged 18-34 (16% of those aged 18-24; 14% of the 25-34-year-olds) and residents of Moscow and St Petersburg (16%) are quite skeptikal about import substitution.
Russian nationwide telephone VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted March 26, 2022. A total of 1,600 of Russians aged 18 and older took part in the survey. Results are based on telephone interviews. Stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone numbers was used. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
After a special military operation in Ukraine was launched on February 24th , a number of foreign companies announced suspension of their operations in Russia. Do you know, have you heard or do you hear about that for the first time? If you know about that, are there any companies suspending their operations in Russia that you will miss? (open-ended question, up to 5 answers, % of total respondents; answers of at least 2% of respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
IKEA | 6 |
Car manufacturers / car parts | 6 |
McDonalds | 5 |
Apple | 3 |
Healthcare / pharmaceuticals | 2 |
Equipment and electronics manufacturers | 2 |
Renault | 2 |
Air companies | 2 |
Procter & Gamble | 2 |
H&M | 2 |
I hear about it for the first time | 8 |
I’m fine with it | 50 |
Other | 4 |
Don’t know | 12 |
In your opinion, will suspending the operations of the foreign companies have any effect on you personally and your family, or not? If yes, to what extent? ( closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Ages 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
It will have a huge effect | 12 | 6 | 23 | 15 | 11 | 5 |
Mild effect | 23 | 27 | 26 | 21 | 23 | 19 |
Minor effect | 21 | 29 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 20 |
No effect | 39 | 33 | 27 | 38 | 40 | 47 |
Don’t know | 5 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 9 |
Please name three changes that you expect to happen in your life or the life of your family as a result of the withdrawal of the foreign companies from Russia. ( open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total respondents; answers of at least 2% of respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Price increase, inflation, ruble devaluation/ expenditures will grow | 14 |
Problems with car parts — higher prices, low availability | 6 |
Decreased living standards / poverty / economizing | 6 |
Unemployment / job loss | 5 |
Problems with equipment, electronics — higher prices, low availability | 4 |
No opportunity to buy something / I will stop buying certain goods, services | 4 |
Problems with medicines/healthcare services — higher prices, low availability | 3 |
Shortage of goods/products/medicines | 3 |
Less traveling, tourism, fewer trips abroad | 2 |
Less assortment in stores / less choice of goods and services | 2 |
Import substitution / more domestic manufacturers / development of domestic production | 2 |
I do not expect any changes | 41 |
Other | 2 |
Don’t know | 18 |
In your opinion, will the domestic manufacturers be able to replace the goods and products of the companies that have withdrawn from Russia, or not? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||||
| Total respondents | Men | Women | Ages 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
They will fully replace them | 20 | 22 | 18 | 8 | 17 | 23 | 22 | 21 |
Most of goods and services will be replaced | 48 | 43 | 52 | 49 | 41 | 44 | 52 | 52 |
A small number of goods and services | 17 | 18 | 16 | 27 | 27 | 18 | 12 | 12 |
They will hardly replace anything | 9 | 11 | 8 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 5 |
Don’t know | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 10 |