MOSCOW, October 15, 2009. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the information describing what Russians think should be done to overcome the crisis - world community efforts or separate efforts of each state; how our fellow-citizens assess joint efforts of the states to go through economic hardships, and how respondents think the world will be changed after the crisis.
As a majority of Russians think, it is easier to overcome the crisis through joint international community efforts (56%). Those who think so are primarily supporters of the United Russia party (62%) and inhabitants of the Urals (68%). Only one-third of respondents consider that each country should fight against the crisis on its own (30%). As a rule, they are LDPR and Fair Russia adherents (48% for each), residents of the Central and Volga Districts of Russia (35 and 37% respectively).
Russians are not well informed about the joint anti-crisis measures - 67% do not know anything about such measures, and 23% are hard to tell. Three percent of respondents are aware of the G20 Summit common anti-crisis program; 1% (for each) are aware of the assistance to banks, removing barriers to free trade, fight against terrorism, a new world currency introduction, support to domestic industries affected by the crisis, allocating money to support countries that suffered most, reform of the international financial institutions. Other 1% thinks that fight against the crisis is still under discussion.
Those Russians who are aware of the international anti-crisis measures are divided in their opinion on the effectiveness of such measures: 41% think that the measures are effective, 42% think right opposite. Those who support the former position are mainly residents of big cities (49%), Russians with good financial income (46%) and LDPR adherents (75%). They are opposed by Muscovites and St.Petersburgians (52%), respondents with poor financial income (64%) and election absentees (58%).
According to the forecasts provided by respondents, the winners coming out of the crisis will be China (16%), the USA (14%) and Russia (12%). Three percent (for each) consider that Germany and Japan will suffer the least with this crisis. Nevertheless, 38% of respondents think that all countries of the world will suffer because of the crisis.
A relative majority of Russians do not believe that introduction of a new world currency, alternative to US dollar, will help overcome the crisis (47%). Those who are skeptical about it are basically CPRF and LDPR supporters (53 and 56% respectively), as well as residents of medium-sized cities (57%). However, 23% believe in effectiveness of such a measure: they are mainly supporters of the Fair Russia and United Russia parties (27 and 26% respectively) and metropolitan residents (31%).
Russians do not have a common opinion on the effects of the crisis on national borders: 36% think that the crisis will result in erasing borders and freer movement of goods; on the contrary, the same percentage of respondents forecasts strengthening barriers between countries and restriction of international trade. The former opinion is shared by the adherents of the United Russia party (40%) and residents of the North-Western Federal District of Russia (48%). Those of the latter point of view are CPRF party supporters (45%) and residents of the Central Federal District (46%).
Russians tend to think that the crisis will likely to increase the influence of the government regulation on economy - 47% (those who think opposite are 24%). Basically the former opinion is held by supporters of LDPR and United Russia parties (50 и 53%), and residents of the Urals (59%); the latter opinion are held by CPRF supporters (28%) and residents of the North-Western District (32%).
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on October 3-4, 2009. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia. The margin of errordoes not exceed 3.4 %.
Which of the following statements about the economic crisis are you most agree? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Parties which Russians would vote for, if elections to the State Duma took place next Sunday | |||||
United Russia | CPRF | LDPR | Fair Russia | Other | I would not take part in elections | ||
Each country should overcome the crisis by its own | 30 | 27 | 27 | 48 | 48 | 25 | 40 |
We need the international community joint efforts to fight against the crisis | 56 | 62 | 50 | 39 | 48 | 64 | 42 |
Hard to tell | 14 | 11 | 23 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 18 |
World leading countries have repeatedly promised to jointly fight against the crisis. Have you heard anything about joint anti-crisis measures taken by the countries to overcome the crisis? If yes, what kind of measures? (open-ended question, not more than three answers) | |
Development of a new anti-crisis program within G20 | 3 |
Assistance to banks | 1 |
Removing barriers to free trade | 1 |
Fight against terrorism | 1 |
New global currency introduction | 1 |
Support of the domestic industries mostly suffered in the economic crisis | 1 |
Allocating money to countries that suffered most | 1 |
Reform of the international financial institutions | 1 |
World leaders discuss a lot but nothing has been done | 1 |
I know nothing about it | 67 |
Hard to tell | 23 |
How would you assess the international community anti-crisis measures? (one answer, % of those who know exactly what is being done to fight against the crisis) | ||||
| Total respondents | Financial self-assessment | ||
Very good, good | Average | Bad, very bad | ||
Certainly, effective | 4 | 14 | 3 | 3 |
Rather effective | 37 | 32 | 43 | 23 |
Rather ineffective | 31 | 14 | 29 | 47 |
Certainly ineffective | 11 | 18 | 8 | 17 |
Hard to tell | 17 | 23 | 17 | 10 |
In your opinion, which country will come out of the crisis with minimal losses, or even as a winner? (open-ended question, not more than three answers) | |
China | 16 |
USA | 14 |
Russia | 12 |
Germany | 3 |
Japan | 3 |
European countries | 1 |
England | 1 |
France | 1 |
India | 1 |
Arabian countries | 1 |
Switzerland | 1 |
No crisis | 1 |
There are no such countries, every country will lose | 38 |
Other | 1 |
Hard to tell | 20 |
In your opinion, will the introduction of a new global currency that would replace American dollar help overcome the economic crisis? | |||||||
| Total respondents | Parties which Russians would vote for, if elections to the State Duma took place next Sunday | |||||
United Russia | CPRF | LDPR | Fair Russia | Other | I would not take part in elections | ||
Definitely, yes | 4 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 13 | 7 | 5 |
Rather yes | 19 | 22 | 14 | 8 | 14 | 29 | 12 |
Rather no | 31 | 31 | 24 | 33 | 23 | 39 | 36 |
Definitely no | 16 | 14 | 28 | 23 | 16 | 7 | 20 |
Hard to tell | 30 | 29 | 27 | 31 | 34 | 18 | 27 |
Choose one of the pair of judgments about the consequences of the crisis that you agree most. (close-ended question, one answer) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Parties which Russians would vote for, if elections to the State Duma took place next Sunday | |||||
United Russia | CPRF | LDPR | Fair Russia | Other | I would not take part in elections | ||
The crisis will result in erasing national borders, freer movement of goods, services, people, technologies between countries | 36 | 40 | 31 | 38 | 33 | 29 | 30 |
Crisis will result in strengthening barriers between countries, new restrictions on international trade, movement of people, money and technologies | 36 | 35 | 45 | 36 | 38 | 50 | 35 |
Hard to tell | 28 | 25 | 23 | 27 | 30 | 21 | 35 |
Choose one of the pair of judgments about the consequences of the crisis that you agree most. (close-ended question, one answer) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Parties which Russians would vote for, if elections to the State Duma took place next Sunday | |||||
United Russia | CPRF | LDPR | Fair Russia | Other | I would not take part in elections | ||
Crisis will increase the influence of state regulations on global economy | 47 | 50 | 47 | 53 | 47 | 50 | 39 |
Global economy will become more free of state influence | 24 | 24 | 28 | 20 | 23 | 29 | 25 |
Hard to tell | 29 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 30 | 18 | 36 |
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!