INDEPENDENT RESEARCH AGENCY

Russians are not satisfied with economic policy of the Government

Bashkirova & Partners Independent Research Agency asked our compatriots how they evaluate efficiency of the economic policy of the Russian Government. How do actions of the Executive Branch affect economic situation in Russia in general and respondents’ income in particular? 

53% of respondents are not satisfied with economic policy of the Russian Government. Two thirds (65%) of Russians think that actions of the Government don’t make financial state of their household better – on the contrary, they worsen it. Almost two-thirds (60%) of respondents want some changes in the course of economic policy to be made.  

An interesting fact is that the share of people who are dissatisfied with economic policy of the Government is the least in South Federal District (only 43%). It may be so because regions which it is comprised of specialize in agriculture and tourism, and these two industries benefited from grocery sanctions and ban of straight flights from Russia to Turkey and Egypt (which used to be the most popular travel destinations). The majority of respondents who are dissatisfied with the policy of the Government (56%) live in Central Federal District, where enterprises and service industry suffered losses most as a result of Russian business depression. In all regions the share of the dissatisfied is less among young people than among elder ones (44% of respondents under 30 and 57% among those of 40-50 y.o.), because young people are less interested in political and commercial news.

It is notable that the aggregate of respondents who are dissatisfied with economic policy of the Government and those who think that its actions bring harm to financial state of their household only partially coincide. Firstly, the majority of them live not in Central, but in Siberia Federal District (70%).  Secondly, there’s a connection to respondents’ household income level (67% of the most needy respondents and 60% among middle class representatives), which is not traced in the first case.

Political issues and human rights worry Russians much less. In fact, social discontent hasn’t turned into political unrest yet, but it may happen in the future (against the two electoral campaigns), because the majority of Russians think that measures which Russian Government undertakes are not enough to fight crisis.  

 

 

The study was conducted in May 25-30, 2016 on national random route sample of Russian citizens (18+) by means of face-to-face interviews in place of residence. 1500 respondents in 8 federal districts, 129 settlements, 238 sampling points have been surveyed. Sampling error ± 2.5% by C.I. of 95%.  

 

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