Most Russians view the economic situation with concern. According to a November Levada Center poll, 66 percent think the crisis has already begun or is about to begin. Respondents also cite specific worries, delayed wages, pay cuts, and layoffs, which have become more common than a month earlier. The article also compares Russian sentiment with that in other countries and explains why skepticism in Russia is especially strong.
The results of a nationwide survey devoted to the financial crisis in Russia, conducted in November by the Levada Center, have been made public. According to its findings, two-thirds of respondents - 66% - are concerned about the onset of the crisis: 30% of them are ready to call Russia’s current economic situation “crisis-like,” while another 36% expect the crisis to arrive soon, noting that “everything is heading that way.” Only just over a quarter (26%) remain optimistic and believe that “the situation is difficult, but it won’t come to a crisis” - 22%, and “there is no crisis and none is foreseen” – 4%.It should be noted that Russians are not the only ones so pessimistic.
A similar study was conducted by Allianz in nine countries around the world: Austria, Hungary, Italy, Germany, Greece, Russia, the USA, France, and Switzerland. In each country, men and women aged 15 to 60 were asked to assess their personal situation and the situation in their country on the day of the survey and for the coming year. The French, Italians, and Hungarians also do not expect anything good. Thus, in Hungary only 4% of the population look to the future with optimism. But the residents of Switzerland (79% of those surveyed) believe that all the changes taking place will only improve their situation. Americans (63%) and Germans (60%) mostly agree with them.
Researchers explain Russians’ skepticism by two main psychological reasons. First, many of us remember the 1998 default. The other reason is that in recent years Russia’s economy has developed at a good pace, great hopes were pinned on this, and great hopes were followed by great disappointments.
Citizens justify their assessments and expectations with concrete examples as well: according to 21% of participants in the same Levada Center survey, cases of delayed wage payments have become more frequent over the past month (in October only 10% of respondents said this), 17% cite examples of wage cuts (6% in October), and 20% know of cases of layoffs (a month ago there were 7% of such respondents).
The Director General of the All-Russian Center for Public Opinion Research drew attention to the fact that the overwhelming majority of respondents named not internal factors but external ones as the causes of the crisis, placing all responsibility on the United States. Opinions among the participants in the sociological study differed on how long it might last. One third found it difficult to give a definite forecast, one third believes that the crisis is temporary, and another third holds the view that it has come to Russia in earnest and for the long haul.