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Russians Want Social Problems to Be Tackled for Oil Money
The Russians are serious about potential expiration of the country’s oil wealth and suggest funneling crude oil revenues to fight poverty and resolve social problems, Interfax reported Sunday with reference to sociological polls.
Some 64 percent polled in mid-July said the crude oil reserves may expire and this expiration will entail material changes for humanity. At the same time, only 38 percent believed that the global reserves of crude oil would end in 40 years to 50 years, and 41 percent didn’t expect them to expire so soon, signalled the poll of the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM).
According to respondents, the oil producing states, including Russia, won’t be able to isolate themselves from the global crisis should it ultimately stir up. A bit more than a half (52 percent) said the expiration would hit both exporters and importers, while 22 percent said the exporters would suffer even more than importers.
So, it isn’t surprising that the Russians found development of alternative energy sources more attractive than exploring new fields of crude oil. The figures were 57 percent and 19 percent respectively.
Meanwhile, the Russians suggest injecting super-profits generated from oil sales in tackling social problems of the nation. According to the poll of Levada Center, 78 percent of respondents said the money should go to fight poverty, increase pensions and salaries of budget-sustained employees, develop social welfare system and provide free medical help. Of interest is that no more than 7 percent of the polled preferred to lay aside money as security against the potential crisis.
www.kommersant.com
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