Most Russians consider the financial crisis in their country a consequence of world financial upheaval.
Photo: Pavel Solovyev
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Russian Public Unalarmed by Crisis
The majority of the public in Russia considers the financial crisis in the country a result of the world crisis and a “temporary phenomenon,” and so is not frightened by it, Levada Center pollsters have found. Fourteen percent of the population does not even know anything about the crisis. Another 14 percent has heard of it, but is unable to say anything specific about it. Forty-two percent felt little concern over the crisis and do not think that it will “reach the bases of our economy” and “the situation in the country will soon stabilize.”
Nonetheless, a significant part of the public is concerned. Thirty-one percent are worried that “serious financial disturbances await the country’s economy.” The 40-55 age group was the most pessimistic (35%) and 18-25 was the least pessimistic (26%). The younger group also had a high percentage of those who “haven’t heard anything about the crisis” (20%). Village dwellers’ indicators were similar to the youths. Only 23 percent of respondent in villages expected financial disturbances, and 23 percent had not heard of the crisis. Residents of cities with populations over 500,000 were the best informed and most perturbed. Among them, 37 percent expected financial shakeup and only 40 percent thought it was a passing phenomenon.
Moscow is an exception, however. There 57 percent think the crisis will be fleeting, and 28 percent are concerned about financial disturbance. The pollsters note that Moscow has always been more stable and prosperous than the rest of the country. Fifty-four percent of all respondents consider the crisis in Russia a consequence of the world financial crisis (72% in Moscow). Eleven percent consider it completely a result of “the economic policy of the Russian leadership in recent years” (5% in Moscow). Twenty-three percent consider it the fault of the Russian leadership “to a significant degree” (19% in Moscow) and 19 percent of the country does not consider Russian economic policy the cause of the crisis at all (31% in Moscow).
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Oct. 22, 2008
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