Expects life to improve in the next year
| Region | % optimistic | % Russian mean |
| Volga | 29 | 141 |
| North-west | 27 | 132 |
| Volgo-Vyatka | 24 | 117 |
| Central Black Earth | 23 | 111 |
| Central | 22 | 108 |
| RUSSIAN MEAN | 21 | 100 |
| Urals | 20 | 99 |
| North Caucasus | 18 | 88 |
| Far East | 17 | 84 |
| West Siberia | 15 | 74 |
| East Siberia | 13 | 63 |
| Northern | 8 | 39 |
| Source: VCIOM. Nationwide Russian surveys 1996. |
Hope Low but Varies Between Regions
There is not much optimism among Russians about the year ahead; an average of 21 per cent said they expected their situation to improve in 1997 when interviewed in the previous year. A total of 56 per cent expected no change for the better and the remaining 23 per cent were don't knows. Since then, conditions have deteriorated. The extent of hope varies between regions. It rises to 29 per cent in Volga and almost as high in the North-west. It is lowest in the Northern region and in East and West Siberia.