New Russia Barometer 8
A EMP Employment
B EC: Economy
C PO: Political Opinions
D VP: Voting, Parties
E VL: View of Life
F IR: International relations
G S: Social Structure
A. EMPLOYMENT
We would like you to answer some questions about what you do. If you
work at several jobs, tell us about the job which you consider to be your
main one.
A1. What is your current economic status?
Employed
Self-employed, own business, own farm
Employed, on maternity leave
Pensioner but still employed.
Pensioner Go to 3
Unemployed, getting state unemployment benefit
Unemployed, not getting state
unemployment benefit
Housewife
Student
A2. In the past 12 months at any time have you been:
Unemployed
Received wages late
Not been paid at all
A3. IF pensioner:
Pension paid late
Pension not paid at all
A4. Could you borrow as much as a week's wage or pension from a friend
or a relative?
Definitely/Probably/Probably not/Definitely not
A5. Which of these terms best describes your employer
State-owned enterprise
State budgetary organization
Mixed ownership (state and private) enterprise
Privatized (former state) enterprise
Newly created enterprise/private company
Foreign enterprise/joint venture
Self-employed, own business
State or collective farm or forestry enterprise
Other (Specify)
A6. If you had a choice, would you prefer working for:
State enterprise, budgetary institution
Privatized company, formerly a state enterprise
New private company
Joint venture/Foreign firm
Self-employed
Cooperative
A7. Do you belong to a trade union?
Yes/No/No union at place of work/Don't know
A8. Are you worried about losing your job?
Yes, very worried/Somewhat worried/No
A9. Have you ever thought seriously about working in a country of
Western Europe?
Yes, thought about it/No/Have already worked there
A10. What salary or income did you earn from your main job in the past
month (after paying taxes), including money you have earned but not yet
received, bonuses you expect to receive etc.? (Incomes received in foreign
currency should be converted into roubles at the current rate).
Approximately ___________roubles.
Mean
Standard deviation
A11. Do you earn enough from your main job to buy all you really need?
Definitely enough/Just enough/Not enough/Definitely not enough
ALL RESPONDENTS
A12. In the last month, apart from your main work or occupation, did you
have any other work or occupation bringing you supplementary income?
Yes, regular supplementary work
Yes, occasional earnings
No, no supplementary work
A13. In the past year has your household:
Made savings/Just got by/Spent savings/Borrowed money/Spent
savings and borrowed money
B. ECONOMY
Here is a scale ranking how well an economy works. The top, plus 100, is the best and the bottom, minus 100, is the worst. Where on this scale would you put:
B1. The economic system before perestroyka?
B2. Our current economic system
B3. Our economic system in five years
Which of these statements are you more inclined to agree with, and how
much?
B4. State ownership is the best way to run an enterprise
Definitely agree/Somewhat agree
OR An enterprise is best run by private entrepreneurs
Definitely agree/Somewhat agree
B5. It is better when there are plenty of goods in the shops even if they are
expensive
Definitely agree/Somewhat agree
OR It is better when the prices are kept low by the state even if there are
few goods in the shops
Definitely agree/Somewhat agree
B6. Goods made in other countries should be freely imported and sold here
if people want to buy them
Definitely agree/Somewhat agree
OR There should be strict limits on selling foreign goods here to protect the
jobs of people in this country
Definitely agree/Somewhat agree
B7. How would you assess the economic situation in your city/district at
the present time?
Very good/Fairly good/Not so good/Very bad
B8. Who is to be blamed for our economic problems and to what extent?
Mainly/Some extent/Not much/Not at all
a. Yeltsin
b. Former Communist regime
c. Today's Communist party
d. Prime Minister Putin
e. Government officials generally
f. Western governments
g. Businessmen
h. Transformation from Socialist to market economy
j. Mafia
B9. How long do you think it will take the government to solve the
economic problems in the country?
1-2 years/3-5 years/6-10 years/Never/Already resolved/Don't
know
B10. Making decisions about the Russian economy is difficult. How much
confidence do you have in the ability of the following to make decisions
that are good for the country?
A lot/Some/A little/None
a. The State Bank
b. Leading professors of economics
c. Businessmen/ entrepreneurs
d. The Ministry of Finance
And now please answer some questions about the material situation of
your family
B11. In the past twelve months did your family often, sometimes, rarely,.
or never have to do without:
Often/Sometimes/Rarely/Never
a. Food
b. Heating
c. Electricity
d. Clothes, shoes that are really necessary
B12. And now, including all sources of family income, what was your
total family income in the past month, including money you have earned
but not yet received, bonuses you expect to receive, etc. (Note: Convert
any foreign currency earnings into roubles)
Mean/Standard deviation
B13. Does your family have any savings?
Yes, in roubles/a rouble account
Yes in hard currency/a hard currency account
No
B14. Do you have any of the following in your household: (% saying yes)
a. Colour television
b. Video cassette recorder
c. Second hand car
d. New car
B15. Do you have a telephone?
Yes/No
B16. Do you (or your family) have shares or investment funds that you got:
Yes/No/Don't know
a. In exchange for vouchers
b. From privatization of your enterprise
c. By buying them for money
B17. Do you have access to the Internet/WorldWideWeb?
Yes, at work/Yes at home/Yes, through friends, other means/No/Never heard of it
B18. All in all, how do you rate the economic situation of your family
today?
Very satisfactory/Fairly satisfactory/Not very satisfactory/Very
unsatisfactory
B19. How would you compare your family's economic situation with what
it was before perestroyka?
Much better now/Somewhat better/Same/Somewhat worse now/
Much worse
B20. What do you think the economic situation of your family will be in
five years compared to now?
Much better in future/Somewhat better/Same/Somewhat worse/
Much worse
B21. Which activity on this card is the most important for the standard of
living of you and your family? (SHOW CARD)
Growing own food
Repairing (enlarging) house
What we get as favours
What we get with the help of friends and relatives
What we get in foreign currency
Earnings in second job, income from own business
Money that we get on the side, private services, commissions, tips
Earnings from regular job
Pension or unemployment money
Benefits given at work, like meals, holidays, housing
B22. And which is second in importance?
Growing own food
Repairing (enlarging) house
What we get as favours
What we get with the help of friends and relatives
What we get in foreign currency
Earnings in second job, income from own business
Money that we get on the side, private services, commissions, tips
Earnings from regular job
Pension or unemployment money
Benefits given at work, like meals, holidays, housing
B23. How long will it be before you have reached a standard of living with
which you are content?
1-2 years/3-5 years/6-10 years/Never/Already reached/Don't know
C. POLITICAL OPINIONS
Here is a scale for evaluating the political system. The top, plus 100, is the best, and the bottom, minus 100, is the worst. Where on this scale would you put:
C1. The political system we had before perestroyka
C2. Our current Political system
C3. The political system we will have in five years
C4. Compared to the old regime before perestroyka, would you say today
things are:
Much better than before/Better/Much the same/A little worse/Much worse
a. Everyone has the right to say what they think
b. You can join any organization you like
c. People like me can have an influence on government
d. Everybody has freedom of choice in religious matters
e. Everyone can decide individually whether or not to participate in politics
f. Government treats everybody equally and fairly
C5. The word democracy has many different meanings; this card gives
some of them. For each item, please indicate whether you think for
democracy it is:
Essential/Important but not essential/Not very important
/Unimportant/Don't know
a. Equality of all citizens before the law
b. A choice of candidates and parties at each election
c. Freedom of action (You don't have to do what politicians say if you don't
want to)
d. Government guarantees a certain level of income for all its citizens
e. There is freedom to criticize government
f. The country is economically prosperous
And here is a scale ranging from a low of 1 to a high 10. On this scale, 1 means complete dictatorship and 10 means complete democracy.
C6. Where would you place our country at the present time?
C7. And where would you personally like our country to be placed?
C8. Some people think this country would be better governed if
Parliament were suspended. How likely do you think this is to happen in
the next few years?
Very likely/Maybe/Not very likely/Not at all likely
C9. IF Parliament was suspended, would you:
Strongly approve/Somewhat approve/Somewhat disapprove/Strongly disapprove
C10. There are different opinions about the nature of the state. To what
extent do you:
Completely agree/Generally agree/Somewhat disagree/Generally
disagree
a. It would be better to restore the Communist system
b. The army should govern the country
c. We should restore the Tsar
d. A tough dictatorship is the only way out of the current situation
C11. How much influence do you think the government in Moscow has on
what happens in the regions and localities?
A lot/Some/Not very much/None
C12. To what extent do you trust each of the following institutions to look
after your interests? Please indicate on a scale with 1 for no trust at all and
7 great trust.
Trusts/Neutral/Does not trust
a. Courts
b. Political parties
c. Police
d. Army
e. Duma
f. Trade unions
g. The President of Russia
h. Private enterprises
j. Foreign organizations, experts advising our government
k. Most people you meet
C13. Government has to deal with many problems--but it cannot solve all
of them at once. How much priority do you think the next Russian
government ought to give to each of the following problems facing this
country?
Highest Priority/Important/Low priority/Unimportant
a. Rising prices
b. Threat of terrorist attacks in Russian cities
c. Crisis in the health service
d. Unemployment
e. Pollution of environment
f. War in Chechnya
g. Corruption in government
h. Unfair treatment of Russians in other CIS countries
j. Crime
k. Russia's status as a great power
Which of these statements are you more inclined to agree with and how
much?
C14. Our country should develop like West European countries
Definitely agree/Somewhat agree
OR Our country should develop according to our own traditions
Definitely agree/Somewhat agree
C14a. It will take years for the next Russian government to deal with
problems inherited from the past
Definitely agree/Somewhat agree/Somewhat disagree/Strongly
disagree
C14b. If the current government cannot deal with the problems facing the
country, then we should get rid of elections to the Duma and try another
form of government
Definitely agree/Somewhat agree/Somewhat disagree/Strongly
disagree
C15. Do you think:
Strongly agree/Somewhat agree/Somewhat disagree/Strongly
disagree
a. The President of Russia should have the right to suspend the Parliament
and introduce presidential rule by decree if he considers that necessary
b. The Duma should have the right to stop the President taking decisions
that it considers wrong
C16. If a person has to get a decision from the authorities and officials are
taking too long, what should he do?
Not to worry; the decision will eventually be made
Offer a bribe or a present to the official to get a decision
Use connections
Write a letter to the head office
Do what you want without the decision
Nothing can be done
C17. There is a lot of talk these days about the duties that people owe this
country. How important is it that everyone living here:
Very/Somewhat/Not very/Not at all
a. Pays taxes on all their income
b. Respects the country's flag
c. Respects points of view different from their own
d. Does military service when young
e. Obeys all the country's laws
What assessment would you give of Boris Yeltsin as president of Russia if '1' is lowest and '10' is highest?
C18. President Yeltsin
C19. Prime minister Vladimir Putin?
C20. Gennadi Zyuganov, leader of the Communist Party?
C21. Aleksandr Lukashenka, leader of Belarus?
C22. Who is to be blamed for the conflict in Chechnya?
A lot/Some/Not much/Not at all
a. The army
b. President Yeltsin
c. USA
d. Extremists from Middle Eastern countries
e. The Chechens
C23. What is your attitude to the actions of the Russian government in
Chechnya?
Fully support/Support to some degree/Many criticisms/Definitely
oppose
C24. If they only sent volunteers to conflict areas, would you be willing to
you yourself or see your husband, son, brother or other close relative, go
to Chechnya to fight the bandits and terrorists?
Yes/No/Couldn't go because of health, other reasons
C25. How do you think the conflict in Chechnya will end?
Fighters will be overcome and Chechnya will return to Russia
The part of Chechnya north of the Terek will return to Russia
Enormous losses on both sides and end as in 1996
Protracted fighting will spread to other parts of the North Caucasus
C26. What do you think of the possible separation of Chechnya from
Russia?
It has already happened in fact
I would be delighted by such a turn of events
It wouldn't make any difference to me
I'm against such a turn of events but could accept it
We must prevent that by any possible means, including military
D. VOTING, PARTIES
D1. Do you identify with any political party?
Yes/No--go to 3
D2. If YES: Do you identify...
Strongly/Somewhat/Only a little
D3. What broad political outlook are you most inclined to favour?:
'Right-wing' (Supporters of a market economy and market
relationships)
Social democratic
Communist
Great power patriot
Environmentalist, Green
Religious
None
D4. What do you think of elections in which we have a big choice of
candidates and parties for the Duma and the Presidency?
Definitely favour/Somewhat favour/Not so good/Definitely bad
D5. How often do you usually read, watch or hear:
Regularly/Sometimes/Rarely/Never
a. National newspapers
b. Regional, local newspapers
c. National television
d. Regional, local television
D6. During the election campaign for the State Duma at the end of last
year, how much attention did you pay to news about it in the media?
A lot/Some/A little/None
D7. How useful were the following in helping you decide what to do in
the Duma election?
Very/Somewhat/A little/Not at all
a. State television (ORT, RTR, Regional government TV stations)
b. Private television (NTV, TV6, Other private TV channels)
c. National newspapers
d. Talking with friends, workmates
e. My own experience, observations
D8. Did you take part in the elections on 19 Dec 1999?
Yes [Go to question. 10]
No [Go to question 9]
Couldn't because under 18 [Go to question 12]
D9. Please say why you didn't vote in the election of the Duma on 19 Dec
1999 (several answers possible) [Then go to Q. 11]
Couldn't get to polling station (sick, absent)
Didn't know who to vote for
Tired of politics, struggles at the top
No party reflects my interests
Don't trust any of today's politicians
My participation makes no difference
Elections are dishonest, results will be falsified
Duma solves nothing, election is useless
Don't know much about/not interested in politics
Elections make no difference to what government does
D10. For which party or electoral bloc did you vote in the last Duma
election?
Conservative Movement of Russia (KDR)
Russian National Union (ROS)
Women of Russia (ZhR)
Stalinist Bloc for USSR
Yabloko
Communists, Workers of Russia, for the Soviet Union
Peace. Work. May
Bloc A. Nikolaev S. Fyodorov
Spiritual Heritage
Congress of Russian Communities
Party of Peace and Unity
Russian Party for Defence of Women
Unity Bloc - Medved
Social Democrats
Movement in Support of the Army (DPA)
Zhirinovsky Bloc
For Citizen's Worth
Fatherland- All Russia (OVR)
Communist Party of the Russian Federation
Russian Cause
Union of Right Forces
Our Home is Russia (NDR)
Socialist Party of Russia
Party of Pensioners
Russian Socialist Party
Against all
Spoiled the ballot
ASK ALL
D11. Did anyone pressure you to vote in a certain way in the Duma
election, for instance by offering 'gifts', giving you instructions, threatening
you or other forms of pressure?
Yes, my vote was made under pressure, inducement
Yes, there were pressures, inducements but it made no difference to
how I voted
No
D12. Would you say that the Duma election was fair in:
Definitely/To some extent/Not very/Not at all
a. Administering ballot and counting votes
b. Television reporting of the campaign
c. The campaign in single-member Duma districts
D13. On election day, did you or any member of your family experience
any irregularities, such as ballots refused at the polling station or seeing
ballots marked by polling officials instead of voters? (can choose more
than one)
Yes, I did
Yes, someone in family
Yes, heard from friends, neighbours
Heard accusations on television, newspapers
No, didn't see or hear anything
D14. Some people say that the Duma election can change the future
direction of this country; others say that no matter how you vote, things
will not change in future. What do you think?
Definitely change/Somewhat/Not much change/No difference
D15. Some people say that it would not be a good idea to hold the
presidential election scheduled in June, even though it is what the law calls
for, because it would only stir up trouble. Others think it ought to be held.
What do you think?
Definitely right/Somewhat desirable/Not so good/Definitely wrong
D16. Did you vote in the second round of the 1996 election? If yes, who
did you vote for?
Yeltsin
Zyuganov
Against all
Didn't vote
D17. Suppose the presidential election were held next Sunday. What
would you say about your intention to vote?
Sure I won't vote [Go to next section]
Doubt I will vote
Don't know whether I will vote
Probably will vote
Definitely will vote
D18. If the ballot included the following candidates, for which one would
you vote? (One answer)
Zhirinovsky
Zyuganov
Kirienko
Lebed
Luzhkov
Primakov
Putin
Yavlinsky
Other
Against all
Wouldn't vote
Don't know
D19. And in the 2nd round ballot for the presidency, what would you do
if the choice was between Putin and Zyuganov?
Putin
Zyuganov
Don't know
Would definitely not vote
E. VIEW OF LIFE
E1. People differ in what is meant by talking about "a normal society". How
important do you think each of the following is in creating a normal
society?
Very/Somewhat/A little/Not at all
a. Everybody who wants to work can find a job
b. If things go wrong, public welfare services will help
c. Ordinary people can go about their everyday activities without
interference by government
d. If you save money, it does not lose its value because of inflation
e. There are opportunities for you or your children to improve your living
conditions
f. Government officials treat ordinary people fairly
g. It is safe to go about the streets without being afraid of crime
h. The country is governed by strong authority
j. Everyone can expect to retire from work and enjoy a normal standard of
living to a ripe old age
E2. Do you think Russian life today is that of a normal society?
Definitely/Somewhat/Only a little/Not at all
E3. (If did not think it definitely, somewhat a normal society) How long do
you think it will be before Russia becomes a normal society?
1-2 years/3-5 years/6-10 years/Never
E4. Some people feel they have completely free choice and control over their lives, while others feel that what they do has no real effect on what happens to them. How about yourself? Here is a scale, where 1 equals no free choice and self control and 10 equals complete free choice and self control. Where would you place yourself in terms of the amount of free choice and self-control you have over the way your life turns out?
F. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
F 1. What do you think about this country having closer ties with each of
the former republics of the Soviet Union? (Answer for each)
Favour/Indifferent/Oppose
a. Azerbaijan
b. Armenia
c. Belarus
d. Georgia
e. Kazakhstan
f. Kirghizia
g. Latvia
h. Lithuania
j. Moldova
k. Tajikistan
l. Turkmenistan
m. Uzbekistan
n. Ukraine
o. Estonia
F2. Do you have any close relatives living in other CIS countries?
Several/One/None
F3. If Russians in the near abroad were under threat from the government
there, the Russian government could respond in different ways. Which of
the following actions would you support?
Totally approve/Somewhat approve/Somewhat disapprove/Totally
disapprove
a. Negotiate
b. Use economic pressure
c. Resettle people of Russian nationality in the Russian Federation
d. Military action
e. A policy of non-interference in the affairs of the other country
F4. Some people say that the living standards of this country would be
better if all the territories of the CIS were joined together in a single unified
state. But others say that this would cause political trouble or be bad for
our economic conditions. What do you think?
Much better off if a single state
Somewhat better off
Wouldn't make any difference
Somewhat worse off if a single state
Much worse off if a single state
F5. How much help do you think Russia should give other CIS states?
Should not help CIS countries
Should help less than today
Should help as much as at present
Should help more than today
F6. Have you ever visited any of the following countries?
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Bulgaria
Czech Republic
Slovakia
Poland
Hungary
F7. How much would this country benefit if it had stronger economic ties
with:
A lot/Some/Not much/Not at all/Don't know
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Romania
Bulgaria
Czech Republic
Slovakia
Poland
Hungary
Belarus
Ukraine
F8. Do you ever think of yourself as a European?
Often/Sometimes/Rarely/Never
F9. As you may know, 15 states of Western Europe together form the
European Union. Do you happen to know which of these cities is its
headquarters? (Choose one)
Berlin
Paris
London
Brussels
Rome
Don't know
F10. Are your general impressions of the aims and activities of the
European Union:
Very positive
Fairly positive
Fairly negative
Very negative
Don't know anything about the aims and activities of the European Union
F11. Do you think this country would be economically better off if it joined
the European Union along with major countries of Western Europe?
Definitely yes/Probably yes/No difference/Probably no/Definitely
not
F12. Do you think any of the following countries could be a substantial
threat to security of Russia?
Big threat/Some threat/Little threat/No threat at all
a. China
b. Germany
c. Iraq
d. USA
e. European Union
f. People of other nationalities living in Russia
g. Ukraine/Russian Federation
(In Russia name Ukraine; in Ukraine name Russia; in Belarus Russia)
F13. Last year there was a conflict in Serbia between Serbs and ethnic
Albanians living in Kosovo. Do you sympathize with:
Serbs
Albanians
No sympathy for either
Not at all interested
F14. With which countries do you think it is most important for Russia to
have good relations?
Very important/Somewhat/Not very/Not at all/Don't know
a. China
b. Great Britain
c. USA
d. Germany
e. Japan
f. European Union
F15. In the next five years do you think some other country might attack
Russia?
Very likely/A real possibility/Not likely/Not at all likely
F16. NATO is a major international alliance that Russia does not belong to.
Do you happen to know whether it is: (ONLY ONE CHOICE)
A big economic trading bloc linking Western Europe, Canada and
USA
The peacekeeping forces of the United Nations
An American led military alliance with Western Europe and Canada
Don't know
F17. Since the break up of the Soviet Union, the Czech Republic, Hungary
and Poland have joined NATO. Do you think this alliance presents any
threat to the security of this country?
Major threat/Some threat/Not much threat/Not at all/Don't know
F18. What would your attitude be if the Baltic countries also joined NATO.
Would such an alliance present any threat to the security of this country?
Major threat/Some threat/Not much threat/Not at all/Don't know
F19. Do you think this country would be more secure if it could join
NATO?
Definitely yes/Probably yes/No difference/Probably no/Definitely
not
F20. Do you think this country should increase what it spends on military
defense, decrease it, or leave things as they are at present?
Spend a lot more/Spend a little more/Leave as it is/Spend a little
less/Spend a lot less
F21. What is your attitude to the following proposal: It is necessary to get
rid of all nuclear weapons unilaterally and make Russia a nuclear-free
zone?
Completely agree/Somewhat agree/Somewhat disagree/Definitely
disagree
G. SOCIAL STRUCTURE
G1. Are you:
Male/Female
G2. How old are you?________ full years
G3. What is your level of education?
Elementary education or less
Incomplete secondary education
Complete secondary education without certificate
Completed vocational education with incomplete secondary
Completed secondary with certificate
Completed vocational education and secondary certificate
Completed specialised vocational education
Completed 3-4 years of higher education without a degree
Completed higher education with a degree
Completed higher education with more than one degree
G4. What is your family status?
Single
Married
Live together, but not married
Live separately, but not divorced
Divorced
Widowed
G5. How many people in your family are living together with you in this
household? including yourself, all children and any temporarily absent?
0/1/2/3/4 or more
G6. How many in your household are employed?
0/1/2/3/4 or more
G7. If you became seriously ill and needed some help in the house, is there
anyone outside your family that you could count on to help?
Definitely/Probably/Probably not/Definitely not
G8. In our society there are people of high social position and people of low social position. What position in your opinion do you have now on a scale if 1 to 10 where 1 is the highest and 10 is the lowest?
G9. What is your nationality?
Russian
Ukrainian
Jewish
Of local republic (e.g. Tatar)
Other
G10a. To what extent are you proud of your nationality?
Definitely/Somewhat/A little/Not at all
b. To what extent are you proud to be a citizen of Russia?
Definitely/Somewhat/A little/Not at all
G11. Do people often ask what you think about what is happening to this
country?
Regularly/Sometimes/Seldom/Never
G12. Were you or anyone from your family a CPSU member?
Member/Another in family was member/No one a member
G13. How often do you go to church or religious services?
Once a week/more often
Once or twice a month
At least a few times a year
Less than once or twice a year
Never go to church