24.07.2014
Relations between the state and business
- According to the results of a study conducted by the Rating Group, 37% of respondents believe that representatives of big business should not be present in parliament under any circumstances, while another 33% believe they may be present only if they sell their businesses. Meanwhile, 18% see nothing wrong with big business representatives being present in parliament, and 12% were undecided.
- More loyal attitudes toward the presence of big business representatives in parliament are observed among people with higher levels of education and higher incomes.
- The majority of respondents (58%) believe that political parties should finance parliamentary election campaigns from the income and savings of party leaders. At the same time, 24% believe campaigns should be financed through voters’ contributions to party campaign funds, 22% — through sponsorship from big business, 9% — through state funding, 3% suggested other options, and 12% were undecided.
- According to 81% of respondents, the state should conclude an agreement with big business on returning part of capital to state ownership. Only 5% disagree with this idea, while 14% were undecided. Support for such an agreement is highest in Kyiv, the Center, the North, Galicia, and the West, and lowest in Kharkiv region.
- When asked what the state should do with large enterprises owned by oligarchs, 45% supported conducting objective investigations and returning only illegally obtained enterprises to state ownership, 36% supported nationalizing all large enterprises owned by oligarchs, 11% supported allowing owners to compensate for illegally obtained assets while retaining ownership, and only 2% supported taking no action. Another 6% were undecided.
- Over the past three months, the share of respondents supporting full nationalization of large enterprises decreased (from 44% to 36%), while support increased for investigations and the return of only illegally obtained enterprises (from 36% to 45%).
- Most respondents believe that both high-ranking officials and representatives of big business convicted of embezzlement of state property should receive maximum prison sentences. This position is supported by 68% regarding high-ranking officials and 62% regarding big business representatives. Providing at least minimum prison sentences is supported by 12% (for officials) and 15% (for business representatives). Approximately equal shares support suspended sentences combined with bans on holding public office (8% and 9% respectively). Only 1% support no punishment, and about 5% were undecided.
- About 30% of respondents would like to start their own business, while 55% would not. Only 3% stated they already own a business, and 12% were undecided. Over the past year, the share of those willing to engage in entrepreneurship increased slightly (from 27% to 30%), while the share of those unwilling decreased. At the same time, the share of those already running a business decreased (from 5% to 3%).
- Entrepreneurial aspirations are highest among residents of Kyiv, the West, Galicia, and the Center, as well as among men and younger people.
- 47% of respondents positively assess their chances of starting a business within the next one to two years, 46% believe they have no such chances, and 6% were undecided. Compared to the previous year, the share of those optimistic about entrepreneurial prospects decreased (from 54% to 47%), while skepticism increased.
- Regarding the idea of free sale of agricultural land, the majority of respondents (74%) have a negative attitude, 13% support the idea, and 12% were undecided. Over the past two years, there has been a slight increase in support for free agricultural land sales (from 9% in 2012, 11% in 2013, to 13% in 2014).
Methodology
- Audience: population of Ukraine aged 18 and older.
- Sample: 4,000 respondents, representative by age, gender, region, and settlement type.
- Method: face-to-face structured interviews using a questionnaire.
- Margin of error: not more than 1.5%.
- Fieldwork period: June 28 – July 10, 2014.
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