Problems that concern citizens

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23.07.2013

Problems that concern citizens

69% of Ukrainians believe that, overall, affairs in Ukraine are moving in the wrong direction, while only 16% believe they are moving in the right direction. Another 16% were unable to determine their opinion on this issue.
It is worth noting that compared to similar studies conducted in 2011–2012, evaluations have changed very little. The only exception was September 2012, when a quarter believed that affairs in Ukraine were moving in the right direction, while almost 60% believed they were moving in the wrong direction. This indicates that ahead of the parliamentary elections, public expectations improved (an emotional component was added), but six months later the indicators returned to the levels recorded in 2011–2012.
Most respondents believe that the most important problems for Ukraine are unemployment (53%), corruption in government bodies (51%), and low production levels (45%). In addition, respondents noted control over price growth (26%), social protection for the poor (25%), government incompetence (22%), political instability (21%), and crime (15%).
Compared to September of the previous year, the most noticeable increase occurred among those who identified corruption in government bodies (from 37% to 51%), low production levels (from 40% to 45%), government incompetence (from 13% to 22%), and political instability (from 16% to 21%) as key national problems.
Among problems that personally concern citizens, respondents highlighted price control (54%), unemployment (50%), and social protection for the poor (37%). Citizens are also personally concerned about corruption in government bodies (27%), low production levels (22%), and delays in salary or pension payments (21%).
Far fewer citizens are currently concerned about crime (12%), government incompetence (12%), shortages or possible shutdowns of gas, electricity, or water supply (10%), depreciation of the hryvnia (9%), political instability (9%), and land ownership issues (7%).
Compared to September of the previous year, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of respondents who identified corruption in government bodies (from 23% to 27%) and government incompetence (from 6% to 12%) as key personal problems. Changes in other indicators were minimal.
Thus, the survey shows that the main problems worrying Ukrainians are primarily economic. At the same time, citizens clearly distinguish between problems that affect them personally and those that are important for the country overall. Specifically, respondents consider price control, delays in salary or pension payments, social protection for the poor, depreciation of the hryvnia, and risks of utility shutdowns to be more important personally than nationally. In contrast, low production levels, corruption, political instability, and government incompetence are viewed as more important for the country than for individuals personally. Unemployment is considered equally important both personally and nationally.
Regional differences are also notable. Unemployment and government incompetence are more important problems for residents of Western Ukraine; price growth control, corruption, and relations with Russia are more important for residents of the South and East; social protection for the poor is more important for residents of Central Ukraine.
Women more acutely feel the impact of rising prices and social protection issues, while men more often highlight corruption, low production levels, unemployment, and crime. Young people are more sensitive to corruption, government incompetence, and political instability; middle-aged people to unemployment and low production levels; older people to price growth and social protection for low-income groups.
Respondents did not note significant positive changes in most spheres of the country’s life. For example, 73% believe that price levels worsened over the past two years, 24% believe they did not change, and only 2% believe they improved.
More than half of respondents noted deterioration over the past two years in healthcare, employment opportunities, political stability, professionalism of authorities, agricultural development, overall economic development, and anti-corruption efforts. More than 40% noted deterioration in small and medium business development, social protection, and housing and utility services.
Relatively more positive assessments were given to changes in European integration, language issues, salary and pension payments, hryvnia stability, and relations with Russia.
72% of respondents would support, in a referendum, constitutional and legal provisions allowing citizens to dismiss officials, MPs, judges, and law enforcement leaders at all levels. Only 8% would oppose such a proposal, 10% were undecided, and 11% would not participate in such a referendum.
43% of respondents would support Ukraine joining the European Union, while 26% would oppose it. 19% were undecided, and 11% would not participate.
40% would support Ukraine joining the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia, while 33% would oppose it. 16% were undecided, and 11% would not participate.
36% would support electing the President of Ukraine in a single round, while 37% would oppose it. 17% were undecided, and 10% would not participate.
33% would support introducing a purely majoritarian electoral system for parliamentary elections, about a quarter would oppose it, nearly 30% were undecided, and 14% would not participate.
Only 16% would support introducing a bicameral parliament, about one third would oppose it, one third were undecided, and 16% would not participate.

Methodology

The survey was conducted May 14–28, 2013, among 1,200 respondents aged 18 and older.
The statistical margin of error does not exceed 2.8%.
The research was funded by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), conducted by Baltic Surveys/The Gallup Organization on behalf of the International Republican Institute (IRI), with fieldwork conducted by Rating Group Ukraine.

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