Russians are unaware that the Government is saving them
VTsIOM public opinion agency has found that few have taken notice of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's efforts to steady the economy as he toured the country. Fifty-six per cent of those polled know nothing about the Government's anti-crisis measures. And those who are informed do not applaud "Putin's plans": only one in ten (11%) called them adequate.
"People do not know anything about the Government's moves, and are unable to offer solutions. They don't even know what to do with their own savings," said Valery Fedorov, VTsIOM general director, as he summed up the "People. Money. Work" study. Pollsters surveyed 1,600 Russians early in December.
During the two past months, Russian opinion has changed radically: those who feel there is a crisis increased 27% - from 55% to 82%. But the paradox discovered by psychologists is that, according to the latest data, 81% of those polled approve of Putin's actions as prime minister (Medvedev's steps as president are approved by 73%). But it appears only 11% accept the anti-crisis plan as adequate. The explanation lies in the "information vacuum" in the mind rather than in people losing "faith in Putin". Actually, only 3% consider the measures inadequate. And 56% do not know at all that the Government is saving them.
Of those informed, only 1% replied that the Government would devote its main efforts to saving pensioners, and 2% to supporting the jobless (despite many statements on the subject and increased unemployment benefits). Nineteen per cent describe banks as the main aid recipients, not themselves.
"What should the Government do?" asked the survey. They expected a flood of advice: but found that 78% did not know what to propose. As for the few answers, one of the most popular (5%) was "nationalisation" (it should be recalled that Putin's first step was to nationalise Saturn, a plant manufacturing aircraft engines). Two percent advised him "to give more thought to people".
"The crisis has become the main topic of discussion in the kitchen," Fedorov said. "It is now being discussed by 54% up from 32% in September, while 74% are thinking of problems they face." It is not Putin's measures that people discuss. They are thinking about their own money: 15% have started laying a nest against a possible job loss, while 10% withdrew the money from their bank account. What's next? "Twenty-three percent are at a loss and do not know what to do, a sign of crisis and mistrust," the VTsIOM head said. Using real estate as a way to keep savings has dropped by 10% over the past two months (down to 41%), while gold lost 4% of its value. Strangely, despite scare stories about devaluation, 72% are going to keep their savings in roubles (8% more than in October). Fourteen per cent trust the euro, and only 4% the dollar.
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WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE GOVERNMENT'S ANTI-CRISIS PLAN?
Adequate, will work: 11%
Will have to be repeatedly revised: 18%
Unfit: 3%
Do not want to assess, or do not know: 68%
WHAT MUST THE GOVERNMENT DO?
Do not know: 78%
Introduce state regulation, nationalise: 5%
Support industry: 4%
Control inflation: 2%
Fight corruption: 2%
Lower salaries for officials: 2%
Create jobs: 2%
Strengthen the rouble: 2%
Think more of people: 2%
Discourage imports: 1%
WHERE DO YOU INVEST MONEY? (*)
Real estate: 41%
Gold, valuables: 17%
State Bank: 16%
Cash roubles: 14%
Cash foreign currency: 6%
Stocks: 4%
Commercial banks: 2%
Don't know, cannot say: 24%
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* Three choices were allowed.
Tatyana Zamakhina