MAY CBOS 2004

ISSN 1233 - 7250

IN THIS ISSUE: IMPROVEMENT OF SOCIAL MOODS AFTER THE EU ACCESSION

Ø IMPROVEMENT AND RESIGNATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF SOCIAL MOODS AFTER THE EU The much- ACCESSION IN GENERAL, IS THE SITUATION IN HEADING IN A GOOD AND RESIGNATION celebrated extension of OR A WRONG DIRECTION? the , 80% OF THE GOVERNMENT Wrong along with the 70%

resignation of the 60% Ø THE ATTITUDE unpopular Prime 50% TO POLAND'S Minister , MEMBERSHIP contributed to a visible 40% IN THE EU AFTER Good 30% THE EXTENSION improvement of social moods, which had been 20% very bad for months. 10% Difficult to say Ø INCREASE The percentage of the 0% OF EDUCATIONAL respondents evaluating III I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ASPIRATIONS the situation in Poland 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 OF THE POLES as bad decreased by as much as 23 percentage points. At the same time, the percentage of those who evaluate the situation as good increased by 16 percentage points. Although still Ø more people believe that the situation in Poland is heading in a wrong rather than a good WORK AS A VALUE direction (51% and 32% of indications, respectively), the social moods are relatively good, as compared to the period since the last parliamentary elections (September 2001) and the emergence of the present political alignment. Equally good (more or less) evaluations of the situation in Poland were recorded only twice during this period shortly after the PUBLIC OPINION parliamentary elections and the appointment of Leszek Miller's government (in November RESEARCH CENTER 2001) and after the Copenhagen summit closing the accession negotiations with the - CBOS - European Union, which were considered a success of the Polish government (in January 4a ¯urawia 2003). 00-503 Warszawa The POLAND HOW DO YOU GENERALLY EVALUATE THE CURRENT POLITICAL SITUATION IN POLAND? IT IS: resignation of the Ph: (48 22) 629 35 69 80% Prime Minister Leszek bad (48 22) 628 37 04 70% Miller stopped the downward trend in the (48 22) 693 46 91 60% evaluations of the Fax:(48 22) 629 40 89 50% political situation in 40% E-mail: [email protected] Poland, which had 30% http://www.cbos.pl begun at the beginning 20% neither good nor bad of this year. However, Editors: 10% the opinions about the Krzysztof Zagórski good 0% political situation in and Beata Roguska I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Poland are still very Translated by critical (67% of Kinga Paw³owska negative opinions and only 4% of positive ones). Mr Miller's successor, the new Prime Minister Marek Belka (whose cabinet has not obtained a vote of confidence from the © COPYRIGHT BY CBOS 2004 ALL SOURCES MUST BE CREDITED Parliament yet) has been received with reservation by a large part of the society. For several WHEN ANY PART OF THIS months now, the Poles have supported the idea of an early parliamentary election. In the PUBLICATION IS REPRODUCED existing political situation, they no longer believe in the possibility of forming a government able to solve the country's problems successfully. 2 05/2004

A visible improvement of the economic situation THE ATTITUDE TO POLAND'S in the last months, as well as Poland's accession to the European Union and the associated hopes for faster MEMBERSHIP IN THE EU economic development, have brought more positive AFTER THE EXTENSION evaluations of the economic situation of the country. Nevertheless, most respondents (56%) still believe it to The EU extension contributed to an increase of be bad and only 9% describe it as good. The improvement the support for Poland's membership in this organisation. of the economic situation has not caused a noticeable At present, 71% of the respondents support the accession improvement in the conditions of living yet. 23% of the (by 7 percentage points more than in April). 20% oppose Poles evaluate the standard of living of their households the integration (by 9 percentage points less than a month as good, 43% - as average and 34% - as bad. before). So high support for Poland's membership in the EU has not been recorded for years. The last time a similar level of support (72%) was recorded was August HOW DO YOU GENERALLY EVALUATE THE CURRENT ECONOMIC SITUATION IN POLAND? IT IS: 1997, even before the commencement of the accession negotiations. 100%

90% bad THE ATTITUDE TO THE INTEGRATION 80% WITH THE EU 70% 100%

60% 90% 50% 80% 70% Supporters 40% neither good nor bad 60% 30% 50% 20% 40% 10% good Opponents 30% 0% 20% I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 10% Undecided 0% VI V V IV VIII V VIII XII V XI II V IX III V VII X XIII III V VIIIX XI I VI IX XI I III V 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 The expectations concerning the situation in Poland in the next 12 months are less pessimistic than in In April, the approaching extension of the EU the previous months. As compared with April, the caused negative feelings more frequently than positive proportion of the respondents expecting a deterioration ones. Now there is visibly more hope, joy and pride and dropped by 13 percentage points. At the same time, the less fears, horror, sadness and resentment. The most proportion of those who expect an improvement of the common feelings of the Poles associated with the situation in Poland increased by 4 percentage points. At accession are hope (65%), anxiety (51%) and curiosity present, over two-fifths of the respondents (44%) believe (47%). On the whole, more people had positive (69%) that the general situation in Poland will not change during than negative emotions (55%). the next year, a third (31%) expect a deterioration and FEELINGS ACCOMPANYING THE INTEGRATION one-sixth (16%) hope for an improvement. OF POLAND WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION:

57% Hope 65% IN YOUR OPINION, WILL THE SITUATION IN POLAND IMPROVE, Anxiety 60% DETERIORATE OR REMAIN UNCHANGED DURING 51% THE NEXT YEAR? Curiosity 53% 47% 60% Indifference 11% Remain unchanged 16% 50% 7% Pride 13% 6% 40% Joy 11% 19% 30% Horror 9% Deteriorate 8% Enthusiasm 20% 8% 10% Sadness 10% 5% IV 2004 Improve 9% V 2004 Resentment 5% 0% I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Expressing their support for Poland's membership in the European Union, the Poles imagine More information about this issue can be found in the CBOS report united Europe primarily as an economic community, less (in Polish)„Improvement of social moods in May”, May 2004. Survey commonly as a political or axiological community. The executed in May 2004. A representative random sample of the adult approval for these three dimensions of the integration has population of Poland. N= 1006 grown during the last five years (since May 1999). At

PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH CENTER - CBOS - 05/2004 3

present, almost three quarters of the Poles support the economic integration (71%). Over half (52%) also IN YOUR OPINION, IS IT WORTHWHILE OR NOT TO OBTAIN EDUCATION (TO STUDY) IN TODAY'S POLAND? support the political union. A slightly smaller group 42 34 (%) (49%) also believe in common values and goals of the XI 1993 16 4 people. The prevailing opinion is, however, that Poland Definitely yes should maintain its distinct culture and customs. Less Rather yes X 2002 66 25 Rather not than a quarter of the respondents (24%) support 5 2 Definitely not integration in the sphere of culture. IV 2004 76 17 4 1 IN YOUR OPINION, IN WHICH AREAS SHOULD POLAND INTEGRATE (UNITE) WITH EUROPE, AND IN WHICH ONES For years, the Poles have considered high income SHOULD IT PRESERVE ITS IDENTITY? SHOULD POLAND as the most important incentive to obtain education. The INTEGRATE WITH THE EU OR NOT IN THE AREAS OF: second most frequently mentioned reason for studying is V 1999 65% 19% 16% the opportunity to avoid unemployment. Other relatively economy V 2004 71% 16% 13% frequently indicated reasons include a chance for an interesting job, independence and easier life. Other political V 1999 44% 31% 25% motivations were mentioned much less frequently, structures V 2004 52% 29% 19% although the following are also significant: self- improvement and intellectual development, the values and V 1999 40% 40% 20% possibility of being your own boss and a chance to find people's goals V 2004 49% 36% 15% employment abroad.

V 1999 21% 65% 14% culture and IN YOUR OPINION, WHY DO PEOPLE STRIVE FOR customs V 2004 24% 68% 9% EDUCATION? DO THEY COUNT IN THE FIRST PLACE ON:

58% 20% Integrate Preserve own identity Difficult to say high income 70% self-improvement 14% 65% 17%

19% 9% More information about this issue can be found in the CBOS report avoiding 36% being one's 8% unemployment own boss (in Polish): „The attitude to Poland's membership in the EU after 41% 17% the extension”, May 2004. Survey executed in May 2004. 46% recognition 22% an interesting A representative random sample of the adult population of Poland. 40% and respect 14% profession N= 1006 37% of other people 11% 35% 18% easier life 40% light work 16% INCREASE 36% 10% OF EDUCATIONAL 36% 5% independence 33% XI 1993 participation 6% in power ASPIRATIONS OF THE POLES 35% X 2002 5% 23% IV 2004 1% intellectual 14% Difficult to say 1% development Improvement of the structure of the Poles' 17% 1% education, and, in particular, the desire of young people to As compared with the year 1993, the motivations get as much education as possible, are among the most to obtain education mentioned by the respondents have positive effects of the Polish transformation. During the changed. As a growing number of the Poles cannot find last ten years, the educational advancement of the Poles jobs, the respondents more and more frequently speak of has been accompanied by changes in the opinions about education as a way of avoiding unemployment or, lately, the value of education and growth of the educational of finding a job abroad. At the same time, the importance aspirations of the society. of such motivations as having an interesting profession, At present, the belief that it is worthwhile to study intellectual development, improving one's social position is almost universal. 93% of the respondents believe so and finding light work has decreased. (76% believe so „definitely”). Few people (5%) negate the sense of educational aspirations in today's Poland. More information about this issue can be found in the CBOS report During the last decade, the awareness of the (in Polish): „Increase of the educational aspirations of the Poles importance of education increased greatly among the in the years 1993-2004”, May 2004. Survey executed in April 2004. A representative random sample of the adult population of Poland. Poles. In 1993, just slightly over two-fifths of the N= 993 respondents (42%) were convinced that education was worthwhile, in 2002 two-thirds believed so (66%) and WORK AS A VALUE today this proportion has increased to 76%. Increasingly smaller proportions of respondents deny the sense of Work is one of the most important values for the obtaining education. Poles. Its importance in the lives of the Poles has

PUBLIC OPINION RE SEARCH CENTER - CBOS - 4 05/2004 increased considerably since the beginning of the In the opinion of the Poles, a good job is transformation. With the introduction of the market characterised by good pay and security of employment. economy, people started to work more and became more Good atmosphere at work and satisfactory interpersonal efficient workers than before 1989. For a few years now, relations are also very important. The most important the unemployment level in Poland has been very high, so characteristics of a good job include: working with nice the very fact of having a job is highly valued, and the people and a lack of stress and tension. A job should be satisfaction derived from work has become less also interesting. Fewer people mention that the type of important. Nevertheless, work appears to have more than work should correspond to their skills, or mention just instrumental value. Nearly three quarters of the independence, an opportunity to show initiative or respondents agree with the opinion that work gives one's creative aspects of work. Other relatively frequently life a meaning. Less than a quarter choose the opinion that mentioned features of a good job include: social prestige, work is just a way of earning money and nobody would prospects for promotion and convenient working hours. work if they did not have to. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING ASPECTS OF A JOB DO YOU WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING OPINIONS IS CLOSER CONSIDER THE MOST IMPORTANT FOR YOU PERSONALLY: TO YOUR VIEWS?

Work gives one's well-paid 59% life a meaning Work is just a way security of employment 57% of earning money, nobody would work working with nice people 52% if they did not have to 24% 72% a lack of stress and tension 47%

4% an interesting job 43% a prestigious job 29% Difficult to say prospects for promotion 28%

convenient working hours 24%

Most respondents also share the opinion that hard work corresponding to my abilities 21% work pays off. Less than one-fifth believe that hard work frequent contact with people 21% is not necessary to be successful. independent, responsible job 20%

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING OPINIONS IS CLOSER an opportunity to show initiative 20% TO YOUR VIEWS? creative work, an opportunity to create something new and original 11% Hard work pays off easy, simple, not complicated work 7% influence on decisions made at the company 6% Difficult to say 1% Hard work is not 79% necessary to be 18% successful in life 3% More information about this issue can be found in the CBOS report (in Polish): „Work as a value”, May 2004. Survey executed in April Difficult to say 2004. A representative random sample of the adult population of Poland. N= 993

In addition to the reports referred to above, the following have been published recently (in Polish): For more information on CBOS services and publications please contact: u What to do with persons convicted for paedophilia CBOS POLAND u Stabilisation of the opinion about the influence of the Church on life in Poland 4a, ¯urawia, 00-503 Warsaw u Young people vs. psychoactive substances Phones: (48 22) 629 35 69, 628 37 04 u Support for political parties in the transformation period electoral alternatives and negative electorates Fax: (48 22) 629 40 89 u Political party preferences in May u Was Leszek Miller a good Prime Minister? Opinions about the achievements and failures of his government E-mail: [email protected] u Drop in support for the presence of Polish troops in Http://www.cbos.pl u A new government or a new Parliament? u The future of the job market seen with more optimism Yearly subscription rate for “Polish u Opinions about the work of the Parliament and the President Public Opinion” is 80 USD u Opiinons about "Rywingate" on the eve of the Parliamentary debate on Ms. B³ochowiak's report u Trust in politicians in May Circulation: 210 copies

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