sign in sign up
<<
Home , Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland

CBOS '99

ISSN 1233 - 7250 THE , AND - IN THIS ISSUE: - COMPARISON OF OPINIONS ON LIVING STANDARDS, THE ECONOMIC SITUATION

Ø THE CZECH AND THE GOVERNMENT REPUBLIC, HUNGARY The states described as AND POLAND - the “Vysehrad Triangle" have been HOW DO YOU EVALUATE THE CURRENT ECONOMIC SITUATION IN YOUR ?* - COMPARISON admitted to NATO before other former OF OPINIONS ON members of the Pact. These LIVING STANDARDS, have been reconstructing 65% THE ECONOMIC their economic and political systems or less successfully for the last SITUATION AND 50% 49% THE GOVERNMENT few years, slowly heading towards the standards. External 39% observers, especially those from the 33% Ø WE ARE other side of the Atlantic, often treat 29% IN THE NATO the Central European countries as very similar to one another. In co- operation with the public opinion 5% 6% 13% Ø THE PERCEIVED research centres in the Good Neither good nor bad Bad AND POSTULATED (IVVM) and Hungary (TARKI), the Czech Republic Hungary Poland HIERARCHY CBOS made an attempt to verify this OF INCOME stereotype, at least in respect of the * “difficult to say" answers were disregarded public opinion, i.e. what citizens of the THE EXPECTED CHANGE IN THE ECONOMIC SITUATION OF THE COUNTRY DURING particular countries think about them. Ø RELIGIOUSNESS THE YEAR Opinions of residents of these three OF countries on both the current situation of 43% 40% 41% their countries and their personal situation 39% are different. The biggest differences

31% have been observed in the evaluation of 27% the economic situation, opinions on the

21% 21% conditions of living and the government. PUBLIC OPINION Differences concerning the expected RESEARCH CENTER 10% changes in the economic situation of the - CBOS - country and the financial situation of families are less visible. 4a ¯urawia Improvement No change Deterioration The Czech Republic Hungary Poland As compared with Poles and 00-503 Warszawa * “difficult to say" answers were disregarded , the Czech have the worst POLAND opinion on the condition of their economy, but, paradoxically, they evaluate their living conditions the highest. At the same time, they are the afraid of Ph: (48 22) 629 35 69 changes for worse in both these EVALUATION OF MATERIAL CONDITIONS OF LIVING (48 22) 628 37 04 respects. (48 22) 693 58 94 Hungarians evaluate their 59% economy better than the Czech and Fax:(48 22) 629 40 89 50% slightly better than Poles. 45% Hungarians are the most optimistic E-: [email protected] about the expected economic 34% 31% development of their country. On the 26% http://www.cbos.pl 24% other hand, their satisfaction with 21% what they have achieved so far is relatively low, as the percentage of 10% © COPYRIGHT BY CBOS 1999 people evaluating their material living conditions as good is small. Good Neither good nor bad Bad ALL SOURCES MUST BE CREDITED The Czech Republic Hungary Poland WHEN ANY PART OF THIS Poles have a better opinion on PUBLICATION IS REPRODUCED their economy than the Czech, although they evaluate it lower than Hungarians (especially recently). However, it is rather difficult to compare the opinions of Hungarians and Poles, as the opinions of Poles are quite highly polarised, while Hungarians tend to choose neutral 2 03.99 opinions on this matter. Poles evaluate their material In Poland support for joining the NATO is the conditions of living a little lower than the Czech, who are same as in Hungary and considerably higher than in the the most satisfied with their present standard of living. On Czech Republic. the other hand, Poles are satisfied with it more than Hungarians. The level of optimism is equal among Poles ARE YOU PERSONALLY FOR OR AGAINST THE ENTRY OF and Hungarians. The Czech are much less optimistic. POLAND / THE CZECH REPUBLIC/ HUNGARY INTO NATO The Hungarian government enjoys the best OR NOT? opinion of its citizens. In the Czech Republic negative 61% 60% opinions on the government outnumber positive ones. As far as the number of positive opinions is concerned, the 49% result of the Polish government is the same as that of the Czech government. However, the Polish government obtained the highest percentage of negative opinions over a half of respondents evaluated in negatively. 22% 23% 22% 17% 11% 11% 12% EVALUATIONS OF THE PERFORMANCE OF THE GOVERNMENT 6% 6% I am for it. I am neither for, I am against it. Difficult to say. nor against it. 54% 52% the Czech Hungarians Poles

41% Approval of NATO membership does not, 36% however, mean unconditional acceptance of the presence 34% 33% of troops of other member states. In all three countries 26% most respondents believe that NATO forces should not station in their countries. The Czech oppose it the strongest. 12% 12% SHOULD TROOPS FROM OTHER MEMBER STATES STATION IN POLAND/ THE CZECH REPUBLIC/ HUNGARY Good Bad Difficult to say AFTER OUR ENTRY INTO THE NATO? The Czech Republic Hungary Poland

65% More information on this subject can be found in the CBOS report “Opinions on the economic situation, living conditions and 56% 56% performance of the government in Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary", March '99.

36% WE ARE IN THE NATO 32%

The Poles' support for our membership in the 20% NATO has been high in the last years. At the moment 15% 12% almost two thirds of respondents believe that joining 8% NATO is the best way to secure the safety of our country. Yes, they should. No, they shouldn’t. Difficult to say.

IN YOUR OPINION, WHICH POLICY WOULD BE the Czech Hungarians Poles THE BEST TO SECURE THE SAFETY OF POLAND? (%) The situation is different, however, (at least in 80 Poland) in the case of acceptance for the participation of our soldiers as part of the NATO forces in military operations in

60 conflict areas. Most respondents accept the participation of Polish troops in military actions taken by the NATO. However, as the date of our entry into the NATO is getting 40 closer and such a possibility becomes more real, the Poles' support for such activities shrinks. Now the number of Poles who accept the participation of our soldiers in 20 military operations of the NATO is smaller than a year ago. In Poland opinions on the political sense of joining the NATO by our country are divided. The percentage of 0 V’92 VI’93 I’94 VI’94 V’95 V’96 VI’97 III’99 respondents who believe that the admission of our country Membership in the NATO into the NATO will first and foremost be a guarantee of Entering no military , remaining a Polish independence is the same as the percentage of those Entering a military with other countries who believe that it will rather mean giving a part of our independence. Hungarians, and especially the Czech are “difficult to say" answers were disregarded even more sceptical about it - the percentage of people who

PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH CENTER - CBOS - 03.99 3

believe that joining NATO will be a form of submission of although to a much lesser extent. The next group whose their country to a foreign power is in each of these income has grown comprises judges, engineers and countrieshigher than the percentage of those who think that directors of state-owned companies. The earnings of it will be a guarantee of their independence. representatives of other occupational groups have increased much less. As far as farmers are concerned, it is DO YOU THINK THAT POLISH SOLDIERS SHOULD TAKE PART even believed that their income has decreased. According IN MILITARY OPERATIONS IN CONFLICT AREAS ABROAD to respondents, the income of this occupational group has AS A PART OF NATO FORCES OR NOT? decreased as compared with the year 1996 in nominal

Rather yes terms.

65% 55% A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PERCEIVED AND POSTULATED INCOME (IN %) (the perceived income = 100%) VI '97 III '99 (%) 12% 30% Farmer 149 ? 23% 15% Teacher 97 Nurse 87

Rather not University professor 71

Physical worker in a state-owned factory 69

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS IS CLOSER Physical worker in a private factory 63 TO YOUR VIEW ON THE ENTRY OF POLAND/ THE CZECH Cleaner 55 REPUBLIC/ HUNGARY TO NATO? Physician 49

Policeman 34% 45 Joining NATO will rather be a Miner 37 guarantee of independence of 40% Poland/ the Czech Republic/ Clerk (office worker) 19 Hungary 41% Engineer 15 45% Joining NATO will rather be a Judge 14 new form of submission of 47% Poland/ the Czech Republic/ Army officer 8 Hungary to a foreign power 42% the President 1

21% -11 the Prime Minister Businessman (owner of a private company) Difficult to say 13% the Czech -26 Hungarians 17% -27 Minister Poles -31 Local councillor -34 Head of regional government (voivod) More information on this subject can be found in the CBOS reports “Poland in the NATO" and "Poles and Hungarians on the entry of their -35 Head of government () countries into the NATO", March '99. -36

-36 Director of a state-owned company

THE PERCEIVED -41 Priest AND POSTULATED -41 Politician HIERARCHY OF INCOME -43 Member of Ratios on the right should be interpreted as a suggestion that income should be higher and ratios on - that it should be lower. According to the public opinion, which in this respect has not changed since 1994, the highest earnings It should be noted, however, that the growing are those obtained by the President, the Prime Minister and differences in income as perceived by respondents are an owner of a private company. On the other hand, accompanied by an increasing acceptance of these cleaners, physical workers from state-owned factories and differences. However, the socially accepted differences teachers are paid the worst. The second half of the nineties between incomes of different social groups do not grow as is perceived as a period of growing differentiation between quickly as the existing differences diagnosed by incomes obtained by different social groups. According to respondents and the results of our research reveal that there respondents, in 1994 the proportion between the average is a tendency in our society to “flatten" the structure of earnings of the lowest and the highest paid social groups income. It should be noted, however, that respondents are was 1:9, while now it is 1:13. According to the public more determined in their demands to increase too low opinion, lately, i.e. since 1996, the situation of those salaries (on average by 56%) than decrease those believed occupational groups which have always high to be too high (the average postulated decrease is 33%). It positions in the hierarchy of income, has improved the mean that Poles do not actually want to "take away most. These groups include mainly representatives of the from the rich", but they just think that ordinary people's political class (politicians, the Prime Minister, ministers wages do not secure a satisfying living standard for those and Members of Parliament), as well as the President, who earn them and their families.

PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH CENTER - CBOS - 4 03.99

As compared with the years 1995 and 1996, there voivodships participate in religious practices regularly. is growing opposition to the financial discrimination of The lowest level of religiousness is observed in such groups as farmers, teachers and university professors, Zachodniopomorskie and £ódzkie voivodships. as well as physicians and policemen (as representatives of Although the level of self-identification in respect of faith professions which give citizens the feeling of personal in these voivodships is not much lower than average, the safety). It is accompanied by growing disapproval of frequency of religious practices is significantly lower than financial privileges of representatives of the political class: in other voivodships. Only two fifths of residents of these Members of Parliament and politicians. At the same time, more and more people accept the salaries of persons in the voivodships take part in religious services regularly. The highest positions in the country: the President and, number of persons who do not practise religion at all is although to a lesser extent, the Prime Minister. almost twice as high there as in the most religious voivodships and the number of those who do it only during the most important church holidays - almost four times More information on this subject can be found in the CBOS report “How much we earn and how much we should earn", March '99. higher.

PARTICIPATIOJN IN RELIGIOUS PRACTICES RELIGIOUSNESS OF POLES - GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS

Religiousness is one of those elements of the Polish culture which are the most immune to changes. In POMORSKIE spite of the fundamental political, economic and social ZACHODNIO- WARMIÑSKO-MAZURSKIE changes, the self-identification of Poles in respect of their POMORSKIE religiousness has remained basically unchanged since KUJAWSKO- PODLASKIE March 1986. Over half of Poles (58%) are believers, who -POMORSKIE according to their own declarations, take part in religious MAZOWIECKIE practices regularly (i.e. at least once a week). Over one WIELKOPOLSKIE seventh (15%) declare their faith, but admit that they do not LUBUSKIE participate in religious practices regularly: only once or twice a month. Almost one fifth of respondents (18%) £ÓDZKIE consider themselves as believers, but take part in religious DOLNOŒL¥SKIE LUBELSKIE practices only a few times a year. Those who believe, but do ŒWIÊTOKRZYSKIE not practise their religion at all (5%) and those who declare OPOLSKIE ŒL¥SKIE that they do not believe and do not practise religion (3%) or Voivodships where: practise a few times a year (1%) form the smallest groups. MA£OPOLSKIE PODKARPACKIE 77% of residents practise regularly, 14% The frequency of participation in religious practise occassionally or never practices is visibly different in different parts of Poland. 63% of residents practise regularly, 23% practise These differences undoubtedly follow from the history and occassionally or never culture of these regions, but they are also connected with 52% of residents practise regularly, 29% practise the social structure of the population of these voivodships, occassionally or never 49% of residents practise regularly, 35% practise especially with the percentage of rural population. The occassionally or never highest level of religiousness is observed in Southern 41% of residents practise regularly, 43% practise voivodships: Podkarpackie, Ma³opolskie and Opolskie, occassionally or never where almost everybody considers themselves as a believer and one in seven respondents declares deep faith. More information on this subject can be found in the CBOS report At the same time over three quarters of residents of these “Religiousness of Poles today", March '99.

In addition to the bulletins referred to above, the following have been published recently (in Polish): For more information on CBOS services and publications please contact: Trust in politicians in the new voivodships Purchases at the beginning of the year CBOS POLAND Opinions on the activities of selected political institutions and the Parliamentary 4a, ¯urawia, 00-503 Warsaw Phones: (48 22) 629 35 69, 628 37 04 opposition Fax: (48 22) 629 40 89 Opinions on salaries of local authorities After the general strike - opinions on protests in the health service E-mail: [email protected] Hopes and fears of Poles Political party preferences in March Http://www.cbos.pl Social prestige of different occupations Yearly subscription rate for “Polish Social moods in March Public Opinion” is 80 USD Attitude to the government in March

CBOS expertise in providing professional, accurate and timely research studies has made us the leading authority in political, social, international and consumer research concerning Poland.

PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH CENTER - CBOS -