JANUARY CBOS 2006

ISSN 1233 - 7250 LIFE SATISFACTION OF THE POLES, IN THIS ISSUE: 1994 - 2005 The satisfaction with many areas of private life has increased in . It has the R LIFE SATISFACTION highest level in the last eleven years. OF THE POLES 1994 - 2005 Family life gives the Poles the most satisfaction. In 2005, as in previous years, almost all parents expressed satisfaction with their children. Nearly all married respondents declared satisfaction with their ARE YOU GENERALLY SATISFIED WITH: marriage, too. Husbands are (%) R POLISH-GERMAN satisfied with their marriage more your children 95 4 2 RELATIONS frequently than wives. Moreover, spouses who enjoy a good your marriage 86 7 6 standard of living are more your place of residence 78 13 8 R NATO BASES satisfied with their marriage than your career 64 22 13 AND ANTI-MISSILE those who have financial SHIELDS IN POLAND? problems. the state of your health 57 20 23 Since 2000, the number your conditions of living 44 34 22 of the respondents satisfied with your income 20 28 51 R THE POLES, CZECHS, their place of residence has been and financial situation SLOVAKS AND growing gradually with some Satisfied Moderately satisfied Dissatisfied HUNGARIANS ABOUT fluctuations. In December 2005, “Difficult to say” answers have been disregarded. THEIR HEALTHCARE more than three quarters of the respondents (78%) expressed such satisfaction, the highest proportion since 1994. Satisfaction with the place of residence is the most common among farmers. It also depends on the financial situation of the respondents and their evaluation of the standard of living of their households. PUBLIC OPINION The percentage of the persons satisfied with their work has been growing RESEARCH CENTER systematically in the last three years. In the late 2005, almost two-thirds of the employed - CBOS - respondents declared satisfaction with their working life (64%) the biggest proportion in the 4a Żurawia whole analyzed period, i.e. since 1994. The satisfaction with this aspect of life is strongly 00-503 Warszawa associated with the social POLAND ARE YOU GENERALLY SATISFIED WITH YOUR WHOLE LIFE? position: the higher the XI '94 I '97 IV '99 XII '00 XII '01 XII '02 XII '03 XII '04 XII '05 Ph: (48 22) 629 35 69 respondents' education and the (48 22) 628 37 04 standard of living of their (48 22) 693 46 91 Satisfied households, the more satisfied 53% 54% 60% 61% they are with their work. Fax:(48 22) 629 40 89 64% 67% 62% 62% 67% Moderately Furthermore, high professional satisfied E-mail: [email protected] position has a positive effect on Dissatisfied http://www.cbos.pl the satisfaction with working 33% life. Editors: 36% Difficult 30% 33% 31% 31% 31% Since 1999, the number Krzysztof Zagórski 27% 27% to say of the Poles who are satisfied and Beata Roguska 12% 8% 6% 6% 7% 6% 6% 6% 5% with their health has been Translated by 2% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% growing, however slowly and Kinga Pawłowska irregularly. In December 2005, such persons constituted more than half of all respondents (57% - 5 percentage points more than a year before), which is the highest proportion in the © COPYRIGHT BY CBOS 2006 last six years. However, still almost a quarter (23%) are dissatisfied with their health. The main factor which affects the level of satisfaction with health is age, followed by the social ALL SOURCES MUST BE CREDITED WHEN ANY PART OF THIS and financial position. The older, less educated and poorer the respondents, the less PUBLICATION IS REPRODUCED frequently they declare satisfaction with the state of their health and the more frequently they are dissatisfied. Dissatisfaction is more common among women than among men. 2 01/2006

Invariably, the economic aspect of life gives the HOW DO YOU EVALUATE THE PRESENT RELATIONS Poles the least satisfaction, although a gradual BETWEEN POLAND AND GERMANY? improvement has been noted in the last eleven years in this area as well. In December 2005, more than two-fifths of the respondents declared satisfaction with their 33% good material conditions of living (44% - 4 percentage points 57% more than a year before and approx; 20 points more than neither good nor bad in 1994 and 1997). The level of such satisfaction is currently the highest ever. However, more than a fifth of 6% the respondents are still dissatisfied. The level of the 4% Difficult to say respondents' satisfaction with more precisely defined bad aspect of material living conditions, namely with income The Poles are optimistic in their views on the and financial situation is much lower. At the end of the future of the Polish-German relations. Nearly two-fifths previous year, one in five respondents were satisfied with of the respondents expect an improvement in the nearest this aspect of life. This is the highest proportion since future and only a small number expect a deterioration. 1994. Although the level of dissatisfaction has been Nearly half of the respondents believe that the Polish- shrinking gradually in the last eleven years, half of the German relations will not change in the near future. Poles are still dissatisfied with their income and financial IN YOUR OPINION, WILL THE POLISH-GERMAN RELATIONS situation. The level of satisfaction with the economic IN THE NEAR FUTURE: aspects of life differs greatly from one socio-economic group to another, depending on the income per household member, education, occupational status and such 37% improve? features as unemployment or long-term poor health. The number of persons who are satisfied with remain unchanged? 46% their whole life has also increased in 2005. The percentage of those declaring general satisfaction with 13% life (67%) is currently among the highest in the last 4% Difficult to say eleven years. deteriorate? More information about this subject can be found in the CBOS report Despite the history and current strains in Polish- (in Polish): The Poles' satisfaction with their life in the years 1994- German relations, the Poles still believe in a possibility of 2005, January 2006. Survey executed in December 2005. A representative random sample of adult Poles. N=1018. the permanent reconciliation between both nations. Currently almost three quarters of the Poles believe so. POLISH-GERMAN The percentage of those who express sceptical opinions in this respect is currently the lowest in the last fifteen RELATIONS years.

IN YOUR OPINION, IS RECONCILIATION The period since the accession of Poland to the BETWEEN THE POLES AND THE GERMANS: European Union has not been very good for Polish- 100% German relations. The relations between the two possible countries were adversely affected by several factors, 80% including historical disputes concerning such issues as 60% mutual financial claims and the construction of the

Centre Against Expulsion. Different views on certain 40% provisions of the European Constitution and on the impossible military intervention in Iraq were also dividing issues. 20%

Furthermore, the agreement between Russia and Difficult to say 0% Germany on the construction of the Baltic gas pipeline II ‘90 II ‘91 V ‘92 VI ‘93 VI ‘94 V ‘95 V ‘96 VI ‘97 VI ‘98 IV ‘99 V ‘00 V ‘01 IX ‘02 VII ‘03 X ‘04 VI ‘05 XII ‘05 omitting the Polish territory has raised concern in Poland. Most Poles describe the current Polish-German More information about this subject can be found in the CBOS report (in Polish):Opinions about the Polish-German relations , January relations as “neither good nor bad”. The others usually 2006. Survey executed in December 2005. A representative random evaluate them as rather good than bad. sample of adult Poles. N=1018.

PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH CENTER - CBOS - 01/2006 3

NATO BASES THE POSSIBILITY OF LOCATING AMERICAN MILITARY BASES AND INSTALLATIONS IN POLAND HAS BEEN DISCUSSED FOR AND ANTI-MISSILE SHIELDS A LONG TIME. WOULD YOU SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FOLLOWING AMERICAN MILITARY BASES OR IN POLAND? INSTALLATIONS IN POLAND:

specialist radars for the IX 2004 60% 28% 11% airspace monitoring for the The membership of Poland in the NATO has purposes of anti-aircraft and enjoyed the approval of a majority of the Polish society anti-missile defence? XII 2005 51% 34% 15% for years. In December 2005, 62% of the respondents military bases with few soldiers IX 2004 52% 36% 11% and arms warehouses to allow declared support for the membership of Poland in the deployment of more troops if XII 2005 NorthAtlantic Treaty Organization. needed? 42% 43% 15%

IX 2004 47% 40% 13% DO YOU PERSONALLY SUPPORT THE MEMBERSHIP anti-aircraft and anti-missile OF POLAND IN THE NATO OR ARE YOU AGAINST IT? installations? XII 2005 39% 45% 16% 80%

I support it IX 2004 39% 50% 12% military airports with American 60% aircraft and pilots? XII 2005 31% 53% 16%

40% IX 2004 35% 54% 11% large military bases with full staff, weapons and troops? 20% I do not care XII 2005 29% 55% 16% I am against it Yes No Difficult to say Difficult to say 0% III II '00 III '01 IV '02 XII V '03 III '04 IX XII '05 II '99 For some countries, including Poland, the threat of nuclear attacks by countries supporting terrorism has Despite their approval for the NATO become an impulse to seek new forms of defence. The membership, the Poles rather dislike the idea of the Americans want to implement the so-called protective troops of other NATO members stationing in Poland. The shield, involving the location of anti-missile bases in percentage of those who support the presence of foreign several countries. The idea of the establishment of such a troops in Poland has dropped from September 2004 to base in Poland has met with quite a positive response December 2005 from 40% to 33%. despite rather negative attitudes to anti-aircraft and anti- IN YOUR OPINION, SHOULD TROOPS missile instalations in general. Half of the respondents OF OTHER NATO MEMBERS STATION IN POLAND OR NOT? support it and almost a third are against it.

II-III 1999 8% 24% 35% 21% 12% THE AMERICANS WANT TO IMPLEMENT THE SO-CALLED PROTECTIVE UMBRELLA SYSTEM, INVOLVING THE II 2000 9% 26% 29% 26% 10% LOCATION OF ANTI-MISSILE BASES IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES IN CASE OF A NUCLEAR ATTACK BY COUNTRIES SUPPORTING TERRORISM. ARE YOU FOR OR AGAINST I 2004 12% 28% 21% 21% 17% LOCATING SUCH A BASE IN OUR COUNTRY? Definitely against Definitely for IX 2004 15% 25% 24% 25% 11% 15% 18% XII 2005 8% 25% 26% 23% 18% Rather against 17% Definitely yes Rather yes Rather not Definitely not Difficult to say 32% The support for the establishment of different 18% kinds of American military bases and installations in Rather for Poland has also dropped, albeit the Poles tend to accept Difficult to say the idea of the installation of special radars for the Most of the supporters of the anti-missile shield airspace monitoring. The idea of locating American would accept the “protective umbrella” even if it military bases with few soldiers and arms warehouses in adversely affected the relations with Russia. However, Poland, so that more troops could be deployed if needed, one in four supporters (25%) would change his or her has as many supporters as opponents. On the other hand, mind in such circumstances and withdraw the support for respondents tend to reject the concept of locating anti- the shield. A possible deterioration of the relations with aircraft and anti-missile installations, airports with some of the European Union member states would be a American aircraft and pilots or large military bases in more convincing argument against the location of anti- Poland. missile bases in Poland. In such circumstances,

PUBLIC OPINION RE SEARCH CENTER - CBOS - 4 01/2006 nearly half of the supporters of the anti-missile shield ARE YOU GENERALLY SATISFIED OF DISSATISFIED would maintain their support, but almost two-fifths WITH THE HEALTHCARE IN YOUR COUNTRY? (%) would change their mind. 38 34 34 35 28 WOULD YOU STILL SUPPORT THE LOCATION OF SUCH BASES 24 23 26 26 21 22 20 IN POLAND IF IT RESULTS IN A DETERIORATION 17 19 OF THE RELATIONS WITH: a) 10 10 2222 1 3 1 1 11% 20% Definitely yes Czechs Hungarians Poles Slovaks Definitely Rather Neither satisfied Rather Definitely Difficult satisfied satisfied nor dissatisfied dissatisfied dissatisfied to say 38% Rather yes some of the EU Russia? member states? 45% The Slovaks complain about adverse changes in the healthcare in their country the most frequently. As 35% many as half of them (51%) believe that the quality of the Rather not 22% medical services has deteriorated over the last year. The 3% Definitely not 5% residents of the other three countries also mention a 10% 11% Difficult to say deterioration in the quality of healthcare more frequently a) Answers of those only, who support the shield in general than an improvement, but the most common opinion is that nothing has changed in this respect. The Hungarians More information about this subject can be found in the CBOS report and the Czechs mention an improvement relatively more (in Polish):NATO bases and the anti-missile shield in Poland? , frequently than the Poles. January 2006. Survey executed in December 2005. A representative random sample of adult Poles. N = 999. IN YOUR OPINION, OVER THE LAST YEAR HAS THE QUALITY OF HEALTHCARE IN OUR COUNTRY: 52 53 (%) 45 THE POLES, CZECHS, 36 30 26 26 SLOVAKS AND HUNGARIANS 22 21 13 14 14 9 10 4 447 5 ABOUT THEIR HEALTHCARE 1110 3

Czechs Hungarians Poles Slovaks

Among the four nations surveyed, the Czechs are Improved Rather Remained Rather Deteriorated Difficult the most satisfied with the healthcare in their country considerably improved unchanged, deteriorated considerably to say is the same (30%). The Slovaks, on the other hand, are the least satisfied (11%) and express dissatisfaction the most More information about this subject can be found in the CBOS report frequently (54%). The Poles and Hungarians are between (in Polish): The Poles, Czechs, Slovaks and Hungarians about the the Czechs and the Slovaks. Roughly a quarter of the healthcare in their countries, January 2006. Survey executed in Poles and the Hungarians currently declare satisfaction in December 2005. A representative random sample of adult Poles. N =1018. In the Czech Republic, the survey was conducted by CVVM this respect, although the proportion of the dissatisfied is Sociological Institute on a sample N=987; in Hungary (TARKI) on a higher in Poland. sample N=999; in Slovakia (FOCUS) on a sample N=1084.

In addition to the reports referred to above, the following have been published recently (in Polish):

u Expectations associated with the cabinet of For more information on CBOS services u The Poles about the disclosure of the former Warsaw Pact plans and publications please contact: u Trust in the government, companies, the OUN and non-government organizations in 20 countries worldwide u The global event of the year 2005 in the opinion of the citizens of 27 countries CBOS POLAND u The Poles about the establishment of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau 4a, Żurawia, 00-503 Warsaw u Political party preferences in January Phones: (48 22) 629 35 69, 628 37 04 u A good time for the Right - changes in the political declarations of the Poles in the last four years Fax: (48 22) 629 40 89 u Social moods in January e-mail: [email protected] u The attitude to the government u The politician of the year 2005 in Poland and in the world http://www.cbos.pl u Trust in politicians in January u The most important events of the year 2005 in Poland and in the world Yearly subscription rate for “Polish u Evaluations of the new President and Parliament Public Opinion” is 80 USD u Hopes and fears associated with the year 2006 Circulation: 210 copies u The condition of the civil society in the years 1998-2006 u The situations and events in the life of the Poles in 2005 u Preferences in the potential Spring parliamentary election

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

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