Public Opinion Survey: Residents of Georgia February 2021 Detailed Methodology
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Public Opinion Survey: Residents of Georgia February 2021 Detailed Methodology • The fieldwork was carried out by the Institute of Polling & Marketing. The survey was coordinated by Dr. Rasa Alisauskiene of the public and market research company Baltic Surveys/The Gallup Organization on behalf of the Center for Insights in Survey Research. • Data was collected across Georgia between February 2 and February 26, 2021, through face-to-face interviews in respondents’ homes. • The sample consisted of 1,500 permanent residents of Georgia aged 18 and older and eligible to vote. It is representative of the general population by age, gender, region and settlement size. • A multistage probability sampling method was used with the random route and next birthday respondent’s selection procedures. • Stage one: All districts of Georgia are grouped into 10 regions. All regions of Georgia were surveyed (Tbilisi city – as separate region) except for Abkhazeti (Abkhazia) and Samachablo (South Ossetia), which were excluded due to the political situation. • Stage two: selection of the settlements – cities and villages. • Settlements were selected at random. The number of selected settlements in each region was proportional to the share of population living in a particular type of the settlement in each region. • Stage three: primary sampling units were described. • The margin of error does not exceed plus or minus 2.5 percent, and the response rate was 75 percent. • Charts and graphs may not add up to 100 percent due to rounding. • The survey was funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development. 2 Frequently Cited Disaggregates Disaggregate Disaggregation Category Base Tbilisi n=451 Kakheti n=132 Shida Kartli n=107 Kvemo Kartli n=167 Samtskhe-Javakheti n=64 Region Ajara n=134 Guria n=48 Samegrelo n=138 Imereti n=221 Mtskheta-Mtianeti n=37 Male n=693 Gender Female n=806 18-29 years old n=296 Age 30-49 years old n=564 50 and older n=639 Blue collar n=110 Farmer n=39 White collar n=176 Higher or medium level executive n=94 Occupation Pensioner (not working) n=292 Student n=70 Housewife n=195 Unemployed n=417 Self-employed n=107 Urban n=418 Settlement Rural n=631 Tbilisi n=451 Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia n=522 European Georgia n=50 Strategy Aghmashenebli n=46 United National Movement-United Opposition Strength in Unity n=274 Party Preference Other parties n=154 Spoil the ballot n=69 None n=153 Don't know/No answer n=232 *Cited bases are weighted. Margin of error will vary with sample size n. Results for sample size n less than 50 should be interpreted with caution. 3 National Outlook In general, would you say that our country is heading in the right direction or in the wrong direction? Right direction Wrong direction Don't know/No answer 80% 70% 67% 68% 70% 65%65% 65% 66% 63% 63% 60% 58% 59% 59% 60% 57% 56% 55% 57% 56% 51% 55% 48% 50% 50% 47% 54% 53% 48% 48% 43% 43% 42% 38% 40% 38% 41% 41% 41% 41% 39% 31% 31% 33% 36% 29% 30% 27% 24% 32% 25% 24% 25% 22%23% 30% 27% 21% 25% 26% 22% 20% 16% 22% 22% 19% 19%20% 16%16% 16% 10% 15% 14% 13% 13% 12% 13%14% 12% 11% 11%11% 11% 11% 11%11% 11% 10%10% 10% 10% 9% 6% 0% 5 How would you evaluate the prevailing mood of the Georgian population?* 2% 23% Optimism Neutral Pessimism 51% Don't know/No answer 24% * Under “Optimism,” responses “Belief that the future will definitely be better” and “Belief that the future will be somewhat better” are combined. Responses “Not much hope for a better future” and “Apathy, belief in fate” are grouped under “Neutral.” Responses “Insecurity, worry, fear for the future” and “Total disappointment, disbelief in any improvement” are combined under “Pessimism.” 6 Over the last 12 months*, the economic situation in Georgia has… Improved a lot Improved somewhat Stayed the same Worsened somewhat Worsened a lot Don't know/No answer Feb-21 1% 5% 18% 37% 39% 1% Oct-19 2% 8% 24% 35% 29% 2% Jun-19 2% 7% 28% 31% 30% 2% Apr-18 1% 7% 27% 28% 35% 2% Mar-17 1% 7% 21% 34% 36% 1% Mar-16 1% 6% 25% 31% 34% 3% Feb-15 7% 29% 33% 29% 2% Feb-14 1% 15% 52% 22% 7% 3% May-13 1% 26% 53% 12% 3% 5% Feb-13 1% 26% 58% 10% 1% 4% Nov-12 1% 11% 78% 7%1%2% Jul-12 2% 28% 47% 15% 5% 4% Mar-12 2% 26% 45% 17% 6% 4% Nov-11 2% 25% 42% 19% 8% 3% May-11 1% 19% 30% 32% 14% 3% Oct-10 1% 24% 27% 31% 13% 3% Mar-10 1% 20% 35% 27% 13% 3% Oct-09 2% 19% 34% 25% 15% 4% Jun-09 1% 6% 20% 37% 34% 2% Feb-09 1% 8% 19% 37% 34% 2% Sep-08 3% 12% 20% 39% 23% 4% Feb-08 4% 20% 28% 30% 16% 2% Sep-07 1% 17% 27% 32% 22% 1% Feb-07 3% 34% 27% 22% 10% 3% Apr-06 2% 30% 28% 25% 11% 3% Oct-05 3% 34% 32% 18% 7% 5% Jun-05 5% 44% 33% 10% 4% 4% Oct-04 4% 40% 38% 10% 3% 5% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% * In surveys before 2008, this question covered a three-month period. In surveys from 2008 to 2017, it covered a period of two months. 7 How would you describe the current economic situation of your household? Very good Somewhat good Somewhat bad Very bad Don’t know/No answer Feb-21 1% 26% 42% 29% 2% Jun-20 2% 32% 43% 22% 1% Oct-19 2% 37% 43% 17% 1% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 8 Over the last 12 months*, how has the economic situation of your household changed? Improved a lot Improved somewhat Stayed the same Worsened somewhat Worsened a lot Don't know/No answer Feb-21 <1% 5% 31% 43% 20% <1% Oct-19 1% 12% 42% 29% 16% Jun-19 1% 10% 40% 27% 22% Apr-18 7% 41% 22% 29% 1% Mar-17 1% 5% 37% 28% 28% 1% Mar-16 4% 41% 26% 29% Feb-15 4% 45% 28% 22% 1% Feb-14 8% 64% 20% 7% 1% May-13 1% 11% 70% 13% 4% 1% Feb-13 10% 76% 11% 2%1% Nov-12 6% 83% 8% 1%1% Jul-12 1% 9% 61% 21% 8% Mar-12 1% 9% 54% 23% 12% 1% Nov-11 1% 11% 53% 23% 11% 1% May-11 1% 9% 44% 29% 16% 1% Oct-10 1% 11% 42% 29% 16% 1% Mar-10 1% 9% 49% 24% 15% 2% Oct-09 1% 10% 48% 23% 16% 2% Jun-09 <1% 4% 38% 26% 31% 1% Feb-09 4% 33% 32% 30% 1% Sep-08 1% 6% 45% 28% 19% 1% Feb-08 1% 10% 48% 26% 15% 1% Sep-07 1% 7% 46% 26% 20% Feb-07 1% 14% 49% 21% 13% 1% Apr-06 1% 14% 49% 22% 14% 1% Oct-05 1% 15% 57% 18% 8% 1% Jun-05 2% 21% 58% 12% 6% 1% Oct-04 1% 16% 61% 14% 6% 1% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% * In surveys before 2008 the question was about the period of 3 months, in surveys from 2008 to 2017 – about the period of 2 months 9 What is the most important problem facing our country today?* (Respondents permitted to supply two spontaneous answers) 49% Economy—unemployment 65% 16% Economy—cost of living, high prices 37% 8% Poverty 26% 7% Coronavirus/COVID-19 16% 4% Economy—other/general 7% 3% Education 8% 3% Occupied teritories 4% 2% Healthcare 9% 1% Illicit drugs 3% 1% The current government 1% First mention 1% Internal conflicts 3% Both mentions 1% Economy—small business opportunities, access to loans 2% 1% Pensions 4% 1% Agriculture 2% 1% Social services/Benefits 2% 1% Corruption 1% <1% Crime/Public safety 3% 1% Other 7% <1% Don't know/No answer <1% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% * Responses named by less than one percent merged into “Other." 10 What is the most important problem facing your town/village today? (Respondents permitted to supply two spontaneous answers) 31% Unemployment 41% 10% Drinking water 13% 7% Roads 12% 7% Economy 10% 6% Poverty 13% 4% Pandemic 5% 4% Infrastructure 5% 2% Ecology 4% 2% First mention High prices 5% 2% Both mentions Traffic jams 2% 2% Gas supply 2% 1% Transportation 4% 1% Irrigation water 2% 1% Illegal construction 2% 1% Agriculture 2% 1% Religious conflicts 2% <1% Healthcare 2% 13% Other 26% 1% None 1% 7% Don't know/No answer 7% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% * Responses named by less than one percent merged into “Other." 11 What is the most important problem facing your household today? (Respondents permitted to supply two spontaneous answers) 29% Unemployment 34% 13% Poverty 19% 8% Economy 10% 6% Low salaries 8% 5% High prices 10% 4% Health issues 6% 2% Low pensions 4% First mention 2% Both mentions Rising prices for medicines 4% 2% Bank debt 3% 1% Housing 2% 1% Healthcare 2% 1% Drinking water 1% 6% Other 10% 4% None 4% 16% Don't know/No answer 16% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% * Responses named by less than one percent merged into “Other." 12 How do you feel about the direction of the following issues? Have they progressed or regressed over the past year?* Progressed Neither Regressed Don't know/No answer Media independence 30% 44% 22% 5% Freedom of speech 29% 42% 26% 4% Individual human 21% 43% 33% 3% rights Democracy 16% 43% 34% 7% National security 11% 45% 34% 9% Fighting crime 9% 34% 51% 7% Fighting corruption 8% 36% 44% 12% Education 6% 24% 64% 5% Economy 4% 15% 79% 2% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% *Responses “Regressed a lot” and “Regressed” are combined under “Regressed.” Responses “Progressed a lot” and 13 “Progressed” are combined under “Progressed.” What do you think are the three biggest challenges for Georgia’s democratic development and future? (Respondents permitted to supply three spontaneous answers) 12% Economic development 23% 9% Bringing back lost territories 14% 6% Unemployment 10% 6% Problems in education 10% 4% Freedom of the media 6% 3% Domestic policy 4% 3% Protecting human rights 6% 3% Problems in the judiciary 5% 3% First mention Fighting corruption 5% 3% All mentions Change of government 4% 2% Fair elections 3% 2% Reduction of crime 3% 1% Membership in the EU 2% 1% Caring about the people by the government 3% 1% Unity of the nation 2% 1% Stabilization 2% 1% Reducing poverty 2% 1% Problems in healthcare system 2% 1% Strengthening the national currency 2% 12% Other 23% 27% Don't know/No answer 27% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 14 In your opinion what are the first laws that the newly elected Parliament