Public Opinion Survey Residents of Georgia June-July 2020 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 June 4 and July 2, 2020 through face-to-face interviews at respondents’ homes. • The sample consisted of 1,500 permanent residents of Georgia older than the age of 18 and eligible to vote. It is representative of the general population by age, gender, region and size of the settlement. • A multistage probability sampling method was used with the random route and next birthday respondent selection procedures. • Stage one: All districts of Georgia are grouped into 10 regions. All regions of Georgia were surveyed (Tbilisi city – as separate region). • 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 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 66 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 Georgian Government COVID-19 Pandemic Response To what extent are you satisfied with the government’s response to COVID-19? Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Somewhat unsatisfied Very unsatisfied Don't know/No answer Jun-20 41% 38% 13% 7% 1% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 4 Please evaluate these institutions by effectiveness in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia Very effective Somewhat effective Somewhat ineffective Very ineffective Don’t know/No answer National Center for 64% 30% 5% 1% 1% Disease Control (NCDC) Ministry of Health 55% 36% 6% 2%1% Office of the Prime 46% 35% 13% 2% 3% Minister The Patriarchate of 39% 36% 14% 4% 7% Georgia Parliament of Georgia 23% 34% 27% 9% 7% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 5 To what extent are you satisfied with the government’s efforts to address the economic consequences of COVID-19? Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Somewhat unsatisfied Very unsatisfied Don't know/No answer Jun-20 19% 37% 24% 18% 3% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 6 To what extent are you satisfied with the government’s social programs to mitigate the consequences of COVID-19? Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Somewhat unsatisfied Very unsatisfied Don't know/No answer Jun-20 21% 37% 22% 17% 3% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 7 To what extent were you informed about the ways and measures to keep yourself safe during the COVID-19 pandemic? Fully informed Somewhat informed Somewhat uninformed Totally uninformed Don't know/No answer Jun-20 72% 24% 2%2% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 8 To what extent do you approve of the Georgian Orthodox Church’s decision to hold religious rituals during the COVID-19 pandemic? Fully approve Somewhat approve Somewhat disapprove Fully disapprove Don't know/No answer Jun-20 37% 32% 14% 8% 9% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 9 Which foreign countries have been most helpful to our country’s dealing with COVID-19? (First spontaneous response displayed) USA 47% China 6% European Union 4% Germany 1% Turkey 1% Other 3% None 15% Don't know/No answer 23% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% * Countries named by less than one percent are merged into “other.” 10 To what extent has COVID-19 been a concern for you? Very serious Somewhat serious Not at all serious Don't know/No answer Jun-20 17% 44% 38% 1% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 11 Economic Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic situation in Georgia has … Improved a lot Improved somewhat Stayed the same Worsened somewhat Worsened a lot Don't know/No answer Jun-20 1% 2% 15% 42% 40% 1% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 13 How would you describe the current economic situation of your household? Very good Somewhat good Somewhat bad Very bad Don’t know/No answer 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% 14 Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, 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 Jun-20 3% 29% 42% 25% <1% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 15 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% 59% 60% 58% 57% 60% 56% 55% 57% 54% 56% 55% 53% 51% 48% 48% 47% 48% 50% 50% 43% 43% 42% 38% 40% 38% 41% 41% 41% 41% 39% 31% 31% 29% 33% 30% 25% 36% 27% 24% 32% 25% 24% 22% 22% 23% 27% 21% 26% 20% 25% 16% 22% 22% 19% 19% 20% 10% 16% 16% 16% 15% 14% 13% 13% 12% 13% 14% 12% 11% 11% 11% 11% 11% 11% 11% 10% 10% 10% 10% 9% 0% 6% 17 In general, would you say that our country is heading in the right direction or in the wrong direction? (Disaggregated by age and settlement type) Right direction Wrong direction Don't know/No answer 18-29 y.o. 41% 52% 7% 30-49 y.o. 40% 51% 9% AGE 50 years and older 36% 55% 9% Rural 40% 52% 9% Urban 38% 50% 12% SETTLEMENT Tbilisi 36% 57% 7% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 18 What is the most important problem facing our country today? (Respondents permitted to supply one spontaneous answer) Economy—unemployment 46% Economy—cost of living, high prices 17% Poverty 10% Economy—other/general 6% Covid-19 pandemic 4% Occupied territories 3% Internal conflicts 2% Education 2% Healthcare 2% Corruption 1% Social services/benefits 1% Agriculture 1% Current government 1% Other 3% Don't know/No answer 1% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% * Problems named by less than 1% merged into "other" 19 What is the most important problem facing your town/village? (Respondents permitted to supply one spontaneous answer) Unemployment 31% Roads 10% Economy 9% Drinking water 9% Ecology 5% Poverty 3% High prices 2% Social problems 2% Agriculture 2% Lack of tourists 2% Irrigation 1% Traffic jams 1% Low salaries 1% Sewer systems 1% Gas supply 1% Other 11% None 1% Don't know/No answer 8% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% * Problems named by less than 1% merged into "other" 20 What is the most important problem facing your household? (Respondents permitted to supply one spontaneous answer) Unemployment 29% Economy 17% Low salaries 7% High prices 5% Poverty 4% Health issues 3% Bank debt 2% Social problems 2% Ecology 2% Low pensions 2% Illness of a family member 1% Emigration 1% Poor living conditions 1% Expensive medication 1% Other 6% None 5% Don't know/No answer 12% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% * Problems named by less than 1% merged into "other" 21 Government and Institutions What is the main accomplishment of the current government, if any? (One spontaneous answer) Fight against Coronavirus 25% Healthcare reform 7% Freedom of speech 3% Infrastructure 2% Democracy 2% Stability 2% Education reform 1% Roads 1% Increase of pensions 1% Visa-free travel 1% Improving the economy 1% Protection of human rights 1% Other 6% None 15% Don't know/No answer 32% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% * Accomplishments named by less than 1% merged into "other" 23 What is the biggest failure of the current government, if any? (One spontaneous answer) False promises 9% Economic decline 7% Unemployment 6% June 20, 2019 events* 6% Occupied territories 4% Rising poverty 4% Cohabitation 3% Rising prices on product 2% Not punishing members of UNM 2% Loss of confidence 2% Currency devaluation 2% General disappointment 2% Injustice 2% Growth of corruption 2% Lack of professionalism 1% Other 7% None 3% Don't know/No answer 36% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% * - On June 20, 2019, government forces violently suppressed opposition street protests over a situation in which a Russian MP was permitted to address a gathering of international parliamentarians from the Speaker’s Chair in Parliament. ** Failures named by less than 1% merged into "other." 24 In your opinion, what is the most successful reform adopted by the current parliament within the last year, if any? (One spontaneous answer) Healthcare reform 13% Education reform 4% Fight against COVID-19 3% Increase of pensions 2% Visa-free travel 2% Parliamentary reform 1% Agricultural assistance 1% Other 6% None 9% Don't know/No answer 60% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% * Successful reforms named by less than 1% merged into "other." 25 Now I am going to read out the names of some Georgian institutions and organizations.