The major problems that new mayor faces are traffic jams, high living costs in Moscow, expensive housing and lack of well-paid jobs.
MOSCOW, October 20, 2010. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing whether Muscovites are satisfied with the state of affairs in Moscow, which problems remain unsolved after Luzhkov left his office, and what should be changed immediately.
Major Moscow problems
Muscovites are satisfied with the state of affairs in Moscow rather than with the situation in the country in general: 42% are satisfied with the situation in Moscow, 29% - fully satisfied (37% respondents respectively were a year ago); 37% are partly satisfied with situation in the country, 22% are satisfied in general.
The life satisfaction level is almost the same among metropolitan residents and Russian population in general: 33% of Muscovites and 36% of Russians (respectively) are satisfied with their lives, 44% are partly satisfied and 43% are partly dissatisfied. The share of those who are not satisfied with life is very high in Moscow (25% versus 18% respectively).
The social optimism of Muscovites and Russians is also at the same level: 30% of metropolitan residents and 32% of population are positive toward changing their lives. However, Muscovites rarer report their lives would not change (41 versus 45% of population) and more often expect negative changes to happen to them (15% versus 11%).
According to Muscovites, the most crucial issue that Moscow faces is transport, moreover, the situation is even worsened (from 28 to 42%), followed by inflation on the second place which Russians have more concerned about (from 17 to 28%). This is followed by migration problem (17% versus 10% a year ago), unemployment (16%), ecology (14% versus 8% in 2009), corruption (14% versus 6% respectively), law living standards (14% versus 3% respectively), unaffordable housing (13%), and crime (12% versus 7% respectively). Accessible free health care is reported to be least important problem for respondents (9%).
Personally, metropolitan residents are mostly concerned about law living standards (23%). Respondents also mentioned unaffordable housing (15%), unemployment (15% versus 11% a year ago), high prices (12% versus 7% respectively), rarer - traffic jams (8% versus 4% a year ago) and health care (7%).
Muscovites are absolutely satisfied with the improvement of city districts they are living (73% versus 67% a year ago) and opportunities for spiritual development in the capital (71% versus 64% respectively). The majority of metropolitan residents are also pleased with recreation facilities (66%), mass media performance (65%), and trade development (66% versus 60% respectively). There was a slight decrease in satisfaction with sports facilities (from 61 to 58%) and public transport performance (from 57 to 50%).
From the other side, the Moscow inhabitants are not satisfied with ecological situation in the capital (71% versus 66% a year ago), transport traffic (70% versus 62% a year ago). Besides, most of Muscovites negatively assess the following indicators: opportunity to apply to authorities (63%) and get official information (58%), militia performance (60%), cross-national relations (58%), and state of utilities` sector (54% versus 59% a year ago).
Muscovites about policy
Muscovites rather than Russians in general tend to think that the country is heading in the right direction (31% versus 25% respectively). Moscow residents also tend to positively assess the economic situation in Russia (17% versus 10% respectively). As to political situation, Muscovites increasingly estimate it at the average level (60% versus 55% respectively) and rarer - as being poor (10% versus 17% respectively).
According to Muscovites, the main achievement of Moscow authorities is improvement of city districts (19%, a year ago - 11%). Moscow residents also mention successes in road repairs (11%), increase of pensions (9% versus 2% a year ago), construction of new metro stations (6%), improvement of quality of life (4%) and restoration of cultural monuments (4%).
Among failures Muscovites mentioned transport problems (24% versus 11% a year ago), followed by loss of architectural monuments (16%), flow of migrants (12% versus 8% a year ago), ecological deterioration (10% versus 1% respectively) and corruption (9% versus 3% respectively).
Muscovites about Moscow mayor
The relative majority of Muscovites regard Yuriy Luzhkov as being effective manager (44% versus 33% of respondents across Russia in general). At the same time, 35% of Moscow residents oppose this statement (34% among Russian in general).
However, both Muscovites and Russians in general are convinced that Moscow needs a new mayor (56 and 65% respectively). Only every fifth resident of Russia`s capital would like Yuriy Luzhkov to stay in office (22% versus 13% among Russians in general) because they think he performed great services for Moscow (28%) and he had big experience (25%).
Personal formalized interviews were conducted on 4-10 October, 2010. 1000 Russians aged 18 and above were interviewed. Statistical error does not exceed 3.1 percentage points.
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted in September and October, 2010. 1600 respondents aged 18 and above were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error doesnot exceed 3.4%.
Are you generally satisfied or dissatisfied with the state of affairs in Russia and Moscow? (close-ended question, one answer per each column) | ||||
| In Russia | In Moscow | ||
| 2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 |
Satisfied | 22 | 24 | 29 | 37 |
Partly satisfied, partly dissatisfied | 39 | 38 | 42 | 37 |
Dissatisfied | 31 | 34 | 25 | 24 |
Hard to tell | 9 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
Are you generally satisfied with the life you are living? | ||
| Muscovites | Russians in general |
Fully satisfied | 6 | 8 |
Mostly satisfied | 25 | 28 |
Partly satisfied, partly dissatisfied | 44 | 43 |
Mostly dissatisfied | 17 | 14 |
Fully dissatisfied | 8 | 4 |
Hard to tell | 2 | 2 |
What are the acutest problems that Moscow faces? (open-ended question, not more than five answers, % of Muscovites) | ||
| 2010 | 2009 |
Traffic jams, lack of parking spaces, state of roads, work of transport | 42 | 28 |
High prices for goods and services, "expensive city" | 29 | 17 |
Migrant flow from the CIS | 17 | 10 |
Unemployment | 16 | 14 |
Poor ecology | 14 | 8 |
Corruption, bureaucracy | 14 | 6 |
Law living standards, salaries, pensions | 14 | 3 |
Unaffordable housing, poor housing, utilities sector | 13 | 13 |
High crime rate, terrorism threat | 12 | 7 |
Inaccessible free health care | 9 |
|
Other | 6 | 11 |
Destruction of old Moscow, architectural monuments | 6 | 3 |
Alcohol and drug addiction | 6 | 4 |
Lack of kindergartens | 5 | 2 |
Need to pay for basic and additional education | 5 | 0 |
Hard to tell | 1 | 12 |
Which of the statement about the work of Yuriy Luzhkov do you most agree? | ||
| Muscovites | Russians in general |
Luzhkov is an effective manager who takes care about capital`s residents. The Moscow`s leading positions and high living standards are due to his efforts. | 44 | 33 |
Luzhkov is ineffective manager. He has not managed to tackle capital`s problems over the recent eighteen years; part of problems has been even worsened. All successes of Moscow are due to its capital`s status but not the performance of Luzhkov. | 35 | 34 |
Hard to tell | 21 | 34 |
In your opinion, does Moscow need a new mayor, or would it be better if Yuriy Luzhkov stayed in office? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||
| Muscovites | Russians in general |
It would be better if Luzhkov stayed in office | 22 | 13 |
Moscow need a new mayor | 56 | 65 |
Hard to tell | 22 | 23 |
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