Russian Far East attracts Russians with its high salaries, social benefits and environmental conditions
MOSCOW, September 6, 2017. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of a study devoted to Russian perceptions of the Far Eastern region.
Russians view the Far Eastern region as modern (23%), top-priority (22%), innovative (17%), and stable (17%).
High-paid job opportunity is among the most attractive features of the region (39%). A quarter of Russians cite favorable environmental conditions (25%), proximity to South Asia region (24%), affordable housing and social benefits (24%) and opportunities for career development (23%).
A third of respondents are confident that it is much easier to run a business in the Russian Far East than other Russian administrative units (32%); the Far East also provides more opportunities for employment (34%) and housing improvements (30%). Forty-four percent of Russians look into the possibility to spend vacation or to travel to the Far East; 24% consider working there.
Russians generally assess the region’s future perspective in a positive way: 53% of respondents forecast substantial improvement in fifteen or twenty years; 11% believe that the region is one of the most prospering regions in Russia. Eighteen percent point to remote prospect (40 or 50 years). Just 10% of respondents express skepticism.
The survey was conducted by VCIOM on August 27-29, 2017, in 130 settlements, 46 regions, krais and republics across 8 Russian federal districts and commissioned by the Agency for Human Capital Development in the Far East. The sample (n=1600) is representative of the Russian population aged 18 and over according to sex, age, education, type of settlement. The survey was conducted with multi-stage stratified sample based on general rule of walking and quotas at the final selection stage. The margin of error (taking into account the design effect) with 95% confidence interval does not exceed 3.5%. The survey method is community-based structured face-to-face interviews. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Which of the following characteristics would best describe the current processes related to the Far Eastern development? Choose three of them. (closed-ended question, not more than three answers, %) | |
| Total respondents |
Modern | 23 |
Top-priority | 22 |
Innovative | 17 |
Stable | 17 |
Accelerated | 12 |
Slow-paced | 11 |
Uncared-for | 9 |
Advanced | 8 |
Retarded | 8 |
Passive | 7 |
Breakthrough | 6 |
Depressive | 3 |
Other | 2 |
Don't know | 23 |
In your opinion, what opportunities and advantages which would make the living more attractive does the Russian Far East provide? (closed-ended question, not more than five answers, %) | ||
| 2016 | 2017 |
Opportunity for people to have higher income, to provide for their families | 40 | 39 |
Favorable environmental conditions | 22 | 25 |
Affordable housing and social benefits | 20 | 24 |
Proximity to South Asia | 17 | 24 |
Opportunity for career/professional development | 23 | 23 |
Opportunity for individual to work in his/her certified profession | 22 | 19 |
Educational opportunities and activities for children | 13 | 13 |
Developed infrastructure (including transport system) | 6 | 10 |
Various culture, sport and leisure activities | 7 | 9 |
Other | 2 | 3 |
Don't know | 25 | 21 |
Now we will talk about various aspects of lives of ordinary people, and based on these aspects you need to tell us if life in the Far East is better/worse/the same as in your city/town? (closed-ended question, one answer for each line, %) | ||||
| Worse | Same | Better | Don't know |
Environmental security | 13 | 19 | 44 | 24 |
Employment opportunity | 19 | 18 | 34 | 29 |
Opportunity to start a business | 13 | 19 | 32 | 36 |
Opportunity to improve living conditions | 15 | 21 | 30 | 34 |
Inter-personal relations | 7 | 36 | 28 | 29 |
Favorable conditions to start a family to have children | 12 | 35 | 24 | 29 |
Living standards | 21 | 32 | 23 | 24 |
Rich and diverse cultural life | 23 | 25 | 23 | 29 |
Security | 19 | 35 | 19 | 27 |
High-quality education | 22 | 30 | 18 | 30 |
Do you consider travelling or spending vacation in the Russian Far East? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |
| Total respondents |
Yes | 21 |
Likely yes | 23 |
Likely no | 12 |
No | 41 |
Don't know | 3 |
Would you consider working in one of the Far Eastern regions? (closed-ended question, one answer %) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and over |
Yes | 10 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 1 |
Likely yes | 14 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 3 |
Likely no | 14 | 20 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 8 |
No | 60 | 47 | 47 | 52 | 61 | 86 |
Don't know | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
In your opinion, will the Russian Far East be capable of being one of Russia’s well-developed and prospering regions? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |
| Total respondents |
Russian Far East is already one of the most developed Russian regions | 11 |
Yes, the region might be one of the most prospered in as little as 15 or 20 years | 53 |
Yes, in remote prospect (40 or 50 years) this region might be one of the most developed and prosperous regions | 18 |
Nom this will never happen | 10 |
Don't know | 8 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!