Economical

In April survey CVVM SOÚ AV ČR examined how Czech citizens see the financial situation of their households. They evaluated whether it is difficult to manage with their earnings, but also talked about attitudinal feeling of poverty. The survey also investigated whether it is difficult to meet some life requirements such as foodstuff, clothes and shoes, housing, water and energy, furniture, common non-food products, cultural and sport activities, health care and education.

In March citizens of Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia were similarly asked whether the world financial crisis influenced or shall influence them with their families, their jobs and whole national economy of their respective countries. Surveys in Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland contained also a question concerning eventual replacement of national currencies with euro.

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According to February 2009 survey 8 % of citizens regard taxation on high-income earners as high, 18 % say it is adequate and 62 % think it is low. Taxation on average-income earners is considered to be high by 38 % of respondents, adequate by 49 % and low by 3 % of citizens. Taxation on low-income earners was supposed to be high by 68 %, adequate by 19 % and low by 3 %. 72 % of respondents think that tax rate should be higher for high-income earners than for low-income earners.

The current economic level of the Czech Republic is seen rather positive (64%) than negative (35%). In comparison to other nine countries included in the survey, the Czech Republic took the third place ahead of all post-socialist countries; the first and second position is occupied by Germany and Austria. Compared to the previous survey in January 2008, the evaluation of the economic level of the Czech Republic has not changed.

According to January regular survey, 58 % of Czechs are convinced the financial crisis will affect their personal situation or the situation of their households, 29 % have opposite expectations. Two thirds (67%) of population are interested in course of events connected with the financial crisis and 85 % expect negative impact of crisis to economic development of the Czech Republic. One quarter of population (26%) thinks, the response of Czech government to the crisis is good, 45 % consider it as bad, and 29 % do not know.

In January 2009 CVVM investigated, how Czech citizens evaluate material living conditions of their households and economic situation in the Czech republic, as well. Comapred to previous years the expectations towards the future economic situation are skeptical. 81 % of informants (the highest result ever - 2nd highest was 50 % in january 2004) thought that the economic situation of the Czech republic would get worse in the next year and 49 % were afraid about the future economic situation of their households.

According to December survey 58 % of Czechs are concerned with the situation regarding present world financial crisis, 41 % do not care about it. 78 % expect negative impact of crisis to economic development in the Czech Republic. 40 % see the reaction of Czech government to present situation as bad, 28 % expressed opposite meaning. 61 % would support state’s financial bailout to firms in danger of breakdown caused by crisis.

In November 2008, Public Opinion Research Centre enquired about social policy. People were asked, how much do they think the government cares about the social situation of citizens, and how much the citizens care about it themselves. Czechs also should express their view about government spending on unemployment, housing, health care, child allowances, retirement pensions, disability benefits, schools and education.

In November 2008, Czech population was asked about some instruments of family policy. First, there was a general question to what extent the government cares about families with small children. Second, people should say, which of the family policy instruments they appreciate. In fact, all instruments were supported, but most of the people agreed with flexible working time or part-time job for parents of small children, with tax cut for these people and marriage loan.

From all social conditions included in the survey people evaluate mostly positively only the accessibility of education (80 % positively, 13 % critically) and the health care (63 % : 35 %). All other monitored areas of social conditions - i.e. a chance to get a flat (24 % positively, 73 % critically), financial situation to start a family with children (24 % : 72 %), social security for the elderly (14 % : 76 %), life conditions for the handicapped (18 % : 68 %) and a chance to get a job (44 % : 53 %) - are evaluated largely critically.