MOSCOW – Price rise still tops the list of social problems in the eyes of Russians, although its topically has declined over recent years, from 78 percent in 2015 to 61 percent now, Levada Analytical Center told Interfax.
The other two of the top three problems are poverty and massive destitution (45 percent), and growing unemployment, corruption and bribery (33 percent).
Twenty-eight percent of Russians are concerned about the economic crisis and decline in industrial and agricultural production (32 percent in 2015).
A quarter is worried about the abyss between the rich and the poor and unfair distribution of income, as well as non-affordability of many types of healthcare services (the significance of this problem has grown from 20 percent in 2015 to 26 percent now).
Fifteen percent mentioned a crisis of morals and culture, 14 percent – deteriorating environmental conditions, 13 percent – the growing scope of paid education services and non-affordability of education, and 12 percent – dominance and arbitrariness of civil servants and the growing rates of drug abuse.
Other pressing problems include the war in eastern Ukraine (14 percent vs 22 percent in 2015), and the threat of explosions and other kinds of terror attacks (12 percent vs 5 percent before).
A tenth is worried about the Western sanctions against Russia (11 percent), the ruble fall/depreciation of the national currency and weakness of the authorities (10 percent), unfair justice and the growing rate of criminal offenses (8 percent), the influx of migrants (10 percent), and deteriorating inter-ethnic relations (7 percent).
The least worries are salary, pension and benefit delays and rudeness and cruelty of the police (6 percent) and shrinking liberties and democratic freedoms (4 percent).
The sociologists polled 1,600 adults in 137 populated localities in 48 regions on August 18-22.
