IISEPS — Independent Institute of Socio-Economic and Politycal Studies

RESULTS OF THE NATION OPINION POLL CONDUCTED ON September 2-12, 2009
(1.505 persons interviewed, margin of error does not exceed 0.03)

1. To what extent does the rise in prices for foodstuffs, manufactured products, accommodation, education, medical and other services tell upon your life?

Variant of answer	%
It does not virtually tell upon my life, as the rise in prices is made up for by the income growth	11.5
It is already telling upon my life and causes concern	47.1
It is seriously telling upon my life and causes alarm	28.4
I am experiencing a real shock due to the rise in prices	12.4
NA	0.6

2. Who, in your opinion, is mainly responsible for the worsening of the economic situation in the country? (more than one answer is possible)

Variant of answer	%
President	42.7
Government	40.7
Local authorities	27.1
The West	24.7
Heads of state enterprises and collective farms	16.8
Russia	12.2
Mafia	7.9
Businessmen	5.4
Mass media (newspapers, radio, TV)	2.2
Other	3.5
DA	9.4

3. Whom (what) would you pin your hopes for the economic development of Belarus on? (more than one answer is possible)

Variant of answer	%
On attraction of foreign capital	47.8
On the president of the country	37.8
On the government of the country	27.7
On Belarusian businessmen	20.3
On heads of state enterprises, collective farms, etc.	11.4
On political parties and movements	5.7
On the National Assembly	4.3
On the army and security bodies	2.5
On mass media	2.5
On the judicial system of the country	1.3
DA	10.7

4. Should the state limit import of foreign goods to Belarus, so as to help its own enterprises and do not allow unemployment?

Variant of answer	%
Yes	58.4
No	35.3
DA/NA	6.3

5. How do you estimate the probability of the Belarusian ruble devaluation, i.e. of its value reduction relative to the world currencies (dollar and euro)?

Variant of answer	%
It is quite probable	51.3
It is hardly probable	26.2
It is improbable	8.9
DA/NA	13.6

6. Have you had to buy or to sell foreign currency for the last six months?

Variant of answer	%
Yes	65.4
No	34.2
NA	0.4

7. Can you say that for the last 2-3 months you and members of your family have begun to buy cheaper foodstuffs and other goods than you used to before?

Variant of answer	%
Definitely yes	22.3
More likely yes	41.0
More likely no	25.8
Definitely no	6.9
DA/NA	4.0

8. Do you believe that "by 2011 we will live like in Europe"?

Variant of answer	%
No	69.2
Yes	13.8
DA/NA	17.0

9. In July it was 15 years since A. Lukashenko had been elected president of Belarus. Was the event more useful or harmful for the country, in your opinion?

Variant of answer	%
More useful	48.4
More harmful	21.7
It had no effect on the country’s destiny	13.9
DA/NA	16.0

10. Has, in your opinion, the gap between the rich and the poor in our country increased, decreased or remained at the same level as it used to be at the beginning of the 90s during 15 years of A. Lukashenko’s governing?

Variant of answer	%
It has increased	39.7
It has decreased	26.0
It has remained the same	25.9
DA/NA	8.4