Ideas about the problems of Russian society: August 2023

Respondents still consider inflation to be the main problem. However, the severity of this problem has slightly weakened. Problems related to corruption and bribery, as well as a complex of problems related to foreign policy conflicts in which the country participates, ranked second and third by a large margin. There is a high concern about the increase in the retirement age and the general poverty of the majority of the population. Last year, against the background of the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine, the significance of most problems weakened, then as people get used to the conflict, severity of the problems begins to increase again. Amidst fires and drone strikes, concern about the threat of explosions and terrorist acts continues to grow.

Respondents are most concerned about the following problems of Russian society: “price growth” (53%), “special military operation, sanctions, conflict with the West” and “corruption, bribery” by 29%, “retirement age increase, pension reform” (27%), “poverty, impoverishment of the majority of the population” (25%).

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Price growth (53%) remains the main socio-economic problem, according to respondents. This topic still concerns a large percentage of respondents despite a slight decrease in August (58% in March it was). Poverty comes second (36%), the growing unemployment rate – third (33%).

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Corruption is noted as a problem by 29% of respondents (26% in March), abuse of power – 8% (7% in March), 3% of respondents spoke about the restriction of civil rights (4% in March). The growth of nationalism was noted by 8%.

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In the social sphere, Russians call the unavailability of many types of medical care the most acute problem (22%), as well as the somewhat increased problem of the influx of visitors (21%, 16% in March), the problems of unfair distribution of income in society were noted by 16% of respondents, another 14% spoke about the unavailability of education.

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Among other problems, respondents especially highlight the threat of explosions and terrorist attacks in their place of residence (17%), with the beginning of the special military operation, this problem has again become more urgent since the end of the Chechen wars, this is happening against the background of recent terrorist attacks aimed at famous people (Prilepin, Tatarsky, Dugina), as well as the increased frequency of drone attacks on Russian cities, the list of which is growing. Another 17% of respondents noted the problem of environmental degradation, another 16% speak of a moral crisis.

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