2024-04-08 12:44:21
Citizens characterize the quality of life as “degraded” and “suffocating”. 55% estimate that the situation will worsen. Accuracy is a bigger problem. 77% do not consider the stipends to be enough
Disappointment is the dominant feeling among Greek citizens, according to a Prorata survey conducted in collaboration with the ENA Institute for Alternative Politics.
At the same time, the lack of satisfaction with key pillars of social life, such as the NHS and public education, is highlighted, for which the respondents answer that the services they enjoy are not satisfactory even though they feel that they pay disproportionate costs for them.
As it is noted, these conditions “reflect a wider trend of disintegration which is based in material terms and turns into a wider crisis of trust of the society towards its institutions”.
I. Emotions
More specifically, as the relevant findings highlight, negative emotions dominate: disappointment (50%) and anger (38%), while only fourth and sixth choices are optimism (15%) and hope (13%) respectively.
Compared to the corresponding survey carried out in December 2022, it is important that the feeling of disappointment appears increased, that is, worsened, today by 9 points (41% then), while the feeling of hope decreased by 4 points (then).
II. Quality of life and major issues today
The quality of life is judged as degraded (43%) and suffocating/pressing (30%) and even compared to the previous survey it is interesting that a new category added to the current survey, the answer “degraded” surpasses the second answer by a large margin “suffocating/pressing” which was dominant at the time.
The most important problem in the country seems to be punctuality (70%), low wages/working conditions (29%), health/care conditions outside of COVID-19 (29%).
In a year from today, it is estimated that the country’s situation will have worsened (55%), it will be the same (28%), it will have improved (15%).
The survey also attempts to capture a feeling of discomfort that is often referred to in the public debate as a finding that “the situation is getting worse”. 60% of respondents feel that their own generation is having a harder time than their parents’.
The climate of dissatisfaction and “suffocation” continues in the labor sector as well, 1/3 (33%) have considered quitting their job at least once within 2024.
The reason is that he is not satisfied with what he offers (42%) or with his qualifications (36%), with the working conditions (20%), because there are no advancement prospects (15%).
54% say they are dissatisfied and very dissatisfied with their pay and only 15% satisfied and very satisfied, percentages that are at the same levels as in the previous survey, which shows that there is no sense of improvement, despite the nominal salary increases that recorded in the official statistics.
V. Government support measures
77% believe that the subsidies given in 2023 do not meet the needs of the population and 72% that they have not helped them in relation to the situation prevailing in the country and even at a time when accuracy is the most serious problem it faces .
Compared to the previous year’s survey, in which respondents were asked to answer whether the subsidies of that period (for energy) had helped their financial situation, in this year’s survey, negative assessments have increased (71% then).
V. Cost of living and income adequacy
Another negative record that continues from the previous survey is between the cost of living and the adequacy of incomes. Specifically, 73% do not save, a level corresponding to last year.
Among those who pay rent, 80% consider that the rent is high in relation to their income and in fact an increase of 10 points is recorded in relation to the corresponding question in last year’s survey, a fact that points to the need to implement additional interventions.
Furthermore, from the fact that 92% consider the cost of energy expensive in relation to their monthly net income and 75% consider the government’s policy (including colored tariffs) as not sufficient to deal with the effects of the energy crisis the energy cost appears rather “unwieldy” in relation to the monthly income for the majority.
64% believe that the energy transition will increase energy costs in the future.
VI. Evaluation of public policies
The policies in education (88%), health (87%), security (85%), social welfare (83%), the economy and the environment (out of 76) receive the most negative assessment – little/not at all effective %). Tourism (55%) and foreign policy (41%) have the most positive assessment – somewhat/very effective
Confidence in the NHS is another worrying indicator, as 51% have no confidence in the National Health System.
66% say they are dissatisfied and very dissatisfied with the NHS and only 10% are satisfied and very satisfied.
77% consider – definitely yes and probably yes – the cost they pay for health in Greece is high in relation to their net monthly income.
58% are dissatisfied – dissatisfied and very dissatisfied – with the education system in Greece (public/private education and HEIs).
Among those who have children, 84% consider – probably yes and definitely yes – the cost they pay for education in Greece is high.
49% disagree and 45% agree with the creation of private universities in Greece for tuition fees.
VII. Free time and holidays
48% did not go on vacation in the summer of 2023, a slightly reduced percentage, i.e. improved, compared to last year’s survey, but still with one in two respondents declaring the inability to take a summer vacation.