Page 26 - RusRPTJune18

clash with Ukraine. Of note, a significant portion of the population now uses paid medical services (44% on average over the last three years). In more than half of these cases (57%), Russians report that their use of paid services was due to the lack of free analogues. But most (52%) Russians believe that they cannot survive without support from the state.
More than a third (37%) of Russians expect positive changes in the work of the new government , about half (49%) believe that the Cabinet will work about the same way as before, and 3% of citizens expect things to get worse, according to a survey from the state owned pollster, the Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VTsIOM).
A record 80%-plus Russians say they are “happy,” a poll by the state owned pollster, the Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VTsIOM) found published on May 3. Respondents cited family, children, fair health, and good jobs as the reason for their overall satisfaction with life. The result is the highest rating in the history of the poll VTsIOM said. "The latest poll shows that 83% Russians think they are “lucky” people on the whole,” the pollster said in a statement cited by Tass. “ Younger respondents traditionally assess their current status more optimistically [87% in the age bracket of 18 to 24 years old. The same concerns well-earning respondents [96%], people older than 60 years old [79%], and low-income categories of the population [58%]." While the result appears counter intuitive to western audiences, the foundation of Russian’s satisfaction has been a combination of rising real incomes in the short-term and a comparison between today’s standard of living and that in the chaos of the 1990s. Real income growth turned positive last year and rose by 11.3% 9.7% and 6.5% in each of the first three months of this year. However, the biggest contribution to happiness remains family (30%) according to the poll, followed by children (13%). The happiness index based on the perception of personal well-being totalled 73 points in March 2018 versus 72 points in March 2017. The director of VTsIOM also pointed to falling alcohol consumption, reduction in smoking and less time in front of the TV as other signs of improving lifestyle values in Russia. "Family and sound health are the main drivers of the sensation that someone is happy," Dr Oleg Chernozub of VTsIOM said.
Nine out of ten Russians (89%) want reform , according to a poll conducted by the state owned pollster, the Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VTsIOM) on May 7. In particular more than half (59%) back changes in most
26 RUSSIA Country Report June 2018 www.intellinews.com