Standard Eurobarometer 81
Spring 2014
LIVING CONDITIONS IN
THE EUROPEAN UNION
REPORT
Fieldwork: June 2014
This survey has been requested and co-ordinated by the European Commission,
Directorate-General for Communication.
http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/index_en.htm
This document does not represent the point of view of the European Commission.
The interpretations and opinions contained in it are solely those of the authors.
Standard Eurobarometer 81 / Spring 2014 – TNS opinion & social
Standard Eurobarometer 81
Spring 2014
Living conditions in the European Union
Survey conducted by TNS opinion & social at the request of the
European Commission, Directorate-General Communication
Survey co-ordinated by the European Commission,
Directorate-General Communication
(DG COMM “Strategy, Corporate Communication Actions
and Eurobarometer” Unit)
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 2 I. LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION ....................................... 5 1.1. SATISFACTION WITH LIFE IN GENERAL ................................................................ 5 1.2. THE SOCIAL WELFARE SYSTEM ......................................................................... 14 1.3. FEELING SAFE IN THE AREA WHERE YOU LIVE ...................................................... 21 II. POVERTY AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION ......................................................... 25 III. GETTING AHEAD IN LIFE ............................................................................ 33 ANNEX
Technical specifications
1
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
INTRODUCTION
At a time when the economic climate - and the way it is perceived - appears to be
improving, this report presents some indicators related to the lives of Europeans. Some
of the questions were asked in 2009, during the first months of the crisis, and in
November 2006, before the financial and economic crisis began, making it possible to
follow the trends.
This Standard Eurobarometer survey was carried out from 31 May to 14 June 20141 in 34
countries or territories: the 28 Member States of the European Union2 (EU), the five
candidate countries (the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Iceland,
Montenegro and Serbia), and the Turkish Cypriot Community in the part of the country
that is not controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus.
This report presents life in the European Union seen from different angles:
-
The life of Europeans today: are Europeans satisfied with the life they lead?
With where they live? With their health? Their standard of living? What do they
think of their social security system? Do they feel safe in the area where they
live?
-
Poverty and social exclusion: do Europeans feel there is a risk they will
experience poverty themselves? Do they think anyone can be hit by poverty or
only certain people? Do they sometimes feel excluded or judged due to their
financial or employment status?
-
“Getting ahead in life”: what do Europeans think are the drivers of success in
life?
These
questions
were
asked
in
previous
Eurobarometer
surveys:
the
Special
3
Eurobarometer survey of November-December 2006 (EBS273 from the EB66.3 wave),
the January-February 2009 survey (EBS3084 from the EB71.1 wave) and the Standard
Eurobarometer survey of spring 20095 (EB71). This report will therefore analyse the
trends in public opinion on these questions.
1
Please consult the technical specifications for the exact dates of the interviews in each country.
This is the second Standard Eurobarometer since Croatia joined the UE on 1 July 2013. The UE28 results
presented in this report represent the weighted average for the 28 Member States.
3
European Social Reality: http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_273_en.pdf
4
The Europeans in 2009: http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_308_en.pdf
5
At the time of the 2006 Eurobarometer survey, the EU was composed of 25 Member States. When the
January-February 2009 survey was conducted, it was composed of 27 Member States, after the accession of
Romania and Bulgaria on 1 January 2007.
2
2
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
The full report of the Eurobarometer Standard Survey 81 consists of several volumes.
The first volume presents the main trends in public opinion in the European Union. Four
other volumes present the opinions of Europeans on the Europe 2020 strategy, the
financial and economic crisis, European citizenship and living conditions in the European
Union. This volume focuses on living conditions in the European Union.
The overall analysis and the socio-democratic analyses are based on the average results
of the 28 Member States. This average is weighted so that it reflects the population of
each Member State.
The averages for the previous surveys represent the results
obtained in all the Member States of the European Union, as it was composed at the time
the survey was conducted.
The methodology used is that of the Standard Eurobarometer surveys of the DirectorateGeneral
Communication
(“Strategy,
Corporate
Communication
Actions
and
6
Eurobarometer” Unit) . A technical note on the interviewing methods of the institutes of
the TNS Opinion & Social network is attached to this report. This note also specifies the
confidence intervals7, which are used to assess the accuracy of the results of a survey,
according to the size of the sample interviewed in relation to the total size of the
population studied.
6
http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/index_en.html
The results tables are annexed. It should be noted that the total of the percentages indicated in the tables in
this report may exceed 100% when the respondent was able to choose several answers to the same question.
7
3
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
Abbreviations used in this report correspond to:
BE
CZ
BG
DK
DE
EE
EL
ES
FR
HR
IE
IT
CY
LT
Belgium
Czech Republic
Bulgaria
Denmark
Germany
Estonia
Greece
Spain
France
Croatia
Ireland
Italy
Republic of Cyprus*
Lithuania
ABBREVIATIONS
LV
LU
HU
MT
NL
AT
PL
PT
RO
SI
SK
FI
SE
UK
Latvia
Luxembourg
Hungary
Malta
The Netherlands
Austria
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovenia
Slovakia
Finland
Sweden
United Kingdom
European Union – weighted average for the
28 Member States
EU28
Euro
area
Noneuro
area
BE, FR, IT, LU, DE, AT, ES, PT, IE, NL, FI, EL, EE, SI, CY,
MT, SK, LV
BG, CZ, DK, HR, LT, HU, PL, RO, SE, UK
* Cyprus as a whole is one of the 28 European Union Member States. However, the “acquis communautaire”
has been suspended in the part of the country which is not controlled by the government of the Republic of
Cyprus. For practical reasons, only the interviews carried out in the part of the country controlled by the
government of the Republic of Cyprus are included in the “CY” category and in the EU28 average. The
interviews carried out in the part of the country that is not controlled by the government of the Republic of
Cyprus are covered in the “CY(tcc)” (tcc: Turkish Cypriot community) category
** Provisional abbreviation which in no way prejudges the definitive name of this country which will be agreed
once the current negotiations at the United Nations have been completed
*
*
*
*
*
We wish to thank all the people interviewed throughout Europe
who took the time to take part in this survey.
Without their active participation, this survey would not have been possible.
4
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
I.
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
1.1.
Satisfaction with life in general
- Europeans are mostly satisfied with their daily life -
A large majority of Europeans are satisfied with several aspects of everyday life, with
stable results compared with the results recorded in 2006 and 20098:
-
Nearly nine out of ten Europeans say they are satisfied with their house or
flat, which is virtually unchanged since the last results measured during the
Special Eurobarometer survey of January-February 2009 (89%, +1 percentage
point). Over a third say they are “very satisfied” (37%, +1);
-
Satisfaction is also very high with respect to the quality of life in the area
where they live (85%, +2 percentage points, of whom 32% are “very satisfied”,
+3);
-
More than eight out of ten Europeans also consider that their state of health is
satisfactory (82%, +1 percentage point), one-third of whom say that it is “very
satisfactory” (33%, +1);
-
Over three-quarters of Europeans say they are satisfied with their standard of
living (76%, +1 percentage point, of whom 22% are “very satisfied”, +3);
-
The same applies when Europeans are asked about the time they have
available to do the things they want to do (74%, no change since the Special
Eurobarometer survey of November-December 2006, of whom 26% say they are
“very satisfied”, =).
EB81 Sp. 2014
EB71.1 Jan.-Feb. 2009 (items 1-4) / EB66.3 Nov.Dec.2006 (item 5)
8
QE1.1 to QE1.5. I am now going to read out different aspects of everyday life.. For each, could you tell me if
this aspect of your life is very satisfactory, fairly satisfactory, not very satisfactory or not at all satisfactory?
Your house or flat; the quality of life in the area where you live; your standard of living; your state of health;
the time you have available to do the things you want to do
5
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
An analysis by country reveals differences between Member States which vary depending
on the subjects. When Europeans are asked how satisfied they are with their home, their
state of health or the pace of life, there are only slight overall differences in satisfaction
between countries. However, the differences are more marked in terms of the strength of
opinions expressed (the share of respondents who say they are “very satisfied”):
-
When Europeans are asked whether they are satisfied with their house or flat,
a majority express satisfaction in all Member States, with 24 points separating the
highest level of satisfaction in Finland (97%, +3 percentage points since JanuaryFebruary 2009) and the lowest, measured in Bulgaria (73%, +6);
However, variations are much greater in terms of the proportion of respondents
who
say
they
are
“very
satisfied”:
this
varies
from
72%
in
Denmark
(+3 percentage points) to 16% in Portugal (+7);
However, in terms of evolutions since January-February 2009, Portugal is the
country where general satisfaction with the area where people live has increased
the most (88%, +9 percentage points), followed by Lithuania (76%, +7).
Conversely it has decreased in Hungary (74%, -7).
-
A fairly similar pattern emerges when Europeans are asked about their state of
health: majorities are satisfied in all Member States with only 26 points
separating Ireland, where satisfaction is the highest (92%, no change since
January-February 2009) and Latvia, where it is the lowest (66%, -3 percentage
points). The proportion of respondents who are “very satisfied” with the state of
their health varies however, between 59% in Denmark (+1) and 16% in Latvia
(+1);
6
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
The significant evolutions in this indicator compared with the report early in 2009
include a marked increase in the proportion of respondents who say they are
satisfied with the state of their health in Portugal (80%, +13 percentage points),
Bulgaria (67%, +13) and Austria (87%, +10);
-
The same applies when Europeans are asked whether they consider they have
enough time to do the things they want to do: satisfaction is very strong in
Denmark (89%, +12 percentage points compared with November-December
2006) and much lower in Hungary (56%, -13) but remains the majority feeling.
These are also the two Member States that record the most significant evolutions
compared with November-December 2006.
7
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
The variations in responses between Europeans are more pronounced when they are
asked how satisfied they are with their quality of life and especially their standard of
living:
-
Majorities are satisfied with their standard of living in all the Member States
except Bulgaria (35% “satisfied”, +7 percentage points compared with JanuaryFebruary 2009, vs. 65%, -6). This represents a 62-point satisfaction gap with
Sweden, where satisfaction is the highest (97%, +1);
Fairly significant evolutions have been recorded for this indicator: satisfaction has
increased
significantly
since
January-February
2009
in
Latvia
(60%,
+11 percentage points) and Austria (90%, +11), but has fallen sharply in Greece
(55%, -13).
8
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
-
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
A majority of respondents also expressed satisfaction with the quality of life in
the area where they live in almost all the Member States, except in Bulgaria,
despite a sharp improvement compared with January-February 2009 (47%, +11
percentage points, vs 53%, -10). Satisfaction was particularly high in Denmark
(98%, +4) and Finland (98%, +1). Other notable evolutions over the period are
the increase in satisfaction in Slovakia (80%, +12) and Portugal (83%, +10); the
most significant decline has occurred in Croatia (71%, -5).
In the candidate countries:
-
Satisfaction prevails for all the indicators in Iceland, Montenegro, Turkey and the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia;
-
In Serbia, only a minority of respondents are satisfied with their standard of living
(45% vs 55%) and with the quality of life in the area where they live (49% vs
50%). A majority are satisfied with the remaining three aspects.
9
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
*NA = Not asked. The question was not asked in these countries during the previous survey
10
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
A socio-demographic analysis shows that:
-
Satisfaction prevails in all categories of the population for almost all the indicators
tested, except standard of living, for which there are substantial variations.
Only a minority of respondents said that they were satisfied with their standard of
living among the unemployed (45% vs 54% dissatisfied, compared with 93%
satisfaction among managers, 81% among white-collar workers and 74% among
manual workers); Europeans who say they have difficulties in paying their bills
most of the time (31%, compared with 62% among those who say they have
financial difficulties from time to time and 89% of those who say they hardly ever
have difficulties); and Europeans who self-position themselves at the bottom of
the social scale (45%, compared with 93% of the Europeans who say they are at
the top of the social scale).
-
The Europeans who say they have difficulties paying their bills most of the time
are also less likely than average to say they are less satisfied with where they
live (67% say they are satisfied with their house or flat and 61% with the quality
of life in the area where they live, compared with 95% and 92% respectively of
Europeans who say they hardly ever have difficulties paying their bills). They are
also less satisfied than average in terms of the time available to do the things
they want to do (57%, compared with 80% of those without financial
difficulties).
11
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
12
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
The following tables show the results by socio-demographic criteria in the European
Union (EU28) on average, in the six largest EU countries, and in four countries
particularly affected by the economic crisis.
13
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
1.2.
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
The social welfare system
- A small majority of Europeans say their social welfare system is effective but
too expensive When asked to describe their country’s social welfare system, Europeans are mostly
satisfied, albeit with some criticisms of the cost to society9:
-
An absolute majority of Europeans say that their national social welfare system is
capable of providing wide enough coverage: 51% (+3 percentage points
compared with the Standard Eurobarometer Survey in spring 2009, EB71), vs
37% (-5);
-
Just under half of Europeans believe that their social welfare system could serve
as a model for other countries (47%, +1 percentage point, vs 36%, -4);
-
However, a majority also feel that the social welfare system costs too much for
society, even if criticisms are sharply down compared with spring 2009 (46%,
-8 percentage points, vs 32%, +3).
9
QE3.1 to QE3.3. For each of the following, please tell me whether you think it applies to the (NATIONALITY)
social welfare system or not? Your social welfare system … provides wide enough coverage; could serve as a
model for other countries; is too expensive for the (NATIONALITY) society
14
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
The national analysis shows very considerable variations between Member States. We
found that:
-
The feeling that the national social welfare system provides wide enough
coverage is in the majority in 13 Member States, led by Luxemburg (86%, +4
percentage points compared with spring 2009), Belgium (76%, +7), the
Netherlands (76%, +1), Finland (75%, +9), France (74%, +6) and Austria (74%,
+24). It represents a very small minority in Bulgaria (7%, -1, vs 44%, -23),
Latvia (10%, +4, vs 76%, -12) and Greece (10%, -4, vs 82%, +1);
Belief that the social welfare system capacity provides wide enough coverage has
increased significantly since the spring 2009 report in Austria (74%, +24
percentage points), Denmark (73%, +14), Germany (73%, +11), Finland (75%,
+9) and the United Kingdom (61%, +9). However, it has declined in Cyprus
(12%, -14), Spain (58%, -9) and Slovenia (26%, -9).
15
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
-
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
The feeling that the social welfare system could be a model for other
countries is the majority view in 12 Member States: in these countries,
majorities say they are satisfied that it provides wide enough coverage. Ireland is
an exception because, although a majority think that the social welfare system
provides wide enough coverage (50%, -4 percentage points, vs 36%, +9), only a
quarter
of
respondents
think
their
system
could
serve
as
a
model
(24%, -5, vs 51%, +13). Respondents in Denmark are most likely to feel that
their national social welfare system could serve as a benchmark for other
countries (81%, +2) and this view has gained significant ground since spring
2009 in Malta (50%, +14), Germany (74%, +12) and Austria (61%, +11).
Conversely, it has declined sharply in Cyprus (7%, -10), Slovenia (13%, -9) and
Greece (4%, -8).
16
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
-
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
In 22 Member States, majorities criticise the cost of the social security
system. Exceptions to this are Sweden (22%, -14 percentage points, vs 61%,
+11), Denmark (36%, no change, vs 55%, -2), Spain (35%, -7, vs 48%, +10),
Germany (38%, -16, vs 45%, +11), Luxemburg (33%, +7, vs 38%, -16) and
Finland (39%, +5, vs 43%, -14). The feeling that the national social welfare
system is too expensive is particularly strong in France (64%, =), Malta (62%, =)
and Ireland (61%, +4), where confidence in the extent of cover is high, but also
in countries where this is felt less, such as Greece (61%, -13) and Slovenia
(61%, -3);
Criticisms of the excessive cost of social welfare have declined by at least 10
points in eight Member States since spring 2009: -26 percentage points in
Hungary (51%), -20 in Estonia (38%), -16 in Germany (38%), -15 in Bulgaria
(34%), -14 in Sweden (22%), -13 in Greece (61%), -11 in Lithuania (45%) and
-10 in Austria (37%). The feeling that the social welfare system costs society too
much has gained significant ground in Portugal (54%, +10) and Cyprus
(50%, +9).
17
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
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STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
There are large differences between the euro area countries and non-euro area
countries. Satisfaction with the social welfare system is much higher in the euro area
countries: a majority consider that it gives wide enough cover (58%, compared with
37% in the non-euro area countries) and that it could serve as a model for other
countries (55%, compared with 32% in the non-euro area countries). In contrast,
criticisms of the cost of the system to society are at a more or less similar level in
countries both in the euro area (46%) and outside it (47%).
A socio-demographic analysis shows:
-
Men (53%, vs 48% of women and 51% on average) are more inclined to think
that the social welfare system provides wide enough coverage. This opinion is
more likely to be shared by people who continued their studies until at least the
age of 20 (56%, compared with 47% of those who stopped at the age of 15 or
earlier); by Europeans who say they hardly ever have difficulties paying their bills
(58%, compared with only 32% of those who say they have difficulties most of
the time), and above all by managers (62%, compared with 49% of the selfemployed and 42% of unemployed people);
-
Europeans who say they seldom have any difficulties in paying their bills are more
likely to say that the social welfare system could be a model for other
countries (54%, compared with 32% of those who have financial difficulties most
of the time). This opinion is also more widespread among people who studied until
at least the age of 20 (52%) and managers (57%) than among those who left
school at the age of 15 or earlier (47%) or between 16 and 19 years old (45%),
or among self-employed people (39%);
-
Opinions on whether the social welfare system costs too much for society vary
less, as majorities agree with this statement in all socio-demographic categories.
19
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
20
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
1.3.
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
Feeling safe in the area where you live
- Europeans feel less unsafe -
Over three-quarters of Europeans say they feel
safe when they are walking in the district where
they
live
compared
at
night10.
with
the
This
Special
is
an
increase
Eurobarometer
Survey in November-December 2006 (EB66.3),
although the majority already felt safe at that
time (77%, +7 percentage points, vs 22% for
the total “unsafe”, -7).
Within this majority, 33% of Europeans now say
they
feel
increase
very
of
safe,
five
which
points
December 2006.
represents
since
an
NovemberEB81 Sp. 2014
EB66.3 Nov.-Dec.2006
A national analysis shows that majorities feel safe in all the Member States, ranging
from 98% in Finland (+9 percentage points since November-December 2006) to 60% in
Hungary (-9) and Bulgaria (+14). Remember that Bulgaria was not yet a member of the
European Union during the previous survey in November-December 2006.
10
QE4. How safe do you feel walking alone in the area where you live after dark? Do you feel ….?
21
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
In Hungary (40%, +9 percentage points), Bulgaria (39%, -13), Greece (39%, -1), Italy
(37%, +1), Lithuania (32%, -22), Cyprus (28%, no change) and Latvia (27%, -9), more
than a quarter of respondents feel unsafe when they are walking in the district where
they live alone at night.
There are greater differences in terms of the share of respondents who say they feel
“very safe” in the area where they live at night: over 50% do so in Finland (71%, +19
percentage points), Denmark (69%, +9), Malta (63%, +19), Sweden (62%, +11),
Slovenia (53%, +10) and the Netherlands (52%, +6). In contrast, less than a quarter of
respondents say they feel “very safe” in Italy (12%, -7), Lithuania (19%, +6), Slovakia
(20%, +10), Bulgaria (20%, +4), Portugal (20%, +3), Hungary (22%, -9) and the Czech
Republic (23%, +6).
22
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
The feeling of safety has increased significantly since November-December 2006 in
several Member States, with a rise of over 15 percentage points in seven of them:
Lithuania (66%, +21 percentage points), Poland (85%, +20), Estonia (82%, +17), Malta
(89%, +17), Slovakia (77%, +17), the Czech Republic (78%, +16) and Ireland
(84%, +16).
In two countries, following a sharp rise, the majority of respondents now feel safe,
whereas only a minority did so in November-December 2006: Bulgaria (60% to 39%, vs
46% to 52% in November-December 2006) and Lithuania (66% to 32%, vs 45% to
54%). Hungary is the only Member State where the feeling of safety has declined sharply
since 2006 (60%, -9).
The feeling of safety is in the majority in all the candidate countries: it is well above
the European average in Iceland (91%); close to the European average in Montenegro
(79%) and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (77%); and a little below in
Serbia (72%) and Turkey (67%).
*NA = the question was not asked in this country during the previous survey
23
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
A socio-demographic analysis shows that the majority of respondents in all categories
feel safe, but there are a few slight differences:
-
The oldest Europeans are a little more likely to feel unsafe (27% of Europeans
aged 65 to 74 years old and 31% of those aged 75 years and older do not feel
safe when they are walking in the area where they live alone at night, compared
with 22% on average);
-
Europeans living in large towns are also a little more likely to feel unsafe (27%,
compared with 23% of those living in middle sized towns and 16% in rural areas);
-
Europeans who say they have financial difficulties most of the time are much
more likely to feel unsafe (35%, compared with only 17% of those who say they
hardly ever have difficulties).
24
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
II.
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
POVERTY AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION
- An increasing number of Europeans think they may experience poverty -
Europeans were then asked if they feared that they might one day fall into poverty, and
whether they had any personal feeling of social exclusion11:
-
Nearly a third of Europeans say they agree that “you feel there is a risk that
you could fall into poverty” (32%), representing a rise of seven percentage
points since January-February 2009.
Nevertheless, over four out of ten
Europeans say that they do not feel that there is a risk (42%, -10). Over a
quarter of respondents “neither agree nor disagree” (23%, +2);
-
One in ten Europeans say they feel left out of society, which is slightly less than
in January-February 2009 (-2 percentage points). More than seven in ten
Europeans say that they do not feel this way (71%, -2) and a slightly larger
proportion than in 2009 answer that they “neither agree nor disagree” (18%,
+4);
-
The proportion of Europeans who consider that some people look down on
them because of their income or job situation has remained fairly stable
since November-December 2006: 16% (+1 percentage point). A majority of
Europeans do not feel this way (63%), but this proportion has dropped sharply in
comparison with 2006 (-9). The proportion of people who “neither agree nor
disagree” has increased (18%, +7).
EB81 Sp. 2014
EB71.1 Jan.-Fev.2009 (items 1,3) /
EB66.3 Nov.-Dec.2006 (item 2)
11
QE5.1 to QE5.3. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? You feel left out of
society; Some people look down on you because of your income or job situation; You feel that there is a risk
that you could fall into poverty
25
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
An analysis by country shows that a majority of respondents feel that there is a risk of
falling into poverty in 10 Member States: Greece (56%, +22 percentage points compared
with January-February 2009, vs 24% that disagree with this statement , -15), Latvia
(48%, -14, vs 35%, +11), Lithuania (48%, +5, vs 31%, +1), Croatia (47%, +21, vs
28%, -24), Hungary (46%, +1, vs 31%, no change), Slovakia (44%, +17, vs 28%, -14),
Cyprus (44%, +21, vs 32%, -23), Spain (43%, +26, vs 42%, -17), Portugal (38%, +14,
vs 37%, -7) and Italy (33%, +7, vs 28%, -7). Far fewer respondents share this fear in
Finland (9%, +1), Malta (10%, +2), Sweden (14%, +2) and Denmark (16%, +1).
The sense that there is a risk of falling into poverty has increased significantly in
many Member States since January-February 2009: Spain (43%, +26 percentage
points), Greece (56%, +22), Croatia (47%, +21), Cyprus (44%, +21), Slovakia
(44%, +17), Slovenia (37%, +15) and Portugal (38%, +14). In contrast, it only
diminished in one country: Latvia (48%, -14).
The share of respondents who say they feel left out of society is fairly marginal in
all Member States. It is slightly higher in Bulgaria (20%, -3 percentage points compared
with January-February 2009), Lithuania (16%, -5) and Italy (14%, -3). Evolutions in this
indicator have been only slight since early 2009, except in Hungary where the feeling of
exclusion has declined sharply (12%, -7 points).
The proportion of respondents feeling that people sometimes look down on
them because of their income or job situation reached or exceeded 20% in five
Member States: Latvia (33%, -2 percentage points since November-December 2006)
Poland (22%, +6), the United Kingdom (22%, +5), Croatia (20%, question not asked in
2006) and Romania (20%, -3). This feeling is much less in Spain (7%, no change),
Greece (9%, +3), Malta (9%, +4) and Finland (9%, -3).
Although still affecting only a minority of respondents, this feeling has gained ground in
many Member States since November-December 2006 and in particular in Cyprus (13%,
+11 percentage points), Luxemburg (18%, +9) and in Ireland (17%, +8). However, it
has regressed in Italy (15%, -9) and Austria (12%, -7).
26
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
*NA = Not asked. The question was not asked in this country during the previous survey
27
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
- “Anyone is at risk of poverty at some time in their lives” The increased perception that there is a
personal
risk
of
falling
into
poverty
is
accompanied among Europeans by a rise in
the
number
of
people
who
believe
that
“anyone is at risk of poverty at some
time in their lives” (67%, which represents
an increase of five percentage points since the
Special Eurobarometer survey of NovemberDecember 2006, EB66.3)12. A little under a
quarter of Europeans now believe that the risk
of poverty is confined to certain groups of
people (23%, -6). Finally, 7% of Europeans
spontaneously
answer
“neither
of
these
statements”, and 3% “don’t know”.
An analysis by country shows that the majority of respondents believe this in 27
Member States, but with slight differences:
-
This belief has reached or exceeds 75% in seven Member States: France (87%,
+1 percentage point since November-December 2006), Luxembourg (82%, +8),
Slovenia (81%, +12), Spain (80%, +21), Latvia (79%, +5), Belgium (75%, +6)
and Hungary (75%, +1);
-
However, it is lower in Poland (45%, -9 percentage points, compared with 34%,
-3, who think that the risk of poverty is confined to certain groups of people);
-
Malta is the only country where a majority believe that the risk of poverty is
confined to certain groups of people (48%, +3 percentage points, vs 43%, +2
who think it could happen to anybody).
12
QE6. Which of these statements comes closest to your view?
28
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
The feeling that “anyone is at risk of poverty” gained ground in practically all Member
States compared with November-December 2006, in particular in Spain (80%, +21
percentage points), Ireland (71%, +15), the Czech Republic (60%, +15), Austria
(65%, +14), Slovenia (81%, +12), Lithuania (59%, +12) and Estonia (69%, +12).
* NA = this question was not asked in this country during the previous survey
29
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
A socio-demographic analysis shows that:
-
The sense of running a personal risk of falling into poverty varies greatly
from one category to another:
▫
It is stronger among Europeans aged between 25 and 39 years (34%) and
40 to 54 years (36%) than among younger people (26% for 15-24 year
olds) or the oldest group of people (29% among people over the age of
55);
▫
It is also stronger among those who finished their education at the age of
15 or earlier (37%) than in those who continued to study until they were
aged 20 or later (27%);
▫
More than half of unemployed people say they are conscious of the risk of
falling into poverty (55%), as are 36% of manual workers (compared with
30% of the self-employed, 29% of white-collar workers and 20% of
executives);
▫
It is experienced by the majority of Europeans who say that they have
financial difficulties most of the time (68%, compared with only 22% of
Europeans who say they hardly ever have financial difficulties).
-
The sense of being excluded from society is particularly widespread among
unemployed people (23%, compared with 10% on average), house persons
(14%), and, in particular, those Europeans who say they have difficulties in
paying their bills most of the time (27%, compared with only 6% of those who
say they hardly ever have financial difficulties). There were few differences
between the answers of managers (5%), white-collars (7%) and manual workers
(9%);
-
There were slightly larger variations in the case of feeling looked down on due
to financial or professional status: 19% of manual workers feel this is true,
compared with 16% of white-collar workers and 11% of managers. But the feeling
is much stronger among unemployed people (28%) and people who say they
have difficulties in paying their bills most of the time (29%);
-
A majority of respondents in all categories agree that “anyone is at risk of
poverty at some time in their lives”. However, agreement is stronger among
Europeans aged 40 to 54 years (72%, compared with 67% on average, and 65%
or 66% in all the other age categories), the unemployed (71%) and manual
workers (70%), and among Europeans who position themselves at the bottom of
the social scale (70%, compared with 62% of those place themselves at the top of
the social scale).
30
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
31
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
The following tables show the results per socio-demographic criteria throughout the
European Union (EU28) on average, in the six largest countries in the EU, and in four
countries particularly affected by the economic crisis.
32
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
III. GETTING AHEAD IN LIFE
- For Europeans, getting a good education is the most important thing for
“getting ahead in life” When asked to identify what they think are the two most important things for getting
ahead in life, Europeans give answers which are very close to those recorded in the
Special Eurobarometer of November-December 2006 (EB66.3)13. The same hierarchy of
answers was found:
-
Getting a good education is the first driver for getting ahead identified by
Europeans (63%, +1 percentage point compared with November-December
2006);
-
Then comes “working hard” (46%, +1 percentage point);
-
“Knowing the right people” comes third, some considerable way behind (24%,
-2 percentage points);
-
“Being lucky” is also mentioned fairly often (22%, -2 percentage points);
-
“Being smart” is mentioned somewhat less (16%, -1 percentage point);
-
“Coming from a wealthy family” is only the sixth most important thing for
getting ahead in life, but with 10% of mentions (+1 percentage point);
-
“Being a man” is mentioned only marginally (3%, +1 percentage point).
EB81 Sp 2014
EB66.3 Nov.-Dec. 2006
(Max. two answers possible)
13
QE2. In your opinion, out of the following, which are the two most important things for getting ahead in life?
33
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
The results by country show clear differences between the Member States. Education
tops the list of items identified as drivers for getting ahead in life in 24 Member States,
led by Denmark (84%, +1 percentage point since November-December 2006), Germany
(82%, +1), Malta (77%, +2) and Ireland (75%, +1). In Poland, education (43%, -14
percentage points) and working hard (43%, +7) are in joint first position. This is also the
case in Slovakia where respondents give equal importance to education (36%, -13),
working hard (36%, +1) and knowing the right people (36%, +1).
The idea that getting a good education is the main driver for success in life has gained
significant ground in Spain since November-December 2006 (68%, +18 percentage
points). But in six countries, it has lost at least 10 percentage points since NovemberDecember 2006: Slovenia (45%, -16), Poland (43%, -14), Slovakia (36%, -13),
Luxembourg (65%, -10), Latvia (59%, -10) and Lithuania (57%, -10).
34
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
Although education is also very frequently mentioned in the United Kingdom (73%, -4
percentage points), “working hard” takes first place (74%, +4). This is also the case in
Slovenia (49%, +7), Hungary (38%, -2), Poland (43%, +7) and Slovakia (36%, +1).
This belief has also gained ground in the Netherlands (44%, +8), Sweden (49%, +8) and
Latvia (23%, +8). However, it has regressed in Greece (48%, -9) and Austria (36%, -8).
The importance of networking (“knowing the right people”), which is in equal first
position in Slovakia (36%, +1 percentage point), continues to be mentioned more than
average in Sweden but registered a steep decline compared with November-December
2006 (35%, -19).
In the Czech Republic, luck is identified as being the main driver of success in life (42%,
-3 percentage points). It is also mentioned more than the average in Bulgaria (41%, -2).
35
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
Furthermore, we found that:
-
In Lithuania, being smart is mentioned much more than average (40%,
+4 percentage points, compared with an average of 16%, -1);
-
In Hungary, coming from a wealthy family is mentioned by respondents much
more than average (28%, -3 percentage points, compared with an average of
10%, +1);
-
Being a man is mentioned frequently in Croatia (27%, question not asked in
2006) and Malta (13%, +2 percentage points, compared with an average of
3%, +1).
36
UEROBAROMÈTRE STANDARD 81
CONDITIONS DE VIE DANS L’UE – PRINTEMPS 2014
(Max. two answers possible)
* NA = this question was not asked during the previous survey
37 UEROBAROMÈTRE STANDARD 81
CONDITIONS DE VIE DANS L’UE – PRINTEMPS 2014
A socio-demographic analysis shows that:
-
Answers vary little between respondents of different age or sex, even for the idea
that being a man may play a role in getting ahead in life: 3% of men, vs 2% of
women;
-
Getting a good education clearly heads the list for Europeans who studied the
longest (70% among those who continued to study until at least the age of 20),
but it is also the first answer given by Europeans who left school at 15 or earlier
(59%). This group also mention luck slightly more often (23%) than the most
educated respondents (18%);
-
Managers mention getting a good education (74%) more often than white
collar workers (64%), the self-employed (60%), manual workers (57%) and
unemployed people (52%), but the item still tops the list in all categories.
Unemployed people are slightly more likely than average to mention knowing
the right people (31%, vs 24% on average) and coming from a wealthy family
(16%, vs 10% on average);
-
The Europeans who say they have financial difficulties most of the time are also
slightly more likely than average to mention networking (30%, vs 22% of
Europeans who say they hardly ever have financial difficulties) and family
origins (19%, vs 7%), but they still give first place to getting a good
education (48%, vs 69%) and working hard (41%, vs 48%).
38 STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
Six first answers given
39
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
The following tables show the results per socio-demographic criteria throughout the
European Union (EU28) on average, in the six largest EU countries, and in four countries
particularly affected by the economic crisis.
40
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
Living conditions in the European Union
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Between the 31th of May and the 14th of June 2014, TNS opinion & social, a consortium created between
TNS political & social, TNS UK and TNS opinion, carried out the wave 81.4 of the EUROBAROMETER survey, on
request of the EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Directorate-General for Communication, “Strategy, Corporate
Communication Actions and Eurobarometer” unit.
The wave 81.4 is the STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81 survey and covers the population of the respective
nationalities of the European Union Member States, resident in each of the Member States and aged 15 years and
over.
The STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81 survey has also been conducted in the five candidate countries (Turkey, the
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Montenegro and Serbia) and in the Turkish Cypriot Community.
In these countries, the survey covers the national population of citizens and the population of citizens of all the
European Union Member States that are residents in these countries and have a sufficient command of the national
languages to answer the questionnaire.
The basic sample design applied in all states is a multi-stage, random (probability) one. In each country, a number
of sampling points was drawn with probability proportional to population size (for a total coverage of the country)
and to population density.
In order to do so, the sampling points were drawn systematically from each of the "administrative regional units",
after stratification by individual unit and type of area. They thus represent the whole territory of the countries
surveyed according to the EUROSTAT NUTS II (or equivalent) and according to the distribution of the resident
population of the respective nationalities in terms of metropolitan, urban and rural areas. In each of the selected
sampling points, a starting address was drawn, at random. Further addresses (every Nth address) were selected
by standard "random route" procedures, from the initial address. In each household, the respondent was drawn, at
random (following the "closest birthday rule"). All interviews were conducted face-to-face in people's homes and in
the appropriate national language. As far as the data capture is concerned, CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal
Interview) was used in those countries where this technique was available.
For each country a comparison between the sample and the universe was carried out. The Universe description
was derived from Eurostat population data or from national statistics offices. For all countries surveyed, a national
weighting procedure, using marginal and intercellular weighting, was carried out based on this Universe
description. In all countries, gender, age, region and size of locality were introduced in the iteration procedure. For
international weighting (i.e. EU averages), TNS Opinion & Social applies the official population figures as provided
by EUROSTAT or national statistic offices. The total population figures for input in this post-weighting procedure
are listed below.
TS1
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
Readers are reminded that survey results are estimations, the accuracy of which, everything being equal, rests
upon the sample size and upon the observed percentage. With samples of about 1,000 interviews, the real
percentages vary within the following confidence limits:
Statistical Margins due to the sampling process
(at the 95% level of confidence)
various sample sizes are in rows
various observed results are in columns
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
95%
90%
85%
80%
75%
70%
65%
60%
55%
50%
N=50
6,0
8,3
9,9
11,1
12,0
12,7
13,2
13,6
13,8
13,9
N=50
N=500
1,9
2,6
3,1
3,5
3,8
4,0
4,2
4,3
4,4
4,4
N=500
N=1000
1,4
1,9
2,2
2,5
2,7
2,8
3,0
3,0
3,1
3,1
N=1000
N=1500
1,1
1,5
1,8
2,0
2,2
2,3
2,4
2,5
2,5
2,5
N=1500
N=2000
1,0
1,3
1,6
1,8
1,9
2,0
2,1
2,1
2,2
2,2
N=2000
N=3000
0,8
1,1
1,3
1,4
1,5
1,6
1,7
1,8
1,8
1,8
N=3000
N=4000
0,7
0,9
1,1
1,2
1,3
1,4
1,5
1,5
1,5
1,5
N=4000
N=5000
0,6
0,8
1,0
1,1
1,2
1,3
1,3
1,4
1,4
1,4
N=5000
N=6000
0,6
0,8
0,9
1,0
1,1
1,2
1,2
1,2
1,3
1,3
N=6000
N=7000
0,5
0,7
0,8
0,9
1,0
1,1
1,1
1,1
1,2
1,2
N=7000
N=7500
0,5
0,7
0,8
0,9
1,0
1,0
1,1
1,1
1,1
1,1
N=7500
N=8000
0,5
0,7
0,8
0,9
0,9
1,0
1,0
1,1
1,1
1,1
N=8000
N=9000
0,5
0,6
0,7
0,8
0,9
0,9
1,0
1,0
1,0
1,0
N=9000
N=10000
0,4
0,6
0,7
0,8
0,8
0,9
0,9
1,0
1,0
1,0
N=10000
N=11000
0,4
0,6
0,7
0,7
0,8
0,9
0,9
0,9
0,9
0,9
N=11000
N=12000
0,4
0,5
0,6
0,7
0,8
0,8
0,9
0,9
0,9
0,9
N=12000
N=13000
0,4
0,5
0,6
0,7
0,7
0,8
0,8
0,8
0,9
0,9
N=13000
N=14000
0,4
0,5
0,6
0,7
0,7
0,8
0,8
0,8
0,8
0,8
N=14000
N=15000
0,3
0,5
0,6
0,6
0,7
0,7
0,8
0,8
0,8
0,8
N=15000
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
95%
90%
85%
80%
75%
70%
65%
60%
55%
50%
TS2
STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 81
LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE EU – SPRING 2014
TS3