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Poll Indicates 2002 Food for Most Russians
By Olga Fronina

MOSCOW, December 30 (Itar-Tass) - The outgoing year was good for most Russians (49 per cent). The number of those who think this way grew by 7 per cent as against 2001. This follows from the results of a public opinion poll, conducted by the All-Russia Public Opinion Centre on the eve of the New Year, which covered 1,600 people. 2002 was not a lucky year for about one third of the polled (37 per cent), while 14 per cent of the polled found it difficult to answer the question.

For 22 per cent of the polled "2002 did not bring anything bad," which is positive in itself. Happy events - weddings, the birth of children and grandchildren - took place in the families of 17 per cent of the polled. For 10 per cent of the polled 2002 brought professional success and promotion. Some 9 per cent of the polled got new good friends and neighbours. Seven per cent of the polled said their incomes got stabilised or were increased. Six per cent of the polled made big purchases or were given valuable presents. Five per cent were pleased with the way they spent their vacations. Four per cent resolved their housing problem, and as many entered a university or college, or finished their education. Three per cent of the polled made interesting trips.

A major part of Russians (47 per cent) believe that 2003 will be no worse than the outgoing year. 28 per cent hope it will a good year, and 1 per cent hope it will be "a very good year."

According to the results obtained during another public opinion poll, conducted by the Public Opinion Foundation on the eve of the New Year, Russians regard as positive factors in 2002 the improvement of the living standards of the population and the regularity of the payment of wages to workers of the budget-financed sectors, as well as pensions. They specially mentioned the victories won by Russians at international contests and competitions, including the winning of the Davis Cup. Aside from it, Russians noticed "a certain stabilisation in the national economy" and "the record-high grain crop."

The polled described as the most tragic events of 2002 the taking of hostages in the Dubrovka Theatre Centre in Moscow (63 per cent), which is followed by floods in the Krasnodar Territory, the sliding down of a glacier in the Karmadon Gorge, forest fires in the Moscow Region and the crash of a plane from Ufa in Germany. Only 7 per cent of the polled mentioned the war in Chechnya. Other negative developments included the reduction of living standards, inflation, contracted political murders, the tragic accident with the filming group led by Sergei Bodrov Jr. and the death of Krasnoyarsk Governor Alexander Lebed.

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