Analytics, Economics, Lithuania, Society

Eurobarometer conducted its regular survey in all EU member states in October and November last year. According to the sociologist Mindaugas Degutis, public opinion was mostly influenced by a large GDP decline, unemployment of over 10%, raised VAT rates, plans to continue cutting pays in the public sector, pensions and other social benefits. In Lithuania, the economic situation and labor opportunities are viewed less favorably than six months before, and the expectations for the coming years are lower.

As the data obtained by Eurobarometer showed, that the number of people who said that they were satisfied with their life had dropped to 55% compare with spring of 2009. In the entire EU the average of this indicator is higher by 20% than in Lithuania. Only 5% of the respondents thought that the economic situation was satisfactory in Lithuania. The number of the nationals who said that it was easy to get a job slumped by as many as seven times. Over the half of the respondents believed that 2010 would be even more difficult than the last year. In their forecasts for the coming months Lithuanians are among the most pessimistic nations across the EU.

During the survey, the Lithuanian respondents named the unemployment, economic situation and the inflation rate the key problems in the country. Over the last six months, the EU membership was most favorably viewed by the residents of Ireland, Slovakia, Estonia and Denmark. Meanwhile, the number of Lithuanians who were satisfied with the membership in the EU fell to 66%. The Eurobarometer survey also revealed that Lithuanians trusted state institutions – the Seimas, the Government, law enforcement institutions – less and less. According to sociologist Degutis, no confidence in justice in Lithuania was related to the pedophilia case in Kaunas. According to the polled, the crisis could be managed by allocating assistance to small and medium-sized businesses and the unemployed.