Poll: 2010 ‘worst year ever’ for 1.9 million Czechs

Overall 2010 got quite a mixed review from Czechs, with a sizeable number saying it was a “very” bad year, according to a new poll by the Center for Analysis and Empirical Studies (SANEP), which shows roughly half of the population is concerned about the prospects for 2011. The results reflected the state of the economy, with concerns over money and jobs coming out ahead of coming ahead of health and love.

When asked if 2010 was a “successful” year, 56.4 percent said it was, but only 14.2 percent felt very strongly about it. “Here it must be noted that the evaluation of ‘success’ can constitute the mere fact that there were no fatalities or major life reversals,” SANEP said in summarizing the survey’s results.

Conversely, 40.5 percent of respondents did not see 2010 as a success. “For this group of respondents, on the contrary, it can be assumed that their lives were probably negatively affected by situations regarding health, relationships or work,” SANEP said. Those who felt negatively were fairly evenly split, with 20.4 percent feeling strongly and 20.1 percent moderately about it.

The reasons respondents gave for rating 2010 as successful were quite varied — with “love” coming in the highest at 23.3 percent. Health took 18.2 percent while work, finance and property came in at 14.8 percent, 5.5 percent and 3.2 percent respectively.

 

 

Some 76.9 percent of those polled said 2010 was not the worst year of their lives. But some 18.6 percent of Czechs — or 1.9 million people, if the results are extrapolated — said it truly was the worst year they had ever experienced. “Among this group of respondents are undoubtedly people who lost their jobs or were affected in their lives by the death of family members or friends,” the SANEP summary said.

Respondents were also quite divided when it came to their prospects for 2011, with 48.4 percent admitting to being worried while 44.4 percent said they were not. Causes for concern were led by lack of funds (24.9 percent) and a decline in living standards (14.2 percent), followed by deteriorating health. Some 8.3 percent were concerned over losing their jobs and 8 percent cited “existential problems.”

“Overall, while the majority of Czechs assessed last year positively, the ongoing economic crisis, government budget austerity measures and planned government reforms have raised nervousness and fear [for the future] in the population, especially in financial areas,” SANEP. ‘Czechs continue to believe that this year will not bring any major events that could significantly affect their lives.’

“On the other hand, it is clear that almost the same proportion of the public does not share these concerns, suggesting that Czechs continue to believe that this year will not bring any major events that could significantly affect their lives,” it said.

When Czechs were asked what they needed most, “more money” was at the top of the list, with 30.4 percent, which put it ahead of health (28.5 percent), work (10.8 percent) and more love (10.6 percent). The last specific item on the list was happiness, at 9.6 percent. “Something else” “I don’t know” and “nothing” filled up the last three places.

The poll took place Jan. 1–7, with some 10,865 people between 18 and 69 responding. The statistical margin of error for the poll is 1.5 percent, according to SANEP.