5 out of 10 happy – mood in the country: this is how it goes in Austria

The Austrians are being hit by so-called multiple crises. For the third time, the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) together with the Institute for Empirical Social Research (IFES) polled the mood in society with 1200 online and telephone interviews – on the topics of cohesion, quality of life, politics, global development and innovative spirit. And we seem to be quite resilient to crises. After all, 64 percent of the population is in principle satisfied with their own living situation. More than half even describe themselves as happy.

However, personal expectations will cloud over at least the next three years. The general (political) disappointment is reflected in the fact that almost two-thirds of those polled think that Austria is heading in the wrong direction. IFES Director Reinhard Raml emphasizes: “The political system is needed to find answers to the many challenges.” The differences between city and region are striking. The path taken is viewed more positively in urban areas than in rural areas.

What remains, however, is a basic confidence in the economy and entrepreneurial spirit of 71 percent. In addition – probably in light of the Nobel Prize in Physics for “Mr. Beam” Anton Zeilinger – more than two-thirds are in favor of higher funding for research, development and innovation. IV Chairman Georg Knill said: “For us entrepreneurs, this is a clear mandate to continue to develop our country and drive innovation forward, and it is also part of our self-image to take responsibility for our employees and our location. Today and in the future.”

People, not machines, remain important
The ongoing digitization in the home working world is also viewed with optimism. A whopping 62 percent believe it is unlikely that their work will be performed by machines rather than humans in the future. A quarter and a third also expect positive effects on family life and leisure time.

Do you still have hope?
In November, the “Hope Barometer” used an online survey to determine for the first time how hopeful Austrians are. Corona, climate crisis and war – in times like these it is easy to lose confidence. But right now it takes hope not to faint and succumb to the layoff that follows, Bertram Strolz, the founder of the Academy of Positive Psychology in Vorarlberg, explains to the “Krone”. Together with Prof. Andreas Krafft from the University of St. Gallen, he initiated the research for Austria.

The “Hope Barometer” has been surveyed annually in Switzerland since 2009. “The results have always been fairly stable so far, but since the pandemic, the need for security, such as a safe job, has become more important,” explains Prof. Krafft. The research will start in Switzerland and will be conducted in collaboration with renowned universities in Australia, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, India, Israel, Italy, Nigeria, Poland, Portugal, Spain and South Africa. Here too, Krafft sees a striking difference: “In European countries, the expectations for the future are more negative than in Colombia or India.”

This is because people in so-called “poorer countries” have less to lose. Because in Europe, prosperity and living standards are already so high that many think it can only go downhill. In the forthcoming survey in November, in addition to the question of the hope factors, specific questions will also be asked about the attitude of the population towards the theme of war and peace.

In previous evaluations, Prof. Krafft noted that young people in particular had negative expectations for the future. That is why so-called “hope workshops” have been set up. These are conducted in schools and are intended to show young people that they should not give up, but can help shape the future. This is done on the basis of future-oriented, or hopeful projects. The HAK/HAS in Lustenau won the Austrian SDG Award two years ago with its “Hohoffswerkstatt – Let’s change”. You have proven that you can make a difference with creative solutions and active action.