Inflation is and will remain people’s main concern – in Austria and worldwide. Besides the fear of poverty and social inequality, the topic of immigration completes the top 3 of the most frequently mentioned concerns by Austrians. But the war in Ukraine and climate change also give many of us sleepless nights.
With “What Worries the World” Ipsos regularly shows people’s biggest concerns – in Austria and 29 other countries around the world. The latest results of the survey show that high inflation is one of the most pressing problems for 44 percent of the Austrian population. It also ranks first in the healthcare rankings in 13 other countries surveyed.
Immigration is a topic, especially in Austria
Since the last survey in May 2022, the topic of immigration in Austria has gained in particular importance. In November, more than a third (34 percent) of respondents listed immigration as one of their top three personal concerns about the country. The doubling of the share of people affected since May is equivalent to a jump from fifth to second place in the ranking.
In an international comparison, this development is remarkable: in no other European country is this topic as much of a concern as it is here. Equally high rates are only observed in the Netherlands (25 percent) and Germany (24 percent), but the topic is not among the top three concerns there. Concerns about poverty and social inequality (30 percent) complete the top 3 in Austria.
Fear of war, climate change and Corona is disappearing
On the other hand, other concerns of Austrians are increasingly being pushed into the background: the topic of climate change, which has been very present recently because of the COP27, is currently not one of the main concerns of Austrians. Where in May 30 percent were still concerned, that is now only 22 percent. The fear of military conflicts between nations is also diminishing. Compared to the first survey of this concern in May 2022 (15 percent), the share of the affected population has fallen to twelve percent. The coronavirus, which was well at the top of the concern ranking a year ago (48 percent in December 2021), currently upsets only a small minority (six percent, 16th) in the country.
Gloomy assessment of the economic situation
The – subjective – opinion of the population about the economic situation in their own country, on the other hand, is “very good” or “good” for every third person. The percentage of pessimists who rate the economic situation in Austria as “very bad” doubled from eight percent to sixteen percent in the same period.
Satisfaction with the development of the country is decreasing
When asked about their personal assessment of the country’s development, 29 percent of Austrians said things are going in the right direction in our country, but 71 percent thought Austria was generally on the wrong track. There is general agreement in only five of the 29 countries (Saudi Arabia, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Australia). Of the European countries in the survey, only the German population stands out positively: 48 percent are satisfied with the current development in the country. Respondents in Hungary (85 percent), Great Britain (84 percent) and Poland (80 percent) expressed the highest levels of dissatisfaction in Europe.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
