Number of Russian Pessimistic About WTO on The Rise — Poll
Interfax - 8.9.12 - JRL 2012-146

MOSCOW. Aug 9 (Interfax) - Russians are somewhat pessimistic regarding the consequences of entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Public Opinion Foundation said in a Thursday report based on the August 5 poll.

Only 21% of the respondents said that the WTO would bring more advantages than harm to Russia.

The number of optimists has been declining, from 41% in 2004 and 32% in 2011. The number of pessimists has been growing, from 15% in 2004 and 18% in 2011 to 28% now.

Fifty-one percent of the respondents could give no coherent answer.

Sixteen percent said that the WTO would be useful rather than harmful for average citizens (the indicators stood at 28% in 2004 and 25% in 2011), 31% said that harm would outweigh advantages (22% and 20%), and 53% could not give an answer.

The advantages include lesser prices (5%), national economic development (4%), development of world trade (3%), broader range of commodities (3%), higher quality of commodities (2%), higher living standards and higher international authority of Russia (1%).

Thirteen percent said there would be no advantages, and 2% said there would be no harm.

Pessimists fear industrial production decline and damage to the economy (12%), price growth (7%), excessive supply of imported or low-quality goods (6%), greater dependence on the West (3%), a decline in living standards (2%), and employment (1%).

Thirty-two percent knew nothing about the WTO; 35% had heard something about it, and 31% declared their awareness.

The Public Opinion Foundation polled 1,500 people older than 18 in 43 regions of Russia.

Russia will officially enter into the WTO on August 23, 2012.

President Vladimir Putin ratified on July 21 the protocol on the Russian accession to the WTO Marrakesh founding act dated April 15, 1994, which completed the Russian entry into the organization.

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MOSCOW. Aug 9 (Interfax) - Russians are somewhat pessimistic regarding the consequences of entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Public Opinion Foundation said in a Thursday report based on the August 5 poll.

Only 21% of the respondents said that the WTO would bring more advantages than harm to Russia.

The number of optimists has been declining, from 41% in 2004 and 32% in 2011. The number of pessimists has been growing, from 15% in 2004 and 18% in 2011 to 28% now.

Fifty-one percent of the respondents could give no coherent answer.

Sixteen percent said that the WTO would be useful rather than harmful for average citizens (the indicators stood at 28% in 2004 and 25% in 2011), 31% said that harm would outweigh advantages (22% and 20%), and 53% could not give an answer.

The advantages include lesser prices (5%), national economic development (4%), development of world trade (3%), broader range of commodities (3%), higher quality of commodities (2%), higher living standards and higher international authority of Russia (1%).

Thirteen percent said there would be no advantages, and 2% said there would be no harm.

Pessimists fear industrial production decline and damage to the economy (12%), price growth (7%), excessive supply of imported or low-quality goods (6%), greater dependence on the West (3%), a decline in living standards (2%), and employment (1%).

Thirty-two percent knew nothing about the WTO; 35% had heard something about it, and 31% declared their awareness.

The Public Opinion Foundation polled 1,500 people older than 18 in 43 regions of Russia.

Russia will officially enter into the WTO on August 23, 2012.

President Vladimir Putin ratified on July 21 the protocol on the Russian accession to the WTO Marrakesh founding act dated April 15, 1994, which completed the Russian entry into the organization.