MOSCOW. July 13 (Interfax) - The share of Russians lamenting the inability of the government to bridle growing prices and falling incomes has contracted in a year while the number of people discontent with corruption in the government has reached its highest level in 13 years, sociologists from Levada Center have told Interfax.

Despite the decline by 8 percentage points from 53% to 45% compared to 2011 the inability of the government to cope with growing prices and falling incomes remains the greatest grievance of the public with regard to the authorities. This year 30% complained about the shortage of jobs down from 40% last year.

The corruption in executive power and the tendency of officials to work primarily in their own interests are becoming an increasingly pressing issue for Russians which was named by 29% of participants in a nation-wide poll taken at the end of June in 130 towns and cities in 45
constituent territories and involving 1,600 adults.

Sociologists say the indicator grew by seven percentage points in year from 22% becoming the highest during the time of such studies since 1999.

Respondents also criticized the government for its negligent attitude to social security (28%), the inability to resolve economic problems (25%), the absence of a well-planned program of economic development (19%) and for operating in the interests of big business (17%).

The poll indicated that during the past year the share of respondents dissatisfied with the ineffectiveness of efforts to combat crime and to protect the public from terrorists contracted from 16% to 12% and from 14% to 7% respectively.

There was virtually no change in the share of polled believing that the government is operating in the interests of foreign capital (8% now up from 7% in 2011) and is unable to guarantee peace in the North Caucasus (4% down from 6%). Russians also pointed out to the low professional skills of the officials (11%).

5% had other grievances. The share of polled with nothing to complain about remained at 5% ande 6% were undecided.

As respondents could choose several options, the sum of answers exceeds 100%.

Keywords: Russia, Economy - Russia, Government, Politics - Russia, Corruption - Russian News - Russia

MOSCOW. July 13 (Interfax) - The share of Russians lamenting the inability of the government to bridle growing prices and falling incomes has contracted in a year while the number of people discontent with corruption in the government has reached its highest level in 13 years, sociologists from Levada Center have told Interfax.

Despite the decline by 8 percentage points from 53% to 45% compared to 2011 the inability of the government to cope with growing prices and falling incomes remains the greatest grievance of the public with regard to the authorities. This year 30% complained about the shortage of jobs down from 40% last year.

The corruption in executive power and the tendency of officials to work primarily in their own interests are becoming an increasingly pressing issue for Russians which was named by 29% of participants in a nation-wide poll taken at the end of June in 130 towns and cities in 45
constituent territories and involving 1,600 adults.

Sociologists say the indicator grew by seven percentage points in year from 22% becoming the highest during the time of such studies since 1999.

Respondents also criticized the government for its negligent attitude to social security (28%), the inability to resolve economic problems (25%), the absence of a well-planned program of economic development (19%) and for operating in the interests of big business (17%).

The poll indicated that during the past year the share of respondents dissatisfied with the ineffectiveness of efforts to combat crime and to protect the public from terrorists contracted from 16% to 12% and from 14% to 7% respectively.

There was virtually no change in the share of polled believing that the government is operating in the interests of foreign capital (8% now up from 7% in 2011) and is unable to guarantee peace in the North Caucasus (4% down from 6%). Russians also pointed out to the low professional skills of the officials (11%).

5% had other grievances. The share of polled with nothing to complain about remained at 5% ande 6% were undecided.

As respondents could choose several options, the sum of answers exceeds 100%.