From red / dpa
The Germans are afraid for their money.
Photo: Lichtgut / Julian Rettig
Last year Donald Trump was the great horror. But the weight in the survey “Fears of the Germans” has shifted drastically. Some of the results sound quite surprising.
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From red / dpa
09/09/2021 – 2:42 pm
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Berlin – After the Corona economic crisis, many Germans now fear a big end to their public finances – and their own wallets. This year, this is the number one concern in the “Fears of Germans” survey. 53 percent of those surveyed expressed great fear of higher taxes or reduced benefits due to Corona. Fears of inflation come in second: every second respondent sees rising costs of living. Just as many are uneasy about the EU debt.
R + V-Versicherung published the numbers on Thursday in Berlin. Since 1992 it was the 30th annual survey on the sensitivities of Germans in terms of politics, economy, the environment, family and health. According to the information, around 2,400 representatively selected people aged 14 and over were surveyed between May 25 and July 4. You should rate given topics on a scale between one (no fear at all) to seven (very fearful). The answers of levels five, six and seven were summarized and a ranking was determined from them.
2021 IS NOT A FEAR YEAR
Overall, according to the insurance company’s diagnosis, Germans are currently comparatively relaxed despite the pandemic and crises. The so-called fear index – an averaged value of all the fears asked – was 36 percent. For comparison: after terrorist attacks and the refugee debate, a peak of 52 was reached in 2016. “Obviously, people feel relatively safe at the moment,” said Brigitte Römstedt from R + V. One of the biggest fears from last year is gone: US President Donald Trump. The concern of getting infected with Corona is comparatively small: At 35 percent, this comes in 14th.
ELECTION TOPICS NOT NECESSARY AT THE TOP
Some political issues are also weighted differently in the survey than in the federal election campaign. For example migration: In politics this is less of a focus than it was four years ago, but when it comes to fears, the “overstrain of the state by refugees” ranks fourth at 45 percent.
In the annual survey, the mega-topic climate came in eighth in the form of fears of “natural disasters and extreme weather” with 41 percent – last year it was still fifth. The fear of climate change ranks eleven this time with 40 percent.
But the topic is a special case: the annual survey was ended before the flood disaster in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate. Therefore, at the end of July, R + V had another 1000 people surveyed online – with a drastic change: 69 percent then expressed fear of natural disasters and extreme weather and 61 percent more generally of the consequences of climate change.
Political scientist Manfred Schmidt explained that – unlike in the election campaign – this was not a top topic from the start by saying that the costs of climate protection were now also becoming more visible. Now it is becoming clearer that “the citizens have to pay a lot,” said Schmidt.
THE FEAR OF NATIONAL DEBT
Schmidt also placed the financial worries after the Corona economic crisis at the top: “The top fears testify to the realism of the respondents and the priority of their material interests.” Tax increases or significant cuts in public services, ”said the political scientist, who has been in charge of the fear study for years.
In the corona crisis, public debt grew by 14.4 percent or 273.8 billion euros in 2020 alone, according to the Federal Statistical Office. The inflation rate reached 3.9 percent in August, its highest level in many years. The SPD, the Greens and the Left are therefore actually talking about tax increases in the election campaign – but only for high earners. Union and FDP argue against it. All parties even promise relief for small and medium incomes. “The politicians unanimously avoid this question,” commented Schmidt.
BAD GRADES FOR POLITICIANS – BUT BETTER THAN BEFORE
According to the study, Germans do not have too much confidence in their politicians anyway. On the school grades scale from one to six, they are rated 3.8 by the survey participants. Of those surveyed, 41 percent doubt that the politicians are up to their tasks. However, this value has already been considerably higher: four years ago it was 55 percent.
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