INSCOP poll: More than 61pct of Romanians believe state should intervene more in the economy

Over 61% of Romanians believe that the state should intervene more in the economy, according to a survey conducted by INSCOP, between September 1 and 9, commissioned by the news platform Informat.ro.At the opposite end of the scale, 33% believe that the free market should be as little regulated as possible, without too much intervention from the state, 5.1% do not know, and 0.6% do not answer.At the same time, 58.3% of those surveyed believe that tradition and the preservation of national values are the most important values for Romanian society, while 36.7% indicate progress and adaptation to modern changes as the most important values, 4.7% do not know, and 0.3% declined to answer.A more detailed analysis of the options shows that stronger state intervention in the economy is supported by 71% of PSD (Social Democratic Party) voters, 68% of PNL (National Liberal Party) voters, 61% of USR (Save Romania Union) voters and 57% of AUR (Alliance for the Union of Romanians) voters.The same point of view is supported by: 56% of men and 66% of women, 58% of people with primary education, 64% of those with secondary education, 58% of those with higher education, 72% of state employees and 60% of those working in the private sector.At the opposite end of the scale, they believe that the free market should be as little regulated as possible, without too much intervention from the state: 27% of PSD voters, 25% of PNL voters, 38% of USR voters and 37% of AUR voters.This point of view is shared by: 38% of men, 28% of women, 32% of people with primary education, 31% of those with secondary education, 39% of those with higher education.They also consider that tradition and the preservation of national values are more important for Romanian society: 67% of PSD voters, 43% of PNL voters, 18% of USR voters and 75% of AUR voters.This opinion is shared by: 57% of men and 60% of women, 39% of young people up to 30 years old, 56% of those between 30 and 44 years old, 63% of people between 45 and 59 years old and 66% of those over 60 years old.Progress and adaptation to modern changes are more important for: 27% of PSD voters, 49% of PNL voters, 77% of USR voters and 24% of AUR voters.This opinion is shared by 38% of men and 35% of women, 60% of young people under 30, 38% of those between 30 and 44, 34% of people between 45 and 59 and 26% of those over 60.The head of INSCOP Research, Remus Stefureac, stated that the barometer data shows a "generational and educational polarisation" that can translate into "political and cultural cleavages" in the medium term. These options suggest an "orientation towards security and stability", rather than towards risk and change, he believes.Politically, these options "seem to create fertile ground" for parties or leaders that promise social protection and national identity. However, almost 4 out of 10 Romanians emphasise progress and modernisation, and these are found especially among the young, the large urban population and the population with higher education. This shows that, in the long term, Romanian society could evolve towards more openness and modernisation, says Remus Stefureac."The Informat.ro-INSCOP barometre shows that a large part of Romanian society (approximately 60%) shares hybrid values, a mix between economic interventionism and cultural conservatism that combines the reflexes of the traditional left (which exaggerates the role of the state in the economy) and the reflexes of the traditional right (which emphasises traditions and national values). These choices of the population can partially explain the adhesion to political representations specific to conservative populism," he says.Remus Stefureac added that, although Romania is "at the peak of a cycle" of accumulation and economic development, the "unequal distribution" of wealth, the feeling of social insecurity, economic crises, inflation, various global ideological trends, exacerbated by the "information war" feed an economic culture in which social security and redistribution are perceived as priorities over market efficiency.The data were collected using the CATI method (telephone interviews), the volume of the simple, stratified sample being 1,103 people, representative of the population aged 18 and over. The maximum allowed error of the data is plus/minus 2.95%, at a confidence level of 95%.