INSCOP survey: 77% of Romanians agree with reducing state operating expenses

 More than three-quarters (77%) of Romanians agree with reducing state operating expenses, other than those related to employees, according to an opinion poll conducted by INSCOP Research, between May 26 and 30, regarding the various solutions to reduce the budget deficit.According to the study published on the inscop.ro website, when asked to what extent they would agree with reducing state operating expenses (other than those with employees), 58.4% of respondents say they would totally agree with such a measure, 18.8% that they would somewhat agree (in total, 77.1%), 5.2% somewhat oppose, and 13.7% totally oppose, and 4% do not know or do not answer.Those who agree with reducing state operating expenses are especially PNL and USR voters (approximately 90% of these parties' voters, but also over 65% of PSD and AUR voters), men, people with a higher level of education, residents of Bucharest or large urban areas, and state employees.Regarding the extent of reducing public sector personnel as a solution to reduce the budget deficit, 46.7% of Romanians say they would totally agree, 20.7% somewhat agree (in total, 67.3%), 7.8% somewhat disagree, and 21.3% totally disagree. The non-response rate is 3.6%.Those who agree with the reduction of staff in the public sector are especially PNL and USR voters (approximately 80% of these parties' voters, but also 68% and 63% of PSD and AUR voters, respectively), men, people with a higher level of education, residents of large urban areas and private sector employees.Regarding the reduction of salaries in the public sector, 29.9% of respondents say they would totally agree with their reduction, 18.5% say they would somewhat agree (in total, 48.4%), 12.5% somewhat oppose it, and 35.1% totally oppose it. The share of non-responses is 4.1%.I agree with the reduction of salaries in the public sector, especially USR and AUR voters, men, people aged between 30 and 44. I am against such a measure, especially young people under 30 and state employees.Regarding the reduction in investments, 15.4% of Romanians say they would totally agree with the reduction in investments, 11.5% say they would somewhat agree (in total, 26.8%), 13.3% somewhat disagree, and 54.5% totally disagree, 5.4% don't know or don't answer.I agree with the reduction of investments in proportions slightly higher than the average, especially AUR voters, people with primary education and rural residents. I am against such a measure especially PNL, USR, PSD voters, people with higher education, urban residents and private sector employees.Disagreement with the increase in corporate taxes is strong (approximately 70%) among all categories of the population.Only 12.4% of those surveyed say they would totally agree with the increase in corporate taxes, 13% say they would somewhat agree (total, 25.4%), 18.5% somewhat disagree, and 51.7% totally disagree. The non-response rate is 4.4%."Population support for various measures to reduce the budget deficit varies depending on personal exposure, the perception of the direct impact on one's own income and the way in which the impact on the economy is understood. Reducing state operating expenses, other than those with employees, is the most popular measure, with 77% of respondents completely agreeing or somewhat agreeing with this measure," said Remus Stefureac, director of INSCOP Research.According to him, the reduction of personnel in the public sector meets the total or partial agreement of 67% of the survey participants, and the reduction of salaries in the public sector meets the agreement of slightly less than half of the respondents (48%).He highlighted that the strongest opposition of the population is towards reducing investments (only approximately 27% agree with this measure), probably understood as a source of blocking economic development, and towards increasing taxes for companies (only approximately 25% agree totally or partially with this measure)."The increase in corporate taxes is likely to be interpreted both as a brake on the economy and as a source of decreased income and increased prices, which would have a direct impact on large parts of the population," explained Stefureac.