According to a representative survey, the fear of an increasingly expensive life is the number one concern in Germany. Two-thirds (67 percent) of those surveyed are concerned about rising living costs, as the long-term study “The Fears of the Germans” showed.
With a lead of nine percentage points, she landed by far in first place in the ranking of fears. In 2021 it was still in second place with 50 percent, behind concerns about higher taxes or reduced benefits due to Corona. From June 13 to August 23, 2400 representatively selected men and women aged 14 and over were surveyed.
The strong increase of 17 percentage points is remarkable, said study leader Grischa Brower-Rabinowitsch before the study was presented in Berlin on Thursday. The data has been determined every year since 1992 for R V insurance.
energy and food
Since the start of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine in February, energy and food prices in particular have once again skyrocketed. The study now makes it clear how much this concerns the citizens.
Places two to five are also about money this year. Concern about Germany’s involvement in a war, on the other hand, did not make the top ten in the ranking list at 42 percent (twelfth place). Year-on-year, however, this fear increased dramatically, the authors of the study emphasized.
Respondents were asked to rate given topics on a scale from one (not at all afraid) to seven (very much afraid). The ranking is determined from this. Concern about unaffordable housing, which was surveyed for the first time, came in second at 58 percent. Close behind is the fear of a worsening economic situation (57 percent), which came in tenth place last year. It also jumped by 17 percentage points.
Taxes and Corona
The fear of tax increases or benefit cuts due to Corona worried 52 percent, the fear of the costs for taxpayers from the EU debt crisis 51 percent.
The study, which repeats many questions and asks new ones depending on the development, is regarded by researchers as a small seismograph of the sensitivities around politics, economy, environment, family and health because of its long-term comparison.
