Save, invest or guarantee: What Austrians expect from the state

Markus Hadler und Petra Müller analysieren die Einstellungen der Österreicher:innen. Foto: Uni Graz/Tzivanopoulos

Austria needs to make savings. But where? And what should the Republic actually be spending its money on? The answers are provided by the initial findings of a major study involving the University of Graz. 99 per cent of those surveyed are in favour of the state ensuring healthcare provision. Almost three-quarters would like to see more public funding for education, whilst only around three per cent are in favour of cuts in this sector.

“The political debate surrounding the austerity budget appears to be highly polarised,” observes Markus Hadler, a sociologist at the University of Graz. But what do Austrians think about where investment and spending cuts should be made? Between February and April this year, more than 1,400 people answered these questions as part of the Austrian Social Survey. This Austria-wide survey regularly gauges the attitudes of people aged 16 and over and is conducted by Markus Hadler and Petra Müller from the University of Graz, together with colleagues from the universities of Salzburg and Linz, as well as the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
“The population is largely in agreement on the fundamental responsibilities of the state,” summarises Hadler. “The differences begin when it comes to the question of where additional investment, stricter regulation or savings should be made.”

Healthcare

99 per cent of respondents believe the public sector is responsible for ensuring healthcare provision. 95.8 per cent expect older people to be guaranteed an adequate standard of living. “More than 80 per cent are convinced that the state must provide support for students from lower-income families, control prices, ensure gender equality and impose strict environmental regulations on industry,” says Petra Müller, citing further results.

Cuts

There is less agreement when it comes to the specific allocation of public funds. Hadler explains the divide: “Whilst around seven in ten are in favour of cuts to the national budget in principle, at the same time 78.4 per cent would like to see higher spending on healthcare and 71.2 per cent on education – that is, on both schools and universities.” More than half are in favour of the state spending more on pensions. Cuts are most readily accepted in the areas of unemployment benefit, as well as in culture and the arts.

Promoting innovation

According to the study, clear preferences emerged regarding measures to improve the economic situation – depending on support for a particular party. The strongest support is for the promotion of innovation: 83 per cent welcome state aid for the development of new products and technologies. Employment programmes and support for industrial sectors to safeguard jobs also receive majority approval. There is little support for a general reduction in working hours to create additional jobs.

Andreas Schweiger

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