Euro-barometer 5

The special focus of this study was on perceptions of poverty, the respondents' standard of living, and their subjective satisfaction. Respondents were asked whether poverty existed in their environments, what caused poverty, how it could be overcome, and what policies toward poverty the government did or should pursue. The interview probed the standard of living of the respondents and inquired about subjective estimates of resources necessary. In addition, satisfaction with various personal, social, and political life domains was ascertained. In a separate section, public attitudes toward multinational corporations are gauged. Besides probing the images of multinational corporations, the study inquires about advantages and problems of such corporations and elicits the public's views about methods for checking or reducing their power. In its barometer section the study repeats the series of items on feelings toward European integration as well as standard demographic questions.