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Russians name high salaries and social guarantees as key elements of happiness, poll shows

Factors that help resolve economic problems are also a key ingredient in what makes Russians happy, including price reductions, economic development and job creation, and tax cuts

MOSCOW, November 28. /TASS/. People surveyed by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) believe that being happy requires having high salaries and pensions, social guarantees and comfortable living conditions, a poll published on the polling organization’s website revealed.

"As if responding to the widespread opinion that money can’t buy one happiness, Russians said that a lack of money has never made anyone happy either. As many as 28% of those polled believe that being happy requires having higher salaries and pensions. A large number of respondents also highlighted [the availability of] social guarantees and the [ability to] create comfortable conditions for daily living and [personal] development, mentioning in particular accessible, high-quality healthcare (12%); accessible, high-quality education (7%); a [robust] social policy (6%); and affordable housing (5%)," the pollster reported.

Factors that help resolve economic problems are also a key ingredient in what makes Russians happy, including price reductions (10%); economic development and job creation (6%); and tax cuts (2%). Some of those surveyed said that happiness is not possible without peace and confidence in a bright future. In this regard, respondents mentioned an end to Russia’s special military operation (9%); stability and having confidence in what tomorrow will bring (3%); and the overall development of the country (2%).

More than half of those surveyed (56%) were skeptical about the idea of establishing a "Ministry of Happiness" in Russia, whereas 23% thought the initiative was worth considering. The idea’s opponents said it was impossible to make everyone in society happy (19%), while another 16% were critical of the administrative aspects of the matter, highlighting the age-old problem of bureaucracy.

The poll, which involved 1,600 respondents over 18 years of age, was conducted on October 22.

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