Modern State (May/June 2022)

The study on the modern state was conducted by the Forschungsgruppe Wahlen Telefonfeld on behalf of the Press and Information Office of the German Federal Government. During the survey period 23.05.2022 to 08.06.2022, the German-speaking population aged 18 and over was surveyed in telephone interviews (CATI) on the following topics: citizens´ expectations of a modern, digital and effective state: satisfaction with democracy and state responsibility, official matters online, information on applicable laws and regulations and the importance of various Internet-based applications, the census in Germany and digitization in healthcare. Respondents were selected using a multistage random sample according to the RDD method, including fixed-network and mobile phone numbers (dual-frame sample).<br>Satisfaction with democracy and state responsibility: satisfaction with democracy; state responsibility or ownership in various areas (protection against crime, protection against the spread of epidemics and diseases, environmental and climate protection, protection against impoverishment, protection in the event of illness, financial security in old age); preference for a country with high taxes and extensive social services vs. country with low taxes and low social benefits; in the economy, too many vs. too few things are regulated by the state; better results by the state vs. private companies in the provision of services in various areas (health care, nursing care, local public transport, road construction, waste disposal).

State responsibility: preference with regard to decision-making processes in the administration (always the same rules for everyone vs. deviating from these rules in individual cases, implementing state projects as quickly as possible vs. extensive citizen participation, examining each individual case as closely as possible vs. keep administrative burden low); agreement with various statements (the state interferes too much in our lives, the opinion of the population is not taken into account enough in important political decisions, citizens are well informed in advance of important political decisions, people should not rely so much on the state but tackle their problems more themselves); opinion on the extent of government spending on various tasks (police, education, health care, defense, social affairs and climate protection); satisfaction with last contact with a government agency or administration; last contact with a government agency or administration online, in writing, by telephone or in person; preferred method of contact; evaluation of the effort spent on government agency matters; change in the effort spent on government agency matters in recent years.

Public authority matters online: Importance of the possibility of handling official matters online or on the Internet; expected problems for citizens if more official matters are handled online in the future; type of expected problems (data not safe from hacker attacks, no longer able to control one´s own data, insufficient help in operating the system, technical malfunctions delay matters, other problems); have already handled matters with authorities and offices via e-mail or the Internet (e.g., child benefit application); rather good or rather bad experiences; possession of an electronic ID card; use of electronic ID card to identify oneself on the Internet.

Information on applicable laws and regulations and importance of various Internet-based applications: Being informed about applicable laws and regulations; importance of public authorities and public institutions offering information about applicable laws and regulations via the Internet; having already searched for information about applicable laws and regulations on the Internet at public authorities and public institutions; having had rather good or rather bad experiences in this regard; importance of the Internet for the economy and society in various areas (expansion of fast Internet for all, greater promotion of the use of the Internet and computers in schools and further education institutions, greater promotion and development in the area of the Internet and information technology, greater promotion of business start-ups and combating cybercrime).

Census in Germany and digitalization in healthcare: Knowledge that the population census (Zensus) is taking place in Germany this year; evaluation of the Zensus; reasons for a negative evaluation of the Zensus (state uses data for purposes other than it claims, transparent citizen, misuse of data, compulsion to participate, waste of money, other); rather advantages or rather disadvantages of digitization in healthcare; evaluation of the electronic patient record; willingness to make own health data available for research purposes; party preference.

Demography: sex; age; education: school-leaving qualification or intended school-leaving qualification; university degree; occupation; professional position; simple, higher or managerial occupation (employee); occupation in simple, middle, higher or higher service; household size; number of persons in the household aged 18 and over; German citizenship.

Additionally coded were: Respondent ID; federal state; Berlin district of residence (formerly West/East Berlin); city size; sample frame (reached via mobile or landline); weighting factors.