Government Monitor (May 2018)

General political attitudes and opinions on current political issues. Political tasks.

Topics: the most important problem in Germany; party sympathy; political interest; tackling long-term problems in Germany: assessing the intensity of the activities of the federal government from CDU/CSU and SPD in relation to long-term problems; preference for high taxes and comprehensive social benefits vs. low taxes and low social benefits; desired development of social benefits in Germany under the federal government (expansion or reduction of social benefits).

Political tasks: importance of improvements in selected policy areas (e.g. integration of the long-term unemployed, reconciliation of family and career, climate protection, etc.) and assessment of the progress made by the Federal Government in these areas.

Refugees: refugees or asylum seekers in the residential area; rather positive or rather negative experiences with refugees or asylum seekers in the residential area and in Germany; attitude towards refugees in Germany (increase in crime by refugees, need for better qualified labour, cultural enrichment, expected return of most refugees to their home country, Germany cannot afford the refugees financially, good accommodation and care, help against the ageing of the population in the country).

Demography: age; sex; marital status; cohabitation with a partner; education: highest education degree; desired education degree; university degree; vocational education; occupational activity; job security; occupational status; grouping of employees or civil servants; household size; number of persons in the household aged 18 and over; trade union member in the household; denomination; frequency of church attendance; number of telephone numbers in the household.

Additionally coded was: respondent ID; federal state of eligibility to vote; district Berlin formerly west/east; size of location; weighting factor.