Eurobarometer 54.0: The Euro, Financial Services, and Information Communication Technologies, October-November 2000

This round of Eurobarometer surveys diverged from the standard Eurobarometer measures and queried respondents on the euro (the single European currency), financial services, and information communication technologies. Respondents were asked how informed and how interested they were in the euro, whether the euro's value had been irrevocably fixed against their national currencies, when the general public would be able to make cash-free payments in euros, and when it would no longer be possible to pay in national currencies. They were also asked whether they had already made payments or investments in euros and when they would change their bank accounts to be in euros only. A few questions asked about the euro logo, dual product pricing (prices listed in euros and in national currencies), whether respondents noticed dual prices in stores and, if so, which price they paid attention to, what certain items (e.g., cigarettes, eggs, shoes) would cost in euros, possible difficulties the changeover to the euro would cause for them and for the general public, and if they were worried about certain aspects of the changeover, such as coin and note recognition, being cheated, and making price comparisons. Questions regarding financial services probed for respondents' opinions on various financial institution functions, legislation surrounding financial services, consumer obstacles to using financial services in the European Union (EU), and the necessity of protecting consumers in the use of new technologies connected with financial services. The survey also collected information on respondents' payment preferences for major purchases, payments by telephone, computer, Internet, etc., savings accounts and loans, whether respondents had a checkbook, credit card, mortgage, or overdraft facility on a current account, and whether they were ready to use a pre-paid card to pay for minor purchases. Another set of questions, which focused on information communication technologies, asked whether respondents used a computer, e-mail, or the Internet, and if so, for what purpose, where, and if this changed the way they worked. Computer users were also asked where and why they learned how to use computers, what they used computers for, and what computer training qualifications they had. Currently employed respondents were asked about computer training for their jobs, how important it was to use a computer in their work, if they "teleworked" (i.e., worked away from their normal work place), and if so, in what ways telework affected them personally. Standard demographic information collected includes age, gender, occupation, age at completion of education, number of people in household, number of children under 15 in household, household income, size of locality, and region of residence.