Government Monitor (March/April 2017)

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

Topics: main problem in Germany; party sympathy; interest in politics; addressing the long-term problems in Germany: assessment of the intensity of the activities of the federal government related on long-term problems; design of the social system: preference for high taxes and extensive social benefits vs. low taxes and low social benefits; preference for the expansion or reduction of social benefits in Germany by the Federal Government.

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

Refugees: accommodation of 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 criminality by refugees, the demand for skilled workers is better to cover, cultural enrichment, expected return of most refugees to their home country, Germany cannot afford the refugees financially, good accommodation and care, help against the aging of the population).

Demography: age; sex; marital status; living together with a partner; school leaving certificate or aspired school leaving certificate; graduate degree; graduation; employment; safety of job; occupational position; household size; number of persons aged 18 and over; union member in the household; denomination; church attendance; number of telephone numbers in the household.

Additionally coded was: respondent ID; state of electoral authority; district of Berlin formerly west / east; city size; weighting factor.