The name is absent

Flexibility and security: an asymmetrical relationship?

now expect the employment and economic situation in their countries to worsen over the next 12
months (Eurobarometer 70, autumn 2008). ⁷⁴

Inflation and the economy are now viewed by European citizens as the two most important is-
sues facing their country. The proportion mentioning the economy as the most important concern
has increased by 17 percentage points since spring 2008. The proportion mentioning inflation in-
creased between autumn 2007 and spring 2008 (+11 points) and retained this level in autumn 2008.
This new order —replacing crime and immigration as main concerns — further highlights the impact
of the current economic crisis on the state of public opinion (Eurobarometer 70, autumn 2008).

Long-term expectations are also very important in determining individuals’ attitudes towards
change and reform. Two recent Eurobarometer surveys (mentioned also in section 3.2.) bring into
surface the significant differences in the expectations of the respondents in the 4 different countries
regarding the social reality in 20 years’ time and the prospects of finding a job in the event of being
laid-off. Respondents from Greece are by far the most pessimistic and have a gloomy outlook on a
majority of items, whilst respondents from Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark have a brighter view
of the future social reality (see Table 8). Roughly twice as many respondents in Greece feel that their
life will be worse in 20 years’ time, than in the other 3 countries, whilst a significantly larger number
than in the other countries, think that people will not be able to afford the medical treatment they
might need, and that family ties will be weaker. Confidence in the institutions (education, meritocracy,
equal opportunities) is substantially weaker in Greece than in Denmark, the Netherlands and even
Spain. The same pessimistic attitude of Greek respondents can be seen regarding their future earn-
ings and working conditions, as well as their prospects of finding a job (see Tables 9 &10).

This is not to say that pessimism or optimism towards the future is associated with the mentality
or the idiosyncrasy of a nation’s population, but rather with its perception of the reality and of the
institutional environment: Greeks are not by nature less optimistic than Danes, for example, they
are simply more aware of the dysfunctions of the domestic institutions and of the potential of their
leadership to effectively address the challenges and overcome the crisis.

74 See http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/index_en.htm

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