Life under Recession 1998

The Asahi Shimbun conducted a face to face survey on the Japanese opinion about the life under recession in 1998. The survey was done on March 1 and 2, 1998, for 3,000 randomly selected voters, and got effective response from 2,211. Proportion of male vs female was 48% : 52%.

  1. How do you see current economic situation ?
  2. Is you and your family's job or income affected by current recession ?
  3. Do you think economy will recover or become worse within this year ?
  4. Which is the heaviest burden in your daily account ?
  5. Which of living expense below do you plan to cut ?
  6. Self-payment rate of medical expense was increased last September. Do you think this increase too big ?
  7. Do you think the burden from 5% increase in consumption tax is heavy, almost one after its launch ?
  8. The government decided to introduce ¥2 trillion tax cut, which is about 65 thousands for standard family. Will you use this allowance for consumption or savings ?
  9. What do you think is the most serious problem of banks ?
  10. Do you think current super low interest rate should be raised ?
  11. Do recent scandals of financial firms make you think to withdraw your savings and keep those money at hand ?
  12. Do you have expectation or anxiety on the coming Big Bang ?
  13. Do you want to invest in new financial product born out of deregulation which might be more profitable but might be more dangerous ?
  14. Have you reconsider your way of life due to this recession ?
  15. Which do you think more important now, price or quality, comparing to your previous behavior ?
  16. Then do you become more careful about advertising or flier to compare alternative products ?
  17. Which is closer to your feeling on shopping other than daily commodities ?
  18. Do you insist on brand name when buying your belongings ?
  19. Do you think credit card is convenient or insecure ?
  20. Do you think catalog shopping or mail order is convenient or insecure ?
  21. Do you want to have life smiler to other people or individual ?
  22. Which do you prefer, stoical life preparing for future stability or enjoy current life ?
  23. If you lose ¥10 thousands, will you report to police or give up ?
  24. Which do you prefer, gorgeous restaurant dinner or home made dinner to be celebrated your birthday ?
  25. Which do you want to buy, if you can buy anything by money ?
  26. How much money in your parse makes you safe and confident ?
  27. Do you think you can get almost anything enjoyable by money or not ?