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%.

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

NOTE: I tried to translate the essence of texts, but not aiming at word-by-word precision. In opinion polls, subtle change of wordings may generate different results. Thus, you should be careful in reading this page, understanding that your impression from the text might not be the same as those of who responded to this survey.

Serious recession	67% 44%
Recession, but not so serious	28% 48%
Not recession	4% 5%
Others/NA	1% 3%

Affected very much	28%
Affected more or less	48%
Not affected	23%
Others/NA	1%

Will recover	4%
Will become worse	37%
Unchanged	54%
Others/NA	5%

Clothing	4% 6%
Foods	14% 27%
Housing (including mortgage)	18% 16%
Utilities	6% 16%
Medicare	16% 7%
Education	13% 10%
Saving for retired life	24% 8%
Others/NA	5% 10%

Intercourse and pocket money	23%
Fee for children's crammer and lessons	2%
Dining out	24%
Fashion	20%
Insurances	17%
Replacement of car or electric appliances	32%
Travel and leisure	26%
Not special	17%
Others/NA	2%

Shopping or leisure	10%
Savings	20%
Will go to daily expense	63%
Others/NA	7%

Bad loan	23%
Cozy relationship with MOF	14%
Super low interest rate	31%
Reluctance to lending	11%
High salary of bankers	13%
No special problem	4%
Others/NA	4%

Rather expectation	32%
Rather anxiety	43%
Cannot tell	21%
Others/NA	4%

Want to buy, but no money	70%
Have money, but nothing attractive	24%
Others/NA	6%

Less than 3,000	3%
More than 3,000	2%
More than 5,000	10%
More than 10,000	44%
More than 30,000	21%
More than 50,000	12%
More than 100,000	4%
Others/NA	4%

Too big	50%
Inevitable	44%
Others/NA	6%

Keep current level	26%
Should be raised	66%
Others/NA	8%

Yes	28%
No	68%
Others/NA	4%

Yes	16%
No	80%
Others/NA	4%