Bosnia people feel deeply pessimistic about economic security - RCC

According to the 2017 edition of Balkan Barometer survey, 39% of all Bosnian interviewees expect the status of their country's economy to worsen, while only 15% predict the situation will get better, RCC said on Monday upon the release of the annual survey.

In terms of individual finances, 51% of all Bosnian interviewees expect nothing to change over the next 12 months, while 28% predict their situation will get worse. 

Unemployment is the greatest concern in Bosnia, with 73% of all respondents putting it down as one of two most important problems facing the country's economy. The overall economic situation follows with 36%, while corruption takes third place with 34%.

As many as 27% of Bosnians perceive crime to be a major concern, while 12% are most afraid of political disputes and 7% of brain drain and emigration. The state of the judicial system is seen as a concern by 3% of Bosnians, while the protection of human rights and security issues were pointed at by 2% of interviewees.

In terms of employment, RCC's research revealed that in Bosnia and Herzegovina there are notably more employees in the public sector (37%), indicating a bloated public administration. On the other hand, Bosnia also stands out with the number of families that do not have a single member employed (33%) or those that have only one (36%).

Furthermore, the country is unique in the perception of the majority of respondents (56%) who feel that not knowing the right people is the greatest obstacle to getting a job, compared to unemployment in general (35%).

Asked whether they would consider leaving their country and working abroad, 50% of all interviewees gave a positive answer.

When it comes to relations between countries in SEE, 37% of Bosnian interviewees said they disagree that relations are better today than they were 12 months ago.

Looking at EU integration, 31% of all Bosnian respondents believe it would bring about economic prosperity to their country, while 28% are excited by its no-borders policy. As many as 23% view EU membership as a road to freedom of study and work, while 22% see it as a promise of peace and stability.

However, 20% of all Bosnians see nothing good or positive in their country joining the EU, RCC said.

Bosnia and Herzegovina also led the corruption perception charts in this year's Balkan Barometer survey with a large share of respondents reporting corruption across the institutional landscape, while only 12% of them believe the government is effective in its efforts to combat corruption.

The Balkan Barometer is one of the annual monitoring tools used to track progress in the implementation of RCC’s SEE 2020 Strategy when it comes to growth, employment and competitiveness in the region. Published for the first time in 2015, its 2017 edition surveyed 8,000 citizens and 1,600 businesses in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia and Macedonia.

The Regional Cooperation Council, an organisation fostering partnership in the Balkans and their Euro-Atlantic integration, was officially launched at the meeting of the foreign ministers of the South-East European Cooperation Process in Sofia in February 2008.