Survey reflects differences across Europe
The latest findings published from the European Social Survey (ESS) – which has gathered data from 30 European countries for the past ten years – has highlighted differences in moral and social attitudes on the continent.
The ESS publishes findings every two years and takes a comparative approach towards trends in attitudes, beliefs and values across Europe.
Rory Fitzgerald, director of the survey, said: “While most recent comparisons of European countries have focused on economic issues, the ESS sheds light on the moral and social dimension, which is equally important. In European democracies, it is critical that the attitudes and values of the population are clearly articulated, both to policy makers and in society more generally. This findings booklet makes an important contribution to debate on some of the key social issues facing Europe.”
Some of the key findings include that women, for the most part, are still responsible for the majority of time spent on housework across Europe.
Trust in the political process, in particular in eurozone countries, has declined in recent years. Eastern and some southern European countries record levels of lower trust in the police and courts, while the Nordic countries hold the highest level of trust in these institutions. At the same time, workers in the Nordic countries have been amongst the least affected by the economic problems of recent years.
And approaches towards homosexuality are becoming more liberal, although progress has been less so in Eastern Europe.
