Seven out of every 10 families are concerned about price hikes, while 40% worry about a drop in their income, according to a new survey conducted in May among over 8,000 families across the country.
The survey, carried out by the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) and presented at a webinar titled “Unpacking the Mood at Household Level” on Monday evening, also revealed that urban households are more worried about their economic conditions.
Nearly 20% of families are in a financial crisis, with over 67% citing medical expenses as the primary cause. Loan repayment is another significant factor, mentioned by 27% of those in financial distress.
More than 28% of the families surveyed identified capital shortage as a major concern.
Low-income families identified price hikes, income drops, and food insecurity as their major concerns. For middle-income families, price hikes, income drops, and capital shortages topped the list of worries. High-income families, on the other hand, were most concerned about price hikes, loan repayments, and income drops.
Over half of the families expressed concerns about the future education costs of their children.
Additionally, drug abuse and juvenile crime were major worries for more than half of the families, while over 40% mentioned family or neighbourhood conflicts as their third concern.
Deteriorating law and order and bureaucratic corruption were identified as concerns by 40-48% of families, depending on the region, while about a third of families expressed worries about a lack of justice and freedom of speech.
In terms of political aspirations, more than 55% of respondents said the prevention of corruption was their top priority, followed by good governance, an end to political violence, peaceful and participatory elections, and transparency and accountability.
Freedom of expression was also an important issue for many.
Less than 17% of respondents expressed a preference for politics guided by religious principles, youth leadership, and keeping schools and colleges free of politics.
Regarding the future of the country, fewer than 15% of respondents said they wanted elections after necessary reforms, while more than 60% prioritised economic development.
