Appendix II: Russian Public Officials Survey of Tax and Social Welfare Bureaucrats, 2011
In Russia, the Public Opinion Foundation carried out this survey, designed by this author, from 10 August to 25 October 2011, of 1,015 public officials, of whom 39.5 per cent were tax officials. Also surveyed were those working in the government services responsible for childcare benefits (20.9 per cent of those surveyed), unemployment benefits (19.8 per cent) and registration of property (19.8 per cent.)
With respect to the status of the officials, 20–30 per cent were federal officials, heads of regional offices and their deputies or heads of city departments or their deputies, and 70–80 per cent were officials of middle and lower units.
All survey responses are rounded to the closest per cent.
blank = not asked
1. Has the tax pressure on business over the last two to three years on average increased, decreased or not changed?
Russian tax officials 2011 | |
---|---|
Increased | 31 |
Decreased | 33 |
Not Changed | 23 |
Difficult to Say | 13 |
2. If an enterprise were to fulfil all the demands of the tax organs, would it be ruined?
Russian tax officials 2011 | |
---|---|
Yes | 22 |
No | 71 |
Difficult to Say | 7 |
3. Are inspectors unable to ‘catch out’ those who fail to comply with the requirements of the tax organs?
Russian tax officials 2011 | |
---|---|
Yes, they are unable | 32 |
No, they are able | 63 |
Difficult to say | 5 |
4. Is the job of the tax inspectors to replenish the budget at any cost?
Russian tax officials 2011 | |
---|---|
Yes | 48 |
No | 48 |
Difficult to say | 3 |
5. Can anyone easily hide his or her income?
Russian tax officials 2011 | |
---|---|
Yes | 31 |
No | 63 |
Difficult to say | 6 |
6. With which enterprises, agencies have you most of all had work over the past year?
Russian tax officials 2011 | |
---|---|
Small enterprises | 38 |
State agencies | 27 |
Medium-sized, private enterprises | 43 |
Large, private enterprises | 26 |
State enterprises | 18 |
Other | 11 |
I did not have work with enterprises, agencies | 9 |
Difficult to say | 1 |
7. According to which indicators is your work assessed?
Russian tax officials 2011 | |
---|---|
Amount of fines, penalties collected | 21 |
Quantity of on-site inspections conducted (considering the size of the enterprise) | 20 |
Effectiveness of on-site inspections conducted | 31 |
Quantity of in-office inspections (desk audits) conducted (considering the size of the enterprise) | 20 |
Effectiveness of in-office inspections (desk audits) conducted | 31 |
Quantity of violations uncovered | 30 |
Quantity of cases opened (prosecutions) regarding administrative violations | 14 |
Amount of taxes collected | 44 |
Another Indicator | 29 |
Difficult to say | 11 |
8. To what extent do these factors reduce the effectiveness of your organization in collecting taxes?
Russian tax officials 2011 | |
---|---|
Poor awareness among businesses about the rules and procedures of taxation | |
Significantly reduces | 28 |
Insignificantly reduces | 44 |
Does not reduce | 18 |
Difficult to say | 9 |
Dishonesty of business in dealing with your organization | |
Significantly reduces | 55 |
Insignificantly reduces | 27 |
Does not reduce | 7 |
Difficult to say | 10 |
9. Generally, according to which standards is your professional activity assessed? (Any number of answers.)
Russian tax officials 2011 | Russian childcare officials 2011 | Russian unemployment officials 2011 | Russian registry officials 2011 | All Russian officials 2011 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of fulfilled tasks given by superiors | 54 | 45 | 51 | 59 | 52 |
Number of documents processed | 50 | 48 | 42 | 66 | 51 |
Number of clients/visitors served | 27 | 44 | 43 | 35 | 35 |
Quality of administrative services provided | 46 | 60 | 61 | 44 | 51 |
Positive evaluations by citizens, clients, visitors | 42 | 54 | 41 | 44 | 45 |
Timeliness of fulfilled tasks | 67 | 61 | 64 | 62 | 64 |
Other | 12 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 7 |
Not assessed by any evaluation standard | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Difficult to say | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
10. What methods of encouragement used for employees who excel in your organization? (Any number of answers.)
Russian tax officials 2011 | Russian childcare officials 2011 | Russian unemployment officials 2011 | Russian registry officials 2011 | All Russian officials 2011 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Financial incentives, bonuses | 89 | 71 | 80 | 76 | 81 |
Promotion | 57 | 34 | 39 | 35 | 44 |
Announcement of gratitude | 79 | 67 | 74 | 65 | 73 |
Other | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
No incentives exist | 1 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 4 |
Difficult to say | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
11. From the factors listed below, please select no more than five that, in your opinion, restrict your organization from working effectively.
12. Has your organization been inspected in the last two years by representatives of any of following authorities? (Any number of answers.)
Russian tax officials 2011 | Russian childcare officials 2011 | Russian unemployment officials 2011 | Russian registry officials 2011 | All Russian officials 2011 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Internal, immediately-superior supervisory bodies | 88 | 69 | 84 | 62 | 78 |
Offices of the Public Prosecutor | 58 | 50 | 72 | 82 | 64 |
Audit Chamber | 12 | 25 | 20 | 9 | 16 |
Offices of Rosfinnadzor (Federal Finance Inspectorate) | 6 | 26 | 43 | 16 | 20 |
Inspectorates or offices of finance and budget oversight of the regional administration | 11 | 34 | 35 | 13 | 21 |
Independent audit | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Internal audit | 12 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 8 |
Other | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
No one | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Difficult to say | 4 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
13. Has anyone in your organization been penalized or sanctioned in the last two years for any of the following? (Any number of answers.)
Russian tax officials 2011 | Russian childcare officials 2011 | Russian unemployment officials 2011 | Russian registry officials 2011 | All Russian officials 2011 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unsuitability for the position being occupied | 6 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 5 |
Non-fulfilment or violation of duties | 47 | 24 | 30 | 46 | 39 |
Overstepping one's official authority | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
Taking bribes | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 |
Other | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
No one has been | 29 | 61 | 52 | 30 | 40 |
Difficult to say | 18 | 10 | 13 | 19 | 16 |
14. In the organization where I work, all citizens who request services are treated equally.
Russian tax officials 2011 | Russian registry officials 2011 | Russian unemployment officials 2011 | Russian childcare officials 2011 | All Russian officials 2011 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Agree | 94 | 89 | 92 | 92 | 92 |
Disagree | 6 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
Difficult to say | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
15. The majority of citizens understand how decisions are made in the organization in which I work and in which their requests are reviewed.
Russian tax officials 2011 | Russian registry officials 2011 | Russian unemployment officials 2011 | Russian childcare officials 2011 | All Russian officials 2011 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yes | 79 | 76 | 88 | 86 | 81 |
No | 16 | 20 | 9 | 8 | 14 |
Difficult to say | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
16. Has the quality of government services provided by your organization increased or decreased over the past five years?
Russian tax officials 2011 | Russian registry officials 2011 | Russian unemployment officials 2011 | Russian childcare officials 2011 | All Russian officials 2011 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Increased | 90 | 87 | 86 | 83 | 87 |
Remained the same | 5 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 8 |
Decreased | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
17. How has the level of professionalism of the co-workers of your organization changed over the past five years?
Russian tax officials 2011 | Russian registry officials 2011 | Russian unemployment officials 2011 | Russian childcare officials 2011 | All Russian officials 2011 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Increased/more operatively | 82 | 66 | 83 | 78 | 78 |
Remained the same | 8 | 18 | 8 | 12 | 11 |
Decreased/less operatively | 5 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
Difficult to say | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
18. What is your job position?
Russian tax officials 2011 | Russian registry officials 2011 | Russian unemployment officials 2011 | Russian childcare officials 2011 | All Russian officials 2011 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Head of the institution (organization, agency) | 5 | 4 | 13 | 8 | 7 |
Deputy head of the institution (organization, agency) | 19 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 15 |
Head of department (or other structural government division) of an institution (organization, agency) | 18 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 22 |
Deputy head of department (or of a structural unit) of an institution (organizations, agency) | 10 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 8 |
Assistant (advisor, consultant) of the head of the institution (organization, agency) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
Chief specialist-expert | 3 | 12 | 4 | 14 | 7 |
Leading specialist-expert | 4 | 10 | 16 | 12 | 9 |
Specialist-expert | 3 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 6 |
Chief state inspector | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Senior state inspector | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
State inspector | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Senior specialist (specialist 1st category) | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
Specialist (specialist 2nd or 3rd category) | 3 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
Other position | 1 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 3 |
Difficult to say | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
19. Do you have official job regulations? And if so, are they clear and understandable?
Russian tax officials 2011 | Russian registry officials 2011 | Russian unemployment officials 2011 | Russian childcare officials 2011 | All Russian officials 2011 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Absolutely unclear, unintelligible | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Largely unclear, unintelligible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Mostly clear, understandable | 26 | 25 | 32 | 26 | 27 |
Absolutely clear and understandable | 70 | 70 | 58 | 67 | 67 |
No official job regulations | 0 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
Difficult to say | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
20. To what extent is your activity regulated?
Russian tax officials 2011 | Russian registry officials 2011 | Russian unemployment officials 2011 | Russian childcare officials 2011 | All Russian officials 2011 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Absolutely not regulated | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Largely not regulated | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Mostly regulated | 43 | 50 | 49 | 45 | 46 |
Absolutely everything is regulated | 55 | 45 | 44 | 50 | 50 |
Difficult to say | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
21. In your opinion, how well developed are the mechanisms for responding to citizen complaints about violations in your office's work?
Russian tax officials 2011 | Russian registry officials 2011 | Russian unemployment officials 2011 | Russian childcare officials 2011 | All Russian officials 2011 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weakly | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
Strongly | 93 | 89 | 90 | 87 | 90 |
Difficult to say | 4 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 6 |
22. Indicate which of the following factors influence your decision to work in the public sector, to be public servants. Choose the most significant factors. (Choose up to five responses.)
Russian tax officials 2011 | Russian childcare officials 2011 | Russian unemployment officials 2011 | Russian registry officials 2011 | All Russian officials 2011 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yes, I trust | 53 | 57 | 40 | 38 | 48 |
Sometimes I trust, sometimes I don't trust | 29 | 25 | 31 | 38 | 30 |
No, I don't trust | 12 | 11 | 25 | 15 | 15 |
Difficult to say | 6 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 6 |