Politicor Primary Research & Services
Politicor Primary Research & Services gives our clients a means to survey the voting public on key budget issues and participate in the decision-making process. The objective is to identify the optimal mix of spending reductions and tax increases that are needed to balance the budget or achieve the desired deficit reduction target. The surveyed voter is shown a list of specific government programs and tax levies and is asked to choose the changes they would prefer to achieve the desired outcome. Multiple scenarios are often tested to determine the changes that would generate the least resistance by the voters.
Reducing the UK Budget deficit- The People's View:
Just in time for the UK Chancellor Osborne's 2011 Budget announcement...
| More Info | Executive Summary | Full Report |
Summary
In March 2011, IPR surveyed a representative sample of over 2000 voters across the UK to determine public preferences regarding the UK budget deficit - "How would you reduce the deficit if you were in charge?" In light of the decisions the Coalition government is in the process of making, the results are worth examining in detail. Using the survey data, IPR
- Generated an optimised consensus, or "People's Budget"
- Determined budget preferences by political affiliation
- Established how deficit reduction speed affects budget preferences, and
- Compared the People's Budget with the Government's budget
Key findings can be summarized as follows:
The public prefers
- A gradual deficit reduction (£41B/yr)
- To slow down the reduction if the economy falters
- A 40/60 split between tax increases/spending reduction
- Smallest percentage changes:
- Expenditures: (1) Health, (2) Education, (3) Public Order & Safety
- Revenues: (1) Income Taxes <£30k, (2) VAT, (3) Council Tax
- Largest percentage changes:
- Expenditures: (1) Other, (2) Social Protection, (3) Defence
- Revenues: (1) Income Tax (>£100k), (2) Corporation Tax, (3) Income Tax (Income £30k-£100k)
- To cut foreign aid, number of government employees, and housing benefits, and to means test child benefits
