The state administration invests very little resources in health, science, environmental protection and the rural environment, while too much money is allocated to defense. This is the result of the latest survey of public opinion and fiscal policy by the Center for Sociological Research (CIS), which produces an X-ray perception that Spanish citizens have about taxes and the functioning of public services. 59.4% say that the first is necessary for the state to be able to borrow the second, but 79.9% believe that those who have more do not pay more.
The survey, which was conducted between July 21 and 30, asks citizens whether they think that the necessary amount of tax revenue is being used to finance various public services and benefits, too little or too much. Issues such as education, health, culture, housing, justice, defense and social services, among others, are broken down here. The majority answered “very little” in almost every box. This response is just below 50% for unemployment protection (42.5%), public works (32.8%), citizen security (40.2%) and transport and communications (33.7%). The lowest figure comes from the field of defense.
Only 27.3% of respondents believe that too little tax money is spent on this policy. And if this is the lowest figure in this column, the number of citizens who believe that “too much” effort is being spent is the highest: 27.8%, 15 points more than the second, public works. Some of the data known in the middle of the war in Europe and a few months after the announcement by the Prime Minister that Spain will reach 2% of GDP in this area in the coming years. A measure that the coalition’s minority partner United We Can and other executive branch partners disagree with, but which NATO is demanding.
Conversely, Spanish citizens believe that too few resources are being invested in other key aspects of the welfare state. Since the pandemic that paralyzed the country and cost 110,000 lives in Spain, the vast majority of respondents confirm that too little investment is being made in science and technology (almost 9 out of 10) and health (more than 7 out of 10). . In the summer of heat and big fires, the population also believes that environmental protection (75%) and rural environment (75.9%) are neglected.
The functioning of public services is an issue that concerns citizens, according to the CIS. 35.4% talk about this issue very often with people around them, and 39.3% quite a lot. Only 24.5% do this little or never. 5.6% believe that society does not benefit from public services and social benefits at all, while 10.4% say that it does a lot. Among them, 50.1% answer “a little”, and 30.8% say “quite a lot”.
Despite this high percentage who believe that the public has little or no benefit from services that are funded through taxes and contributions, respondents give tax avoidance an importance of 8.68 out of 10. Very high score, but lower than assigned. Always follow the law and rules (8.84), respect the opinions of others (9.19) and be a responsible and honest person (9.48).
Which do you think works satisfactorily? They claim public transport (60.8%), citizen safety (58.5%) and health care (55.3%), the only services with which more than half of the respondents answered that they are very or fairly satisfied. On the other side of the scale are services with which citizens show a high degree of dissatisfaction. Justice is at the root of dissatisfaction. 67.7% say they have little or no satisfactory work, followed by dependents’ assistance (56.8%) and pensions (48.2%).
It is clear to the majority of the population that “taxes are necessary for the state to be able to provide public services.” This statement is supported by 59.4% of respondents, six out of 10. 15.2% believe that they are a means of better distribution of wealth in society, and 23.5% confirm that they were forced to pay by the state without knowing it in return. Despite this answer, on a scale of zero to 10, where 10 wants to pay less taxes, even though public services have to be cut, and 0 advocates improving these services, even though they have to pay more taxes, 40% are on a scale of zero to four 29.3% in five, and the rest, 30.7%, from six to 10.
Eight out of 10 respondents believe that taxes are not collected fairly in Spain. That is, they do not believe that those who have more pay more. In fact, 91.3% believe there is a lot or quite a lot of tax fraud and 19.4% say the main reason people hide some or all of their income is because those with the most avoid or reduce their payments . bills. This is the highest percentage, ahead of 18.2% who believe that wages are too low and that other options are needed to earn money.
When asked if Hispanics are informed and responsible about paying taxes, 34.9% said they are a lot or quite a lot, compared to 61.7% who say they are a little or not at all. However, when asked about self-perception, things change: 93% say they are very or fairly informed and responsible.
Source: El Diario
