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Opinion Poll 2014 A Barometer Report Prepared for: TASC Prepared by: Martha Fanning November 2014 J.5968 Confidential
Opinion Poll 2014
A Barometer Report
Prepared for: TASC
Prepared by: Martha Fanning
November 2014
J.5968
Confidential
2 Confidential
Introduction
● Market research was required to measure attitudes to income distribution amongst a nationally representative sample of adults.
● An agreed set of questions were included in the late October wave of Behaviour & Attitudes’ twice monthly face-to-face Omnibus survey, Barometer.
● Barometer is a nationally representative survey of 1,000 adults aged 16+.
● Quotas are set on gender, age, social class and region to ensure that the results correctly reflect the known demographics of the Republic of Ireland.
● Interviewing is conducted by our fully trained and supervised team of interviewers at 63 locations across the country.
● Fieldwork was conducted 27th October – 5th November, 2014.
Results
4 Confidential
3 1 1 1
26
14 11 16
45
39 39
36
25
46 48 46
Fairness of Income Distribution: Overview All Adults 16+: 1006
2008 2009 2010 2014
Very fairly distributed
Quite fairly distributed
Quite unfairly distributed
Very unfairly distributed
Q.1a Which of these statements best describes how you feel income in Ireland is distributed?
83% feel income in Ireland is unfairly distributed.
70%
85% 87% 83%
5 Confidential
1 2 1 2 2 1 1 2
16 19
14 22
14 15 16 17
36 34
38
32
35 39 32
41
46 45 47 43 49 45
50 40
Total Male Female U25 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+
AGE GENDER
Very fairly distributed
Quite fairly distributed
Quite unfairly distributed
Very unfairly distributed
Fairness of Income Distribution x Gender/Age All Adults 16+: 1006
1006 483 523 152 206 277 233 138 Base:
Q.1a Which of these statements best describes how you feel income in Ireland is distributed?
Demographics are fairly steady: men and under 25s marginally more likely than average to think income is fairly distributed.
6 Confidential
Total ABC1 C2DE Dublin Leinster Munster Conn/Uls
Base:
F
1 1 2 0 3 0 2 1
16 19 14 17 20
14 17
14
36 40
32
43 33
30
42 39
46 41
52
40 44
55
39 46
Fairness of Income Distribution x Class & Region All Adults 16+: 1006
REGION CLASS
Very fairly distributed
Quite fairly distributed
Quite unfairly distributed
Very unfairly distributed
1006 454 477 285 254 288 179 Base:
75*
* Caution low base
Q.1a Which of these statements best describes how you feel income in Ireland is distributed?
White collar workers and Dubliners are marginally more likely than average to think income is fairly distributed.
7 Confidential
Incomes of Top 10% are 7.5 times greater than those on lowest incomes: Fairness of Income Distribution All Adults 16+: 1006
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 1
11 13 9 11
7 13 12 10
36 34 37 35
37
37 31 39
52 52 52 52 55 48
56 50
Very fairly distributed
Quite fairly distributed
Quite unfairly distributed
Very unfairly distributed
Total Male Female U25 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+
AGE GENDER
1006 483 523 152 206 277 233 138 Base:
Q.1b The incomes of the top 10% in Ireland are typically seven and a half times greater than the lowest incomes in Ireland. Which of these statements best describes how you feel income in Ireland is distributed?
When informed that incomes of top 10% are 7.5 times greater than those on lowest incomes, the proportion who feel income is unfairly distributed rises from 83% to 88%. Demographic
differences are very modest.
8 Confidential
Incomes of Top 10% are 7.5 times greater than those on lowest incomes: Fairness of Income Distribution All Adults 16+: 1006
1 2 1 1 2 1 2 0
11 15
8 6
16
5 13
9
36 37
32 46
33
33
40
37
52 46
59
46 49
60
46 55
Total ABC1 C2DE Dublin Leinster Munster Conn/Uls F
REGION CLASS
Very fairly distributed
Quite fairly distributed
Quite unfairly distributed
Very unfairly distributed
1006 454 477 285 254 288 179 75*
Q.1b The incomes of the top 10% in Ireland are typically seven and a half times greater than the lowest incomes in Ireland. Which of these statements best describes how you feel income in Ireland is distributed?
The income information appears to have greatest impact on blue collar workers and those living in Rest of Leinster.
9 Confidential
The Government should take Active Steps to Reduce Gap Between High and Low Earners All Adults 16+: 1006
2009
956 Base:
60 66 64
25 26 26
10 5 6
3 2 4 1 2
2010
1010
Strongly agree
Agree somewhat
Disagree somewhat
Strongly disagree
Don’t know
2014
1006
Q.2 Do you agree or disagree that the government should take active steps to reduce the gap between high and low earners?
2 in 3 strongly agree, and 9 in 10 agree to some extent.
10 Confidential
The Government should take Active Steps to Reduce Gap Between High and Low Earners X Gender & Age All Adults 16+: 1006
64 62 66 68 68
62 62 60
26 27
25 26 23
26 27 31
6 7 5 3 7 7 5 5
4 5 4 3 2 5 6 4
Strongly agree
Agree somewhat
Disagree somewhat
Strongly disagree
Total Male Female U25 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+
AGE GENDER
1006 483 523 152 206 277 233 138 Base:
Q.2 Do you agree or disagree that the government should take active steps to reduce the gap between high and low earners?
No real differences by demographics
11 Confidential
The Government should take Active Steps to Reduce Gap Between High and Low Earners X Class & Region All Adults 16+: 1006
64 60 69
60 57
70 60
71
26 27
24 32
30
22
30
21
6 8 5 3
6 6 6 5
4 5 3 5 7 2 4 3
Total ABC1 C2DE Dublin Leinster Munster Conn/Uls F
REGION CLASS
Strongly agree
Agree somewhat
Disagree somewhat
Strongly disagree
Don’t know
* Caution low base
1006 454 477 285 254 288 179 Base: 75*
Q.2 Do you agree or disagree that the government should take active steps to reduce the gap between high and low earners?
Higher agreement amongst blue collar workers and those living in Rest of Leinster.
12 Confidential
16
38
29
9
49 46
5 7
Action Government Should Take to Reduce the Gap Between High & Low Earners X Gender & Age All Adults 16+: 1006
1010 Base: 1006
Increase the minimum wage to raise the incomes of low
earners
Establish a ‘maximum wage’ to cap the amount of money
earned by high earners
A combination of the two approaches (i.e., increasing the earnings of those at the bottom
while capping the earnings of those at the top).
Neither of these approaches
2010 2014
Q.3 Which, if any, of the following steps do you feel the Government should take to reduce the gap between high and low earners?
Looking at actions the government should take to reduce this income gap, support for increasing the minimum wage has increased from 65% to 84%, while support for a maximum
wage has decreased from 78% to 55%.
13 Confidential
38 35 40
49 44
34 31 35
9 11 7
6
4
10 13 10
46 43
49 42
42 45 50 50
7 11 4 3
10 10 6 5
Action Government Should Take to Reduce the Gap Between High & Low Earners X Gender & Age All Adults 16+: 1006
Male Female U25 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+
483 523 152 206 277 233 138 Base:
AGE GENDER
1006
TOTAL
Increase the minimum wage to raise the incomes of low
earners
Establish a ‘maximum wage’ to cap the amount of money
earned by high earners
A combination of the two approaches (i.e., increasing the earnings of those at the bottom
while capping the earnings of those at the top).
Neither of these approaches
2014
Q.3 Which, if any, of the following steps do you feel the Government should take to reduce the gap between high and low earners?
Support for increasing the minimum wage is lowest amongst 35-49s, and highest amongst U25s. U35s least in favour of a ‘maximum wage’.
14 Confidential
Action Government Should Take to Reduce the Gap Between High & Low Earners X Class & Region All Adults 16+: 1006
Base:
38 37 38 41 33
40 44
32
9 7 10 12
9
7
11
9
46 46
47 41
46
48 36
57
7 10 6 6 12
5 8 3
* Caution low base
ABC1 C2DE Dublin Leinster Munster Conn/Uls
454 477 285 254 288 179
F
75*
REGION CLASS
Increase the minimum wage to raise the incomes of low
earners
Establish a ‘maximum wage’ to cap the amount of money
earned by high earners
A combination of the two approaches (i.e., increasing the earnings of those at the bottom
while capping the earnings of those at the top).
Neither of these approaches
1006
TOTAL
2014
Q.3 Which, if any, of the following steps do you feel the Government should take to reduce the gap between high and low earners?
Social class differences are very modest. Regional differences are greater.
15 Confidential
8 11 11
27
39 38
25
20 20
37 31 31
Willingness to Support Higher Taxation All Adults 16+: 1006
High Quality
Public Services*
1010
Very willing
Fairly willing
Fairly unwilling
Very unwilling
1006 1006
2010 2014
Provide New or Additional Public
Services
Q.4a Q.4b
Compared to some other European countries funding for public services in Ireland, such as health, education, social protection and pensions is low. How willing or not would you be to pay more taxes if you were guaranteed that this would result in high quality public services? And how willing or not would you be to pay more taxes if the State guaranteed to provide new or additional public services such as pre school education and social housing?
2014
*Slight wording changes
50% now willing to support higher taxes if guaranteed high quality public services; up from 35% in 2010. Regardless of wording or nuances the results show an even split in favour and
against higher taxation.
16 Confidential
11 10 11 15 11 10 11 8
39 39 38 34 44 40 38
32
20 21 19 24
18 18 20
23
31 30 32 27 27
32 32 38
Willingness to Support Higher Taxation in Order to Achieve High Quality Public Services X Gender & Age All Adults 16+: 1006
Total Male Female U25 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+
1006 483 523 152 206 277 233 138 Base:
AGE GENDER
Very willing
Fairly willing
Fairly unwilling
Very unwilling
Q.4a Compared to some other European countries funding for public services in Ireland, such as health, education, social protection and pensions is low. How willing or not would you be to pay more taxes if you were guaranteed that this would result in high quality public services?
25-34s marginally more willing to support higher taxation. Over 65s least likely to support higher taxation.
17 Confidential
11 12 9 10 11 13 12 5
39 42
36 30
39 31
48
35
20 20
20 20
21
19
17
21
31 26
35 40
28 37
23
39
Willingness to Support Higher Taxation in Order to Achieve High Quality Public Services X Class & Region All Adults 16+: 1006
Total ABC1 C2DE Dublin Leinster Munster Conn/Uls
1006 454 477 285 254 288 179 Base:
F
75*
REGION CLASS
Very willing
Fairly willing
Fairly unwilling
Very unwilling
Q.4a Compared to some other European countries funding for public services in Ireland, such as health, education, social protection and pensions is low. How willing or not would you be to pay more taxes if you were guaranteed that this would result in high quality public services?
Blue collar workers reject the notion of higher taxation as do Leinster dwellers and those living in Connacht or Ulster.
18 Confidential
11 10 11 16 12 10 11
6
38 40 36 35 45
38 35 35
20 20 20
24 17
19 22
19
31 29 33 25 27
33 32 40
Willingness to Support Higher Taxation in Order to Provide New or Additional Public Services X Gender & Age All Adults 16+: 1006
Total Male Female U25 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+
1006 483 523 152 206 277 233 138 Base:
AGE GENDER
Very willing
Fairly willing
Fairly unwilling
Very unwilling
Q.4b And how willing or not would you be to pay more taxes if the State guaranteed to provide new or additional public services such as pre school education and social housing?
Support peaks amongst 25-34s and declines gradually after that.
19 Confidential
11 13 9 8 12 12 14 4
38 39
38
28
40 33
43
35
20 21
19
18
21
18
20
21
31 26
34
45
27 38
23
41
Willingness to Support Higher Taxation in Order to Provide New or Additional Public Services X Class & Region All Adults 16+: 1006
Total ABC1 C2DE Dublin Leinster Munster Conn/Uls
1006 454 477 285 254 288 179 Base:
F
75*
REGION CLASS
Very willing
Fairly willing
Fairly unwilling
Very unwilling
Q.4b And how willing or not would you be to pay more taxes if the State guaranteed to provide new or additional public services such as pre school education and social housing?
Support weakest in Leinster, Connacht/Ulster and amongst blue collar workers.
20 Confidential
Top Tax Rate of 60%, on Income in Excess of €100,000: For or Against? x Gender & Age All Adults 16+: 1006
63 63 63 58
68 63 66
57
37 37 37 42
32 37 34
43
In favour
Against
Total Male Female U25 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+
1006 483 523 152 206 277 233 138 Base:
AGE GENDER
Q.5 Would you be in favour or against a top tax rate of 60%, combining income tax, USC and social insurance, on that part of income in excess of €100,000 per annum?
Just under 2 in 3 in favour of a top tax rate of 60%, combining income tax, USC and social insurance, peaking amongst 25-35.
21 Confidential
Top Tax Rate of 60%, on Income in Excess of €100,000: For or Against? x Class & Region All Adults 16+: 1006
63 58
67 72
60 63 61 70
37 42
33 28
40 37 39 30
In favour
Against
Base: Total ABC1 C2DE Dublin Leinster Munster Conn/Uls
1006 454 477 285 254 288 179
F
75*
REGION CLASS
Q.5 Would you be in favour or against a top tax rate of 60%, combining income tax, USC and social insurance, on that part of income in excess of €100,000 per annum?
Highest proportions in favour in Connacht/Ulster.
22 Confidential
Key Findings
23 Confidential
Key Findings
● 83% feel income in Ireland is unfairly distributed.
● When informed that the incomes of the top 10% are 7.5 times greater than those on lowest incomes, 88% feel income in Ireland is unfairly distributed.
● 90% feel that the government should take active steps to reduce the gap between high and low earners.
● 84% feel the government should increase the minimum wage, up from 65% in 2010. 55% feel a maximum wage should be established (down from 78% in 2010). 46% feel both measures should be introduced. 7% feel neither measure should be introduced.
● 50% are willing to support higher taxes if guaranteed high quality public services, up from 35% in 2010. Two slightly different wordings were put to respondents, and in both cases the result is an even split between the two.
● 63% are in favour of the introduction of a 60% top rate of tax, combining income tax, USC and Social Insurance, on annual income in excess of €100,000.
24 Confidential
