Euro-Barometer 17: Energy and the Future, April 1982

This round of Eurobarometer surveys queried respondents on standard Eurobarometer measures, such as how satisfied they were with their present life, whether they attempted to persuade others close to them to share their views on subjects they held strong opinions about, whether they discussed political matters, what their country's goals should be for the next ten years, and how they viewed the need for societal change. Additional questions focused on the respondents' knowledge of and opinions on the European Community (EC), including how well-informed they felt about the EC, what sources of information about the EC they used, whether their country had benefited from being an EC member, and the extent of their personal interest in EC matters. Another major focus of the surveys was energy and the future. Respondents were asked questions concerning energy problems and use, with particular attention paid to nuclear power. Respondents were asked about the sources of their information on the EC and energy issues, and their opinions concerning media coverage of the European Economic Community (EEC). Opinions also were obtained concerning the proper level of government -- local, national, or European -- to perform various regulatory functions (e.g., nature conservation, air and water pollution, nuclear plants, endangered species, placement of industrial sites, and energy research). The survey also queried respondents concerning their appliance and vehicle ownership, their hopes and fears for the future, their opinions of and level of trust in Americans, and their potential involvement in particular political causes, e.g., human rights, sexual equality, and environmental protection. In addition, a special sample of youths aged 15 through 24 was asked about education and employment prospects and about their lives, interests, and relationships with family and friends. Demographic information about the respondents includes age, sex, party of support, marital status, age upon completion of full-time education, occupation, composition of household, family income, and province and region of interview. Several constructed indices also are included. Euro-Barometer 17 contains data gathered from representative samples of respondents who were interviewed in each of the ten nations of the EC (Germany, Great Britain, Denmark, Italy, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Greece) in April 1982