Flash Eurobarometer 476: Citizens’ perceptions about competition policy

The Flash Eurobarometer 476 survey on citizens’ perceptions about competition policy was carried out by Kantar Public Brussels in 28 Member States of the European Union between 21-25 January 2019. Some 26,572 respondents from different social and demographic groups were interviewed via telephone (landline and mobile phone) in their mother tongue. The survey focused on citizens’ perceptions and awareness on the impact of competition, lack of competition, and applicable information channels. EU citizens largely share the objectives and values of competition policy, with little variation across socio-demographic factors. 78% respondents say effective competition has had a positive impact on them as consumers (+4 percentage points since 2014). European citizens assimilate competition to higher quality goods and services (74%), better prices (83%), more innovation (85%), and more choice for consumers (87%). Across the EU, citizens think that problems arising from lack of competition are most likely regarding: telecommunications (26%; +8 percentage points since 2014), Internet access (26%), energy (23%; -5 percentage points since 2014), transport services, and pharmaceutical products (both 20%). Among respondents who have experienced problems resulting from a lack of competition, 70% say the main problem is that prices are too high (across all sectors). 40% of respondents had heard about competition cases in the last twelve months (+1percentage point since 2014). Newspapers/magazines and television are the most mentioned sources (both 58%), followed by radio and websites (both 33%), and online social networks (24%; +10 percentage points since 2014).

The results by volumes are distributed as follows:

• Volume A: Countries
• Volume AA: Groups of countries
• Volume A' (AP): Trends
• Volume AA' (AAP): Trends of groups of countries
• Volume B: EU/socio-demographics
• Volume B' (BP) : Trends of EU/ socio-demographics
• Volume C: Country/socio-demographics

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  Researchers may also contact GESIS - Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences: https://www.gesis.org/eurobarometer