The sixth annual survey of the Val Group

AmCham member Alpheus Public Affairs, together with its parent company Val Group, has conducted its sixth annual Zero Quadrant survey, which examines and analyzes the attitudes, beliefs, fears, and expectations of Croatian citizens while providing an overview of key trends compared to previous years' research.

The year now drawing to a close has been turbulent in every respect, politically, socially and economically and economic concerns continue to dominate: rising prices worry around 90 percent of citizens, while almost 80 percent are troubled by the decline in purchasing power. At the same time, concern about security and defence is increasing, with nearly 73 percent of citizens fearing armed conflicts in which Croatia could be directly involved. In just one year, support for mandatory military service has risen significantly, now being backed by 71 percent of respondents.

In addition to security threats, citizens are also worried about the rise in mental health problems and their harmful impact on society. 73.5 percent of respondents share this view, while as many as 85.5 percent see peer violence as one of the biggest social problems. The lack of trust among citizens is clearly reflected in their perception of the business sector: although they expect responsible, transparent and socially oriented conduct, only 7.5 percent believe that companies genuinely implement corporate social responsibility, and 9.1 percent think they create additional value for consumers and society.

Expectations for the future remain divided; one-third of citizens expect an improvement in the quality of life in the coming years, particularly among younger respondents, while an equally large share anticipates a deterioration, further confirming the deep uncertainty and the need to strengthen trust across all segments of society.

You can read the full survey at the link.