MORE Slovaks believe that the country is heading in the right direction, with the numbers of pessimists and optimists nearly even in 2004. A year ago, a poll showed that 66 percent of Slovaks had a pessimistic outlook for the country, according to the TASR news agency.
A survey of 1,277 respondents undertaken by the Institute of Public Issues (IVO) from November 12 to 22 showed the ratio of pessimists to optimists at 48:46 percent.
"The year 2004 seems to have slightly rolled back the pessimistic mood of the 2003 post-election period," said IVO's Zora Bútorová.
The IVO survey revealed that the difference of opinion has deepened between socio-demographic groups and political groupings.
Optimism prevails among the younger generation, high school and university graduates, entrepreneurs, self-employed people, students, employees, and those living in cities. Optimism is also more prevalent amongst supporters of ruling coalition parties.
