The PBN Company conducted the first scientific measure of opinions of Moscow's foreign national community more than 12 years ago, when Russia was still part of the Soviet Union.

Conducted in 1991, "The Moscow Poll" assessed the attitudes and opinions of more than 600 American, European and other diplomats, journalists and business executives living in Moscow. The survey covered the perceived likelihood of severe food shortages, the prospect of Western financial aid for the USSR, and a range of quality of life issues. It also assessed the job performance of the KGB, Communist Party and current political leaders, like USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev and Russian Republic President Boris Yeltsin.

At the time, two-thirds of the foreign nationals predicted major food shortages would occur in the winter and that three out of four felt that living conditions for the average Soviet citizens had become worse in the past 12 months. At the same time, the majority of the survey respondents also said that their own quality of life had improved or stayed constant over the past year. More than six in 10 said that Moscow was average or better as a "place to work" compared to other foreign cities.

The most difficult problem in conducting business in Moscow in 1991 was finding adequate retail and commercial space, a problem that no longer exists in today's bustling business environment. Street and road conditions, air pollution and alcoholism were the top three social problems identified in the survey.

Moscow taxis were rated as the worst service and subways the best. Moscow received high marks for cultural and other entertainments, but foreign nationals complained about severe shortages of basic goods and services, like international phone service, night clubs, places to eat and food and clothing stores (how times have changed!).

The survey was conducted shortly after the August 1991 failed coup d'etat against Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. Both Gorbachev and Yeltsin received high job performance ratings by the foreign nationals participating in the survey (with Gorbachev slightly more popular than Yeltsin). Eighty-six percent of the participants thought that the failed coup would speed up reforms.

Many of the survey respondents proved to be poor predictors of the future geopolitical status of the region. While 45 percent of the survey respondents said that the Soviet Union would break up into several independent states, more than one-third thought that the Soviet Union would survive!

The survey was conduct by The PBN Company with GLS Research, a specialist in public opinion surveys and a long-time partner of the firm.

For copies of The Moscow Poll: www.pbnco.com/eng/news/presentations/moscow_poll.php