The vast majority of Icelanders believe the economy is in good or very good shape a new poll reveals. Two thirds, or 65.4%, said the Icelandic economy was doing well, compared to a third who said economic conditions were bad or very bad. Positive views of the economy are strongly correlated with rising income.
The poll, conducted by the polling firm MMR, also reveals that 73% believe economic conditions will remain the same or improve in the next 6 months. 56.6% expect no significant change in economic fortunes, 15.1% expect them to improve slightly, but just 1.3% expect a significant improvement in the economy.
Read more: From the editor: What's going on in Icelandic politics?
The group who fears the worst, expecting conditions to deteriorate significantly is noticeably larger, 7.3%. This fits well with the sense that increasing numbers of Icelanders are growing worried that the tourism industry is growing too rapidly and the economy overheating. Rapid rises in real-estate prices and rents, which have left many low income Icelanders scrambling to afford housing, has also caused growing numbers of people to view the economy negatively.
The groups with the most negative outlook on the economy were students: 49% say the economy is in poor shape, and those who have a combined annual family income of less than 4.800,000 ISK (45,000 USD/42,000 EUR): 57% say the economy is in bad shape.
The vast majority of Icelanders believe the economy is in good or very good shape a new poll reveals. Two thirds, or 65.4%, said the Icelandic economy was doing well, compared to a third who said economic conditions were bad or very bad. Positive views of the economy are strongly correlated with rising income.
The poll, conducted by the polling firm MMR, also reveals that 73% believe economic conditions will remain the same or improve in the next 6 months. 56.6% expect no significant change in economic fortunes, 15.1% expect them to improve slightly, but just 1.3% expect a significant improvement in the economy.
Read more: From the editor: What's going on in Icelandic politics?
The group who fears the worst, expecting conditions to deteriorate significantly is noticeably larger, 7.3%. This fits well with the sense that increasing numbers of Icelanders are growing worried that the tourism industry is growing too rapidly and the economy overheating. Rapid rises in real-estate prices and rents, which have left many low income Icelanders scrambling to afford housing, has also caused growing numbers of people to view the economy negatively.
The groups with the most negative outlook on the economy were students: 49% say the economy is in poor shape, and those who have a combined annual family income of less than 4.800,000 ISK (45,000 USD/42,000 EUR): 57% say the economy is in bad shape.
