In the November 2021 Public Pulse report, a public opinion poll in Kosovo, ten percent of respondents reported for the first time ever that the environment was among the top three most pressing problems facing the country. Just as noteworthy, the environment edged out corruption as a top concern. Over the last 14 Public Pulse reports, an average of 10.7 percent of respondents cited corruption as a top three problem, whereas only 4.8 percent did last November.
Respondents perceived unemployment (26.7 percent) and poverty (24.3 percent) as Kosovo’s first and second major problems. Despite this, the poll’s Economic Confidence Index passed the satisfaction threshold for the first time, suggesting that more than half of citizens are optimistic about Kosovo’s economic prospects. Similarly, 30.7 percent of respondents reported being satisfied with Kosovo’s political direction, the highest level of satisfaction the Public Pulse has ever recorded. Although findings showed a slight decrease in people's satisfaction with government performance relative to the May 2021 survey, they remained high: President of Kosovo (55.2 percent), the Prime Minister (53.2 percent), and the Executive Cabinet (47.6 percent).
Twice a year for the last 20 years, the United Nations Development Programme, with funding from USAID, conducts this Public Pulse survey. It provides an unbiased, accurate snapshot in time of how citizens perceive the issues that affect them in their day-to-day lives. An invaluable tool for elected officials, the Public Pulse provides them with the information they need to be responsive and accountable to their constituents as their priorities change. And, it gives citizens a voice on the issues that most impact their lives.
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