Study Shows Germans Fear Economic Crisis

A study into people's fears conducted by the R+V Insurance company in Berlin showed that Germans are most afraid of war, illness and going to prison. But most of all, they fear the repercussions of the serious economic climate. Germans’ primary fear is an increase in living costs followed by a further deterioration of the economic situation and unemployment, a fear held more by people in the former East Germany. The lack of personal contact with their politicians accounts for the pessimistic view. The worry of having to spend more money on daily necessities is mainly attributed to the introduction of the euro four years ago. The survey also showed that more and more people were terrified of specific personal problems, coupled with the increasing fear of poverty in old age. On the whole, the level of fear remains considerably higher in the East than in the West. However, the fear of a possible terror attack in Germany continues to prevail.