The Norstat polling company has conducted a survey at the request of GS Core, which engages in the acquisition of debt portfolios and debt management, finding that 40% of respondents in Estonia’s East-Viru County reported fears that they will not be able to meet their daily financial obligations over the next ear.
16% of residents are fully certain that they will face economic difficulties.
GS Core director Sofia Kirsimaa says that economic uncertainty in northeastern Estonia is considerably higher than elsewhere in the country.
“A similar study conducted last year showed a marked difference between East-Viru and other areas, but this year fears about daily survival have increased by additional five percentage points,” said Kirsimaa. She added that 20% of respondents in Harju County are fully confidence of their financial situation, but only 6% of respondents in 6% say the same – a difference of more than three times.
The study also highlighted substantial differences between Estonian and Russian-speaking individuals when it comes to their economic situation.
“Twice as many Russian speakers have repeatedly missed bill payments over the past year due to financial difficulties,” reports Kirsimaa. “Among ethnic Estonians it is at 9%, wile among Russian speakers it is 18%.” The expert added that the figure has remained stable among Estonians, but increased by 5% among Russian speakers on the year.
“One third of Russian speaking respondents report taking out loans to cover daily expenses such as mood, mortgage and utility bills,” Kirsimaa says. “Last year it was one in five.”
OÜ GS Core provides debt collection services, purchases debt portfolios and collects debts both in court and outside of court. The focus is on the liabilities of debtors on the balance sheets of energy, financial and telecoms enterprises. GS Core belongs to the Swedish financial group Marginalen AB which is one of the leading service providers in the Baltic States, with subsidiaries in Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.
Source: BNS
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