Love and Marriage

"KYIV, March 26 /UKRINFORM/. According to a study conducted by Research & Branding Group, the majority of Ukrainians (66.9%) referred to love as the primary motivation for marriage.

39.2% of respondents believe the reason for marriage is the desire to have children, 32.5% the commonality of views and interests, 16.9% tradition, 89% the partner's charm, 8.4% pregnancy, 6.7% loneliness, 5.6% legalization of sexual relations, 4.9% improvement of financial situation, 4.7% self-assertion, and 2.3% ambition.

At the same time, 48.1% of the respondents in general have a positive attitude to the practice of a marriage contract when entering into a formal marriage, 28.4% negative attitude, and 9.6% do not know what it is.

The most optimal number of children today, according to 59.7% of Ukrainians, is two, 19% believe that one child is best, and 10.7% three children.

The public opinion research on issues of marriage and family was held from 1 to 9 March."

Another View on Belgium

This time in the Kyiv Post (taken from Reuters)

Belgium as Explained in Ukraine

The newspaper Day (Dehn) has an interesting attempt by a Belgian to explain Belgium's approach to linguistic diversity. While the article is fairly neutral, the title seems to suggests somebody is unhappy with the conclusion of the article:

"The achilles’ heel of Belgium is therefore the absence of a national constituency for the federal elections and it can be expected that the federal state will be replaced tomorrow by a confederal state and The Day after tomorrow by two states."

The Wage of Ukrainian Models

"Prepared to be impressed, if not entertained, thousands of socialites and politicians lined up the catwalk to witness new collections. Hundreds of Ukrainian models put these colorful shows to life for… $50 a show."

Harvard Boys and Girls To Be

An interesting initiative

"The Administration of the President of Ukraine has signed an agreement to conduct a pilot training program for the leaders of public service with the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University."

but the last sentence is rather mysterious

"The training of Ukrainian officials in the U.S. will be funded by sponsors."

MPs salaries and benefits

Data on Ukrainian MPs salary and benefits can be found here.

" Lawmakers’ monthly salary stands at UAH 6,000." That is about 800 dollars a month - no wonder that for such salaries one does not get stellar MPs and that MPs try to find alternative sources to complement their income...

World’s top economists are to convene in Chernivtsi

reads the title of this article.

Unprofitable for Whom?

"KYIV, March 16 /UKRINFORM/. European airlines will not get free access to the Ukrainian market until the EU does not cancel visas for Ukrainians, Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister Borys Kolesnikov has said, UKRINFORM reported, with reference to the Kyiv Post newspaper.

In his opinion, it is unprofitable to let foreign air carriers in Ukraine, because Ukrainian airlines will be left without work.

The signing of the Treaty on Open Skies improves competition and thus lowers prices on flights, as it allows airlines not to wait for permits, but negotiate directly with airports, he said."

Recovering from Catastrophes

The Economist has an interesting article on the economic effect of catastrophes - no long lasting effects on economic growth are found.

Paskhaver's Compromise

An interesting discussion by Oleksandr Paskhaver

"I am trying to create a new initiative. I want to appeal to the new authority and explain that I understand their interests, and, therefore, I would like to propose a compromise. We will not see any new foreign investors of any signifi cance unless we eliminate the rampant and total corruption in our country. On the other hand, I understand that you won’t lift a fi nger against your own interests. The compromise I suggest is to leave corruption at the very top level as is, but to eliminate corruption on the middle and lower levels of government. With all of the energy in your new authority, let’s work together to eliminate corruption on the lower levels."I am trying to create a new initiative. I want to appeal to the new authority and explain that I understand their interests, and, therefore, I would like to propose a compromise. We will not see any new foreign investors of any signifi cance unless we eliminate the rampant and total corruption in our country. On the other hand, I understand that you won’t lift a fi nger against your own interests. The compromise I suggest is to leave corruption at the very top level as is, but to eliminate corruption on the middle and lower levels of government. With all of the energy in your new authority, let’s work together to eliminate corruption on the lower levels."

EURO 2012

The Kyiv Post has an article on the ever increasing costs for Ukraine of organizing EURO 2012.

Why am I not surprised?

Gender Relations Statistics

An interesting survey on how Ukrainians see life of men and women

"Some 55.7% of participants in a survey conducted by the Gorshenin Institute believe that men in Ukraine live an easier life than women."

and

"Speaking about their female colleagues, 37.8% of men said that they worked on a par with them. Almost a quarter of men surveyed (24.6%) said that women worked worse than them, while 4.5% believe that they work better than them. A third of men (33.1%) were undecided."

British Firm, Ukrainian Employees

"Cupid operates a number of different online sites and has 13 million customer profiles registered with it throughout the world.

It employs about 15 people in Edinburgh at its head office - it also has 200 workers based in the Ukraine."

Organ Sales

An interesting article on sales of organs in Ukraine can be found in this week's Kyiv Post - one shortcoming, it focuses on those who were tricked/forced in selling their organs and those who where cheated when selling their organs - a more balanced article would also have talked about those who actually got the organs and about those who sold their organs and where happy about it.

Stray Animals

"According to a Gorshenin Institute study, 78.5% of residents of megacities believe that stray animals are a problem. Many (66.7%) are aware that stray animals are a danger to the public."