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.