A survey by "Gallup International" on the attitudes of citizens about their income indicates that 53% of Bulgarians prefer to receive the equivalent of one monthly salary today, and 30% would prefer double remuneration, but in a year.

The rest cannot judge.

The data is part of a special research program in 56 countries around the world.

The program marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Gallup International World Association.

A total of 53,321 people were interviewed globally.

In each country, around 1,000 people were interviewed face-to-face, by phone or online between August and October 2022.

The statistical error in the study is in the range of ±3-5% with a confidence interval of 95%.

In Bulgaria, the research was financed and conducted by "Gallup International Balkan" for the world Association "Gallup International".

Preferences for the present in Bulgaria are far from the highest values ​​recorded in the survey of around 60-70 percent, but they are still higher than the world average.

Attitudes in our country also differ from those registered on average for the European Union (EU), where 39% of those asked express a bias towards the present, and 46% preferences towards the future.

The situation in the rest of the countries of Europe that are outside the EU is also quite different.

There, the share of respondents with preferences for the present exceeds that of respondents with preferences for the future, but not as much as here (44% versus 34%).

The attitudes in Kosovo, Moldova, Romania and other countries close to us geographically or in terms of economic indicators are similar to ours.

The present bias theory works best when applied to people who are placed in the same conditions. 

The thought of immediate financial hardship is leading for people in lower-income countries, who seem more likely to opt for some kind of bonus now, even a smaller one – 53% versus 42%.

The higher the national income, the more likely people are to expect a higher reward in the future – 38% versus 48% in the richest countries.

Age appears to have a fairly minor effect on respondents' views, although younger generations seem perhaps less inclined to show a preference for the present.

Personal income and education are the factors that appear to be more determining in people's attitudes about the future well-being/present improvement dilemma.

The higher the income and education, the lower the focus on the present. 

The survey also shows that 46% of people around the world have a clear preference for the present, while 42% are more likely to place more importance on their future. 

Gallup International