Association between Perceptions of Personal Income and National Security: Evidence from the Baltic States

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation is to explore the effect of objective and subjective personal income on perceived national security in the Baltic states, including Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. A representative quantitative survey was conducted in three Baltic countries in August 2021. The fieldwork was carried out by the public opinion and market research company Baltic Surveys. The sampling method in the three countries was the same: the probability multi-stage structural method, based on criteria of geographical region, size of settlement, gender, and age. The survey involved more than 1000 respondents per country. Multivariate statistical analysis, including correlation analysis and linear regression analysis was performed. The percentage distribution of the variable on the perception of safety reveals that more than half of the respondents in all Baltic countries agreed that they feel safe living in their own country. Moreover, it is notable that the feeling of safety in Estonia is higher than in the other two countries. Meanwhile, in Lithuania, the evaluation of the feeling of safety is lower than in Estonia and Latvia. The association of the feeling of safety in the country with the subjective perception of income is stronger than the objective income. Additionally, it is important to note that absence of financial difficulties, happiness with current income, and not worrying too much about spending on necessities are the strongest determinants for perceived security in each Baltic country. The findings that have been drawn from this investigation could be applied to ensure both national and economic security and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, such as no poverty (1SDG) and reduced inequalities (10 SDG).