BERLIN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Most Germans aged between 30 and 59, feel insecure in spite of having achieved a historically unprecedented standard of living, the 2018 "Allensbach" survey published on Wednesday by the German Insurance Association (GDV) finds.
In the latest survey, only 27 percent of members of the so-called "Middle Generation" polled in 2018 indicated that they had confidence in the political stability of Germany. Back in 2015, the share had still been measured at 49 percent. Additionally, two thirds of respondents (67 percent compared to 56 percent in 2016) expressed concern that societal cohesion was either "weak or very weak" with 42 percent going as far as to complain that they were living in "very difficult times."
"Despite being materially content, the Middle Generation is deeply rattled by global crisis, a loss of politically stability in Germany and a changing social climate," Renate Koecher, the president of the Allensbach Institute, which conducted the survey for the GDV, said during the presentation of the results in Berlin.
The GDV has commissioned the closely-watched opinion survey by the Allensbach institute on an annual basis since 2013. This year's findings were based on a representative survey of 1,048 men and women in July 2018.
Although the "Middle Generation" was significantly less optimistic about the general trajectory of their country, the share of respondents who were happy with their personal situation increased slightly to 42 percent in 2018. The group with ages between 30 and 59 hereby viewed their own opportunities and financial means as being greater than those experienced by their parents.
Questioned about their key life goals, health (90 percent), financial independence (82 percent) and a happy partnership (83 percent) topped the list of respondents' priorities in the survey. By contrast, only 14 percent pointed to frugality as an important principle to aspire to, with a further 66 percent admitting that their parents were less spendthrift than them.
As a consequence, GDV president Wolfgang Weiler warned that the "Middle Generation" was likely to fail to achieve their own goal of financial independence unless they started to take measures to ensure that they continued to enjoy a high standard of living in future years. "It must alarm us, when the Middle Generation is saving itself the saving," Weiler told press.
In total, there are more than 35 million people aged between 30 and 59 currently living in Germany. The demographic group is responsible for 70 percent of employment and 80 percent of taxable income, making it a crucial pillar of the country's social welfare system.
