Bureaucracy costs Life events survey 2021 – Results have been published

According to recent data from the fourth wave of the life events survey 2021, citizens and companies in Germany are mostly satisfied with the services provided by public authorities.

Since 2015 citizens and companies have been asked to rate their satisfaction with the services provided by the authorities in specific situations. Examples are the birth of a child, moving house or the construction of an establishment.

On a scale of –2 (very dissatisfied) to +2 (very satisfied), the overall indicator is 1.1. Among the 22 situations examined, contacts with public authorities are rated best in connection with the application for identity documents, patient decree and marriage. Citizens are least satisfied when they had to deal with financial problems including indebtedness, a divorce or the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the data show that the pandemic itself has only a minor impact on the satisfaction with public services in general.

Detailed results of the life events survey 2021 provided by the Federal Statistical Office are available on "amtlich einfach – Staat der kurzen Wege".

Researchers can apply to the Research Data Centres of official statistics for access to the raw data for research purposes.