Public attitudes towards Russia`s WTO accesion

Abstract

The author uses new data type (Google trends) representing search queries statistics and provides the analysis of how this method is used abroad. The study is focused on the people`s interest (number of search queries) and attitudes towards Russia`s WTO accession that took place in August 2012. The analysis has three stages: interest in getting information about the World Trade Organization globally, in Russia and in the regions. The author describes how mass media influences the people`s interest in this organization by shaping hopes and fears regarding country`s accession. The article outlines different types of concernment depending on economic factors such as export/import structure of regional economies. The study reveals that there is a relationship between economic indicators of the regions and public concernment in getting information about the World Trade Organization. Thus, those who are most concerned are residents of economically active regions that took part in the international trade and got big subsidies and foreign investments. At the same time, the analysis of the search queries and information about the countries that paid highest attention to this organization shows that the WTO`s prestige is going down internationally.