FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Russ Oates, 202.419.4372, [email protected] Global Public Downbeat about Economy Amid an uneven global economic recovery, publics around the world remain glum. In most nations, people say their country is heading in the wrong direction and most voice the view that economic conditions are bad. And a global median of less than half expect their economy to improve over the next year, according to a new survey report by the Pew Research Center. A global median of 60% see their country’s economy performing poorly. This includes 64% of those surveyed in advanced economies and 59% in emerging markets. Only in developing economies is there some semblance of satisfaction with economic performance: 51% voice the view that their economy is doing well. Those who see their economy in the most negative light are the Greeks (97% say economic conditions are bad), Italians (96%), Spanish (93%) and Ukrainians (93%). In the United States, 58% are of the opinion that the American economy is not doing well. Those most positive are the Chinese (89%), Vietnamese (87%) and Germans (85%). The survey was conducted among 48,643 respondents in 44 countries from March 17 to June 5, 2014. This is the first in a series of Pew Research Center reports from the survey examining public views of major economic changes in advanced, emerging and developing nations. The survey also finds: Where the Mood Has Soured: Economic attitudes have soured in the last year in a half-dozen countries. In 2013, a majority of Brazilians (59%) said their economy was doing well. Only 32% hold this view today. There also has been a 15-point decline in positive views of the economy in Venezuela and 13-point drops in Argentina and Malaysia. Others Upbeat: In 2013 in the United Kingdom and Pakistan, only 15% and 17% of the public, respectively, thought the economy was doing well. In 2014, British assessments of their economic conditions have improved by 28 points. Pakistanis’ economic frame of mind has risen by 20 points. Double-digit improvements are also found in Uganda, Israel, Indonesia, South Korea, Russia, Chile and Germany. A Positive Future: A global median of 46% sees their economy picking up over the next year. The most optimistic nation is China (80%), but there are also high expectations in Peru (77%), Vietnam (74%), Senegal (73%), Nigeria (72%), Colombia (70%) and India (71%). In the UK, 45% see their economy improving over the next year – a 23-point rise since 2013. Confidence is also up 18 points in Indonesia (to 55% in 2014) and 15 points in Uganda (57%) since last year. Pessimism Pervades in Some Places: The greatest pessimists can be found in Greece (53% expect the economy to worsen in the next year), France (48%), Lebanon (46%) and the Palestinian territories (44%). Optimism has nosedived in Japan, where just 15% foresee their economy improving in the next year, down from 40% in 2013. More than six-in-ten Malaysians (64%) were upbeat about their economic prospects in 2013; now, less than half (47%) see a brighter economic future. U.S. optimism is down nine points, from 44% in 2013 to 35% in 2014. A Range of Economic Concerns: A global median of 77% says both rising prices and a lack of employment opportunities are very big problems in their country. A median of 60% holds the view that the gap between the rich and the poor is a very big concern. And 59% assert that public debt is similarly a very big challenge. Debt causes the greatest concern in advanced economies. Inflation tops the list in 18 of 25 emerging markets. And in developing societies, both jobs and inflation are the subject of intense public worry. These findings are for immediate release and available at pewglobal.org/2014/09/09/global-public-downbeat-about-economy. ALSO SEE: A map of the economic mood in advanced, emerging and developing economies; a look at where people are most optimistic and pessimistic about their economic future; and the global indicators database updated with new economic content. For more information or to arrange an interview with Bruce Stokes, please contact Russ Oates at 202.419.4372 or [email protected]. Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan source of data and analysis. It does not take advocacy positions. Its Global Attitudes Project conducts public opinion surveys around the world on a broad array of subjects ranging from people’s assessments of their own lives to their views about the current state of the world and important issues of the day.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 14:50:20 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015