This weekly report consists of twenty two surveys. The report includes four multi-country studies national surveys from different states across the globe.

666-43-20/Commentary:

Nearly two-thirds of urban Indians favour the government’s decision to regulate digital content

Millennials are most likely to support as well as say their consumption of digital content is likely to increase due to this move

YouGov’s latest survey reveals nearly two-thirds (64%) of urban Indians support (either strongly or somewhat) the government’s decision of bringing digital content including films, web series as well as online news under the ambit of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Only a small number (13%) said they oppose this move, while 22% are unsure of their decision.

The findings are similar to the ones revealed by YouGov’s survey last year where a majority had given their consent for the censorship of digital content.

Is it interesting to note that millennials emerged as the greatest advocates of digital censorship; with one in seven (69%) saying they support the government’s decision to regulate online content.

The majority of urban Indians favour this decision because they feel online content includes a lot of inappropriate content for children (56%). Many find depictions of violence and bloodshed (48%) and nudity & strong language (44%) in certain kinds of content concerning.

Thinking about the impact of this decision on OTT/ Video-streaming platforms, two in five respondents (40%) feel regulation of digital content will make it more suitable for children as well as members of other age groups. A third (33%) are positive about the content quality improving, and almost as many (31%) feel the viewership of digital channels will increase due to this.

Censorship

Many expect gloomy outcomes such as restriction of access to the global/niche content (31%), increase in the piracy of movies or series (23%), decrease in the viewership, and deterioration of the quality of content (20% each).

People’s positive expectations from digital media regulation extend to online news platforms as well. One-third of urban Indians said regulation of digital news would lead to better clarity of facts around current events and happening (33%). Another third thinks the spread of fake news could now be controlled (33%), and just as many feel that the quality of news on digital platforms will improve (32%).

Censorship 2

Some believe once digital news comes under the purview of the government, it may lose its essence as the freedom of speech will get restricted (27%), while others are of the opinion that it might affect the quality of news (21%).

When asked about the impact on their personal consumption of digital media, a third (33%) said their consumption of content on OTT platforms is likely to increase because of the filtration of content. One in five (20%) feel it will decrease and for a quarter (24%) it is likely to remain unchanged.

Similarly, two in five (39%) respondents said their personal consumption of digital news is likely to surge due to the regulation. One in three (31%) feel it will remain unchanged, and only a small number (16%) hinted towards a decline in their online news consumption.

Amongst all the age groups, millennials were most likely to say their personal consumption of both digital content and digital news will increase once content goes through regulation- at 40% and 45%, respectively.

(YouGov)

November 25, 2020

Source: https://in.yougov.com/en-hi/news/2020/11/25/nearly-two-thirds-urban-indians-favour-governments/

666-43-21/Country Profile: India

SUMMARY OF POLLS

ASIA

(Singapore)

Singaporeans divided on decision to re-open nightclubs

Recently, a limited number of bars, pubs, nightclubs, discotheques and karaoke lounges re-opened with COVID-19 safety measures in place under a pilot programme. Latest YouGov data looks at what Singaporeans think of nightclubs re-opening and of nightlife as a whole. After eight months of remaining shut, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced that certain nightlife venues would be able to re-open. While three in ten (29%) of Singaporeans agree with this decision, the other three in ten (29%) disagree. The remaining two in ten (18%) are undecided. (YouGov)

December 01, 2020

(India)

Nearly two-thirds of urban Indians favour the government’s decision to regulate digital content

November 25, 2020

MENA

(UAE)

Improving immunity was a key reason to participate in the Dubai Fitness Challenge this year

The fourth edition of the Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC) commenced on October 30 with the introduction of global safety practices and a mix of physical and virtual workouts. YouGov’s latest survey reveals the pandemic has given people many more reasons to participate and a large proportion of UAE residents (45%) took up the challenge this year in order to improve their immunity. (YouGov)

November 25, 2020

AFRICA

(South Africa)

Most Basotho say government bungled teacher strike, is failing on education and youth

Most Basotho say the government is doing a poor job on education and youth, including mishandling its protracted dispute with public school teachers, the latest Afrobarometer survey shows. Citizens overwhelmingly support the teachers, who were on intermittent strike for much of 2019 and continue to demand better salaries and working conditions. (Afrobarometer)

December 03, 2020

EUROPE

(Germany)

23 percent of German corporate decision-makers feel unprepared for Brexit

The Brexit transition phase will end on December 31, 2020. From 2021, the United Kingdom will no longer be part of the EU internal market and the customs union as a “third country”. 22 percent of European corporate decision-makers state that their company is little or not at all prepared for the changes associated with Brexit. The UK has the highest number (31 percent). In Germany, 23 percent of corporate decision-makers state that they are little or not at all prepared for the final Brexit implementation. (YouGov)

December 01, 2020

(France)

Faced with the controversy, what popularity for the CNews channel?

CNews has come under heavy criticism in recent months. However, audience figures suggest that the format of the news channel is increasingly popular with the public. In September 2020, Vincent Bolloré's media thus reached an audience share of 1.5% according to Médiamétrie, practically doubling its score compared to the previous year. (YouGov)

November 30, 2020

(Italy)

Fruits preferred by Italians and sustainability of production

We asked the Italians what their favorite fruits were this season and what they thought about the issue of sustainability in agricultural production. Mandarin, grapes, apple, chestnut and orange are the favorite fruits of the Italians in this period. Persimmon, in seventh position by preference, shows a high share of "loyal": among those who ate it in the last month, almost one in three people selected it as their favorite fruit in this period. (YouGov)

November 27, 2020

(UK)

Two thirds of Britons support cutting the foreign aid budget

In 2015, then-Prime Minister David Cameron enshrined in law the UK’s commitment to spending 0.7% of GDP on foreign aid. The figure had been adopted as a target in principle as early as 1974, although it wasn’t until 2013 that it was met for the first time. In light of the damage caused to the public finances by the coronavirus crisis, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced today that foreign aid spending will be reduced to 0.5% of GDP – a reduction of £5bn. (YouGov)

November 25, 2020

(UK)

Two in five Britons plan to shop during Black Friday and Cyber Monday

There is unlikely to be any footage of eager shoppers fighting over discounted TVs on Black Friday this year. But the national lockdown isn’t putting people off. Two in five people (40%) plan to bag a discount during the sales period – which is in line with last year when 39% of Britons participated. The four in ten Black Friday shoppers are mostly composed of people who say they will only shop online (32%). Just 1% expect to exclusively shop in-store and one in fourteen (7%) say they will do both. (YouGov)

November 25, 2020

(UK)

Hopes of vaccine boost public’s opinion of the pharmaceutical industry

Britons are feeling increasingly positive about pharmaceutical and biotech companies, with 47% of the public now saying they have a favourable view of the industry, YouGov tracker data shows. The latest figures were recorded on 12 Nov – three days after Pfizer and BioTech announced that their COVID-19 vaccine was 90% effective. The news appears to have prompted a six-point jump in positive opinion, up from 41% in mid-October. (YouGov)

November 26, 2020

(UK)

Eight in ten say it is currently difficult to find a job in Britain

YouGov’s tracking data shows a massive 80% of the public think it is currently difficult for those in the market to find a job in Britain, including 42% who think it is “very difficult”. Just 9% say it is currently easy for those looking to find a job. Unsurprisingly this is a massive shift from before the first UK lockdown. In February, 44% thought finding a job was difficult while 39% thought it was easy. (YouGov)

November 26, 2020

(UK)

Leisure-wear, pyjamas and even showering less, has COVID accelerated a decline in formality?

In new research by Ipsos MORI, two-thirds (67%) of Britons say they are dressing more casually since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Two-thirds say this means they can exercise their personal choices more while 63% say they are happy that they can dress more casually. Six in ten (59%) feel confident about knowing how to dress in a more casual way, the same proportion say working from home makes it easier to do so. Just over half of Britons say you rarely see people at work in business suits these days (54%). (Ipsos MORI)

November 27, 2020

NORTH AMERICA

Americans' Holiday Spending Intentions Strengthen in November

Gallup's latest update of Americans' 2020 holiday spending plans finds consumers estimating they will spend an average $852 on Christmas gifts, nearly identical to the $846 they projected at the same time last year. Annual trend since 1999 in which Americans estimate each November of the amount they will spend on Christmas gifts, ranging from a high of $866 in 2007 to a low of $616 in 2008. The November 2020 figure is $852. (Gallup USA)

November 25, 2020

Biden's Favorability Rises to 55%, Trump's Dips to 42%

President-elect Joe Biden's favorability rating has risen six percentage points to 55% since the election compared with his final preelection reading. At the same time, President Donald Trump's favorability has edged down three points to 42%. Biden's current rating is the highest it has been since February 2019, two months before he declared his candidacy for president, when it was 56%. Trump's latest favorability falls short of the highest of his presidency, 49% in April, during the initial stages of the coronavirus pandemic. (Gallup USA)

November 30, 2020

Prior to COVID-19, child poverty rates had reached record lows in U.S.

In 2019, the year with the most recently available data, 14% of children under age 18, or 10.5 million children, were living in poverty, down from 22%, or 16.3 million, in 2010. All major racial and ethnic groups saw declines since 2010, but the greatest decreases were in the shares of Black and Hispanic children living in poverty. About two-in-ten Hispanic children (21%) were living in poverty in 2019, down from 35% in 2010. In 2019, 26% of Black children were impoverished, dropping from 39% in 2010. Even so, Black and Hispanic children were still about three times as likely as Asian (7%) and White (8%) children to be living in poverty. (PEW)

November 29, 2020

In the pandemic, the share of unpartnered moms at work fell more sharply than among other parents

Balancing work and family obligations is a challenge for many parents, but remote learning and the closure of many child care centers have put added stress on them in the COVID-19 pandemic, especially on parents without the support of a partner at home. While previous research on the labor market shows that the pandemic has similarly affected mothers and fathers overall from September 2019 to September 2020, a new Pew Research Center analysis finds that the share of unpartnered mothers who are employed and at work has fallen more precipitously than among other parents. (PEW)

November 24, 2020

AUSTRALIA

Movement in Melbourne CBD at only 27% of normal after lockdown ends, well behind Sydney CBD (42%)

Movement in the Melbourne CBD during mid-November was at an average of only 27% of the pre-COVID-19 levels earlier in the year during January and February – although this has almost doubled since being at only 14% during the final week of lockdown in late October. Comparing movement levels during 2020 shows that movement levels in the Melbourne CBD have been lower than all other Capital City CBDs every week since late March when the first national lockdown began and hit a low of only 11% of normal in the final week of August. (Roy Morgan)

November 27, 2020

MULTICOUNTRY STUDIES

COVID-19 Magnifies Pre-Existing Gender Inequalities in MENA

December 01, 2020

NATO seen in a positive light by many across 10 member states

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is seen more favorably than not across 10 member states and Sweden. A median of 60% across these 10 countries have a favorable view of the political and military alliance, compared with a median of 30% who have an unfavorable opinion. This is in keeping with previous Pew Research Center surveys, which found that NATO was seen in a favorable light across most member countries. (PEW)

November 30, 2020

ASIA

666-43-01/Poll

Singaporeans divided on decision to re-open nightclubs

Four in five believe that keeping citizens safe during pandemic more important that nightlife activities

After eight months of remaining shut, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced that certain nightlife venues would be able to re-open. While three in ten (29%) of Singaporeans agree with this decision, the other three in ten (29%) disagree. The remaining two in ten (18%) are undecided. Younger Singaporeans (aged 18 to 34) are the most likely to agree with the decision to re-open, while older Singaporeans (aged 55 and above) are the least likely (35% vs. 20%).

While Singaporeans might be split on whether nightlife venues should re-open, data shows that most have never visited a nightclub before – with seven in ten (72%) saying they’ve never set foot in a nightclub. Women are more likely to have never visited a nightclub than men (80% vs. 65%) are. Out of the remaining 28% who have visited a nightclub, only a small percentage are frequent club-goers. Prior to the pandemic, one in twenty (5%) went clubbing at least once a month, one in twenty (6%) at least once every six months and one in six (16%) less than once every six months.

As a whole, two-thirds (67%) of Singaporeans are unbothered about nightlife venues remaining shut. One in six (17%) actively dislike spending time at these venues, and find that nightlife activities remaining shut have benefited them. The remaining one in six (16%) miss going out at night and enjoy spending time at these venues.

Amongst club-goers, the main reason to go clubbing is to spend time with friends (64%). To enjoy the music and for a celebration and party (37%) come in joint second, followed by to drink alcohol (36%), to dance (19%) and to chat up people (14%). A small percentage (7%) say they go clubbing because there are no other places to go at night.

The re-opening of these venues sees some very stringent measures in place. For example, all customers must wear masks at all times even when on the dancefloor or while singing. No alcohol can be sold, served or consumed after 10:30pm and all customers must be tested negative for COVID-19 24 hours prior to entering the establishment. With these measures in mind, three in five (63%) of Singaporeans are uninterested in returning to nightlife venues. A quarter (25%) have no opinion, and slightly over one in ten (13%) are keen. However, amongst younger Singaporeans (aged 18 to 34), this number doubles, with one in five (19%) interested in returning to nightlife venues, even with stringent measures in place.

Singaporeans are not only divided on whether nightlife venues should re-open, they also appear divided on their attitudes towards nightlife venues as a whole. Half (48%) agree that going to bars, clubs and karaoke lounges help people relieve stress, and almost half (45%) agree that the nightlife industry is an important part of Singapore's economy. However, a similar number (44%) also believe that nightlife establishments do more harm than good. The majority (79%) agrees that keeping citizens safe in a pandemic is more important than allowing for nightlife activities.

(YouGov)

December 01, 2020

Source: https://sg.yougov.com/en-sg/news/2020/12/01/singaporeans-divided-decision-re-open-nightclubs/

666-43-02/Poll

Nearly two-thirds of urban Indians favour the government’s decision to regulate digital content

Millennials are most likely to support as well as say their consumption of digital content is likely to increase due to this move

Only a small number (13%) said they oppose this move, while 22% are unsure of their decision.

The findings are similar to the ones revealed by YouGov’s survey last year where a majority had given their consent for the censorship of digital content.

Is it interesting to note that millennials emerged as the greatest advocates of digital censorship; with one in seven (69%) saying they support the government’s decision to regulate online content.

Censorship

Censorship 2

(YouGov)

November 25, 2020

Source: https://in.yougov.com/en-hi/news/2020/11/25/nearly-two-thirds-urban-indians-favour-governments/

MENA

666-43-03/Poll

Improving immunity was a key reason to participate in the Dubai Fitness Challenge this year

Among residents who did not participate, fear of catching the Covid infection was the top reason

The fourth edition of the Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC) commenced on October 30 with the introduction of global safety practices and a mix of physical and virtual workouts.

YouGov’s latest survey reveals the pandemic has given people many more reasons to participate and a large proportion of UAE residents (45%) took up the challenge this year in order to improve their immunity.

In addition to this, nearly one in three (28%) participated to try the newly the introduced stay-home workout sessions, and just as many enrolled themselves to take a break from staying at home due to Covid (27%).

DFC 1

Even though many residents participated due to reasons related to Covid, the majority took part in the challenge to keep themselves motivated to stay fit (64%). Motivation for good health was the key reason for participation last year as well (with 54% saying this).

A third (32%) participate every year and joined this time to keep the tradition alive. Other reasons for participation included getting out of comfort zone (40%), to have fun (38%) and for the free health check-ups and classes (34%).

The pandemic has pushed many people to focus on fitness and transform their lifestyles. Despite the fear of the virus, two-thirds (67%) of those aware of the Dubai Fitness Challenge participated this year, compared to 75% last year. A third (33%) did not participate this time, up from 25% last year.

Among those who did not participate, fear of catching the infection was the main reason (as said by 34%). Another 17% did not take part out of concern for social distancing practiced at the venues.

As a tradition, the Dubai Fitness Challenge encourages people to complete 30 minutes of activity a day for 30 days. Of the residents who participated this year, seven in ten (72%) claimed to log at least 30 minutes of activity a day. One in twelve (8%) pushed themselves further and clocked in more than 60 minutes.

Furthermore, all enthusiasts had specific fitness goals that they wanted to achieve through this initiative. Improving overall fitness (61%) was the top ambition, followed by weight loss and increasing stamina (51% each).

DFC 1

The data shows residents seem happy with the results of the challenge and it had a positive impact on their health and wellness. For all the listed goals, a large majority think the fitness challenge helped them achieve their goals to a great extent.

Enthusiasm for fitness is likely to continue as nearly nine in ten (88%) participants intend to take part in the challenge next year as well.

(YouGov)

November 25, 2020

Source: https://mena.yougov.com/en/news/2020/11/26/improving-immunity-was-key-reason-participate-duba/

AFRICA

666-43-04/Poll

Most Basotho say government bungled teacher strike, is failing on education and youth

Most Basotho say the government is doing a poor job on education and youth, including mishandling its protracted dispute with public school teachers, the latest Afrobarometer survey shows.

Citizens overwhelmingly support the teachers, who were on intermittent strike for much of 2019 and continue to demand better salaries and working conditions.

The survey also shows that a majority of Basotho expect more effective government action to address the needs of youth and would willingly pay more taxes if that would mean funding for initiatives to help young people, especially through job creation.

These findings suggest that Basotho want a less intransigent government response that will end the long-running dispute with teachers and address critical education and youth development needs of the population.

(Afrobarometer)

December 03, 2020

Source: https://www.afrobarometer.org/press/most-basotho-say-government-bungled-teacher-strike-failing-education-and-youth

EUROPE

666-43-05/Poll

23 percent of German corporate decision-makers feel unprepared for Brexit

A YouGov poll of European business decision-makers in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain on Brexit

The majority of British business decision-makers (58 percent) say that their companies are sufficiently prepared for Brexit. In Spain it is 57 percent, and 46 percent each in Germany and Italy. In France, 39 percent of corporate decision-makers say this.

MORE CRITICISM THAN PRAISE FOR BREXIT PREPARATIONS BY THE RESPECTIVE GOVERNMENTS

German decision-makers say the most (36 percent) that their government prepared companies well or adequately for the possible effects of the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union. Among the British, a third (32 percent) say this, among the French and Spaniards 29 percent of company decision-makers each make this statement, in Italy a quarter (25 percent).

UK respondents are most likely to say (41 percent) that their companies have been poorly prepared by their government for the potential impact of the exit. Just as many Spaniards make this statement. In Germany, that's 30 percent. Among French corporate decision-makers, as many as 43 percent say that they have not received any preparations. Only 19 percent say this in Great Britain.

(YouGov)

December 01, 2020

Source: https://yougov.de/news/2020/12/03/23-prozent-der-deutschen-unternehmensentscheider-f/

666-43-06/Poll

Faced with the controversy, what popularity for the CNews channel?

Some shows perform particularly well, like "Face à l'Info", which saw its audience explode. In October 2020, the program attracted an average of 587,000 viewers, against 149,000 a year earlier.

Can we highlight certain correlations between recent controversies and the evolution of brand indicators? Response with YouGov BrandIndex.

A channel that makes people talk about it

On September 29, Eric Zemmour's intervention in the show Face à l'Info created controversy on social networks. There is an increase in Word of Mouth from the end of September. The indicator thus rose by 3.5 points in a few weeks.

An increase in perceived Quality

While CNews' Quality score had been falling since early September, it started to rise again from October 13 and peaked at 23.4 in mid-November, a rapid increase of 27.1 points.

Recommended media

Likewise, the Recommendation indicator fell and turned negative on September 29, before starting to rise sharply a few days later. The score thus increased by 34.1 points between mid-October and mid-November.

A growing audience

Another major finding: the number of people watching the channel increased by 5.7 points between the end of September and the beginning of November.

Who are the French who watch CNews?

(YouGov)

November 30, 2020

Source: https://fr.yougov.com/news/2020/11/30/face-la-polemique-quelle-popularite-pour-cnews/

666-43-07/Poll

Fruits preferred by Italians and sustainability of production

We asked the Italians what their favorite fruits were this season and what they thought about the issue of sustainability in agricultural production.

Mandarin, grapes, apple, chestnut and orange are the favorite fruits of the Italians in this period . Persimmon, in seventh position by preference, shows a high share of "loyal": among those who ate it in the last month, almost one in three people selected it as their favorite fruit in this period

67% of Italians said they had asked themselves at least once if fruit and vegetables are grown in an eco-sustainable way and in compliance with workers' rights, but there is still 22% who admit that they never asked. Residual is the share of those who explicitly declare that they are not interested in the issue.

The issue of eco-sustainability is more present in the minds of consumers than that of workers' rights, but those who eat a lot of fruit show more sensitivity to the latter in particular.

Avocado and Banana are the fruits considered less sustainable in the eyes of Italian consumers . Only 13% of those who ate Avocado in the last month think that this fruit is grown (often or always) with respect for the environment and workers when it comes to non-European crops (19% for local crops).

The avocado is therefore considered the unsustainable fruit par excellence, followed by the banana, so the gap between the perceived sustainability of our own and extra-EU is smaller. In third place of the most critical crops outside the EU, we find grapes, on which, however, Italians feel reassured to a greater extent within national borders.

In conclusion, considering the attention that fruit enthusiasts place on ethical issues of production, focusing more on the sustainability of exotic fruits "of the moment", such as avocado, could please consumers and represent an opportunity for retailers.

(YouGov)

November 27, 2020

Source: https://it.yougov.com/news/2020/11/27/frutti-preferiti-dagli-italiani-e-sostenibilita-de/

666-43-08/Poll

Two thirds of Britons support cutting the foreign aid budget

In light of the damage caused to the public finances by the coronavirus crisis, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced today that foreign aid spending will be reduced to 0.5% of GDP – a reduction of £5bn.

Such a move is controversial in political circles. Baroness Sugg, a Foreign Office minister whose brief included overseas development, resigned in protest at the news, describing it as “fundamentally wrong”. David Cameron and fellow former Prime Minister Tony Blair have both described the move as a “strategic mistake”, while former international development secretary Andrew Mitchell has said the cuts will cause "100,000 preventable deaths, mainly among children".

One group among whom the cut is not controversial, however, is the British public. New YouGov research conducted in the run-up to the announcement shows that two thirds (66%) say that reducing the amount spent on overseas aid is the right decision. Only 18% think it is the wrong call.

The move is near-universally popular among Conservative voters, 92% of whom are in support. Support is lower among Labour and Lib Dem voters, but the move is still more popular than not: Labour voters back it by 44% to 37% and Lib Dem voters do so by 49% to 35%.

Foreign aid spending levels have long been consistently unpopular with the British public, topping our tracker on what sector people think the government spends too much on by a wide margin.

(YouGov)

November 25, 2020

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2020/11/25/two-thirds-britons-support-cutting-foreign-aid-bud

666-43-09/Poll

Two in five Britons plan to shop during Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Black Friday shoppers overwhelmingly plan to shop online as only essential shops remain open across Britain

The four in ten Black Friday shoppers are mostly composed of people who say they will only shop online (32%). Just 1% expect to exclusively shop in-store and one in fourteen (7%) say they will do both.

Slightly more than four in ten Britons (44%) say they won’t do any Black Friday bargain hunting this year, while another one in six Britons (16%) are undecided.

Younger people are the keenest Black Friday and Cyber Monday shoppers, with nearly three in five 18- to 24-year-olds (58%) planning to take part. This includes 11% who will go to a physical store either in addition to shopping online (7%) or will shop in-store exclusively (4%).

Half of Britons aged 25 to 49 (51%) also expect to buy discounted items, including one in ten (10%) who will shop online and in-store (9%) or in-store only (1%).

Older people are less likely to go bargain-hunting, although even among those aged 65 and over a fifth (21%) plan to take advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.

Social grade also appears to be an indicator of how likely Britons are to partake in the sales period. People in grade ABC1, which predominantly includes those in professional occupations, are keener at 45%, while C2DEs, who often do manual work, are less likely to join in at 36%.

(YouGov)

November 25, 2020

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/consumer/articles-reports/2020/11/25/two-five-britons-plan-shop-during-black-friday-and

666-43-10/Poll

Hopes of vaccine boost public’s opinion of the pharmaceutical industry

Approaching half of Britons now have a favourable view of the industry

Britons are feeling increasingly positive about pharmaceutical and biotech companies, with 47% of the public now saying they have a favourable view of the industry, YouGov tracker data shows.

The latest figures were recorded on 12 Nov – three days after Pfizer and BioTech announced that their COVID-19 vaccine was 90% effective. The news appears to have prompted a six-point jump in positive opinion, up from 41% in mid-October.

The same movement is reflected in the proportion of people with an unfavourable view of pharmaceuticals dropping from a fifth (19%) to about one in seven (14%). About three in ten people (31%) have neither favourable nor unfavourable feelings.

Older people generally have more favourable views of pharmaceutical companies than the wider population. Among this group three in five (58%) now see them positively, eight points higher than last month.

While the vaccine new has provided a boost in public perceptions, the start of the pandemic prompted the largest leap in positive opinion, from 32% in February to 51% in April. This remains the highest level of positivity the industry has received, having receded slowly over the course of the crisis. But with the roll-out of coronavirus vaccines imminent, the pharmaceutical industry’s reputation may have further to rise.

(YouGov)

November 26, 2020

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/health/articles-reports/2020/11/26/hopes-vaccine-boost-publics-opinion-pharmaceutical

666-43-11/Poll

Eight in ten say it is currently difficult to find a job in Britain

Only 9% think it is currently easy to do so, the lowest number since the coronavirus crisis began

The number thinking the job market is currently difficult has been on an upward trend over the course of the year, initially jumping to 57% in April and then to 71% in June. Figures rose only slightly thereafter, to 78% in July and have remained at about that level ever since.

Similar figures are seen across all age groups – suggesting a wider understanding of the difficulties those in the job market are currently facing. Conservatives, however, are slightly more optimistic about the situation than Labour voters. Amongst Tory voters 14% think it is currently easy to find a job, compared to 77% who say it is difficult. Just 5% of Labour voters say it is currently easy, while 89% say it is hard to find work.

The public are split on what kind of government would do better getting Britons back to work: 27% of the public believe a Labour government led by Keir Starmer would be better at providing more jobs, compared to 25% who believe the same about a Conservative government led by Boris Johnson.

(YouGov)

November 26, 2020

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/economy/articles-reports/2020/11/26/eight-ten-say-it-currently-difficult-find-job-brit

666-43-12/Poll

Leisure-wear, pyjamas and even showering less, has COVID accelerated a decline in formality?

Six in ten (59%) feel confident about knowing how to dress in a more casual way, the same proportion say working from home makes it easier to do so. Just over half of Britons say you rarely see people at work in business suits these days (54%).

Decline in formality Half of Britons say they are more likely to have worn clothes such as gym wear, joggers or leggings for everyday wear since the start of the pandemic with 61% of knowledge workers saying they wear business wear much less often these days. Just over a third (35%) have spent more time than usual wearing pyjamas or night clothes during the day. Over 6 in 10 of those who identify as female say they are less likely to wear high heel shoes now (62%).

A quarter are less likely to shower each morning compared to before the pandemic, luckily for our noses, only 14% are less likely to use deodorant. A third say they are less likely to style their hair.

Decline in formality Almost half of those who identify as male have gone unshaven for more days than before the pandemic started, a third have grown a beard (32%). Among women, half (52%) are wearing less make-up than usual. Two in 10 (18%) say the only times they wear make-up are for video calls with friends.

Billie Ing, Head of UK Trends at Ipsos MORI, says:

There has been a trend towards less formality for many years, but this has been accelerated by the pandemic and people subsequently working from home. Heels are being ditched, sportswear is on the up and people are embracing casual work wear. For some, however, it is a tale of two halves – with a quarter of people dressing smartly on the top, whilst keeping it casual on the bottom!

(Ipsos MORI)

November 27, 2020

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/leisure-wear-pyjamas-and-even-showering-less-has-covid-accelerated-decline-formality

NORTH AMERICA

666-43-13/Poll

Americans' Holiday Spending Intentions Strengthen in November

Christmas1

Line graph. Annual trend since 1999 in which Americans estimate each November of the amount they will spend on Christmas gifts, ranging from a high of $866 in 2007 to a low of $616 in 2008. The November 2020 figure is $852.

The latest gift-buying estimate, based on a Gallup telephone poll of U.S. adults conducted Nov. 5-19, is higher than the $805 Americans' expected to spend in October and points to stronger holiday sales than were implied by that preliminary figure.

Holiday sales typically increase year-over-year, with an average 3.3% annual increase since 2000, according to figures from the National Retail Federation. Sales increased by more than 5% in strong years (such as in 2004 and 2005) and by 2% or less in weak years, including negative sales growth in 2008 and 2009.

Gallup analysis of the historical relationship between Americans' Christmas spending intentions each November and actual holiday retail sales suggests that this year's holiday retail sales are likely to rise by an amount similar to the historical average (in the 3.3% range). By contrast, the October estimate of $805 in spending on gifts was indicative of below-average sales (rising by closer to 2%). Gallup has historically found a stronger correlation between November spending estimates and actual retail sales, in part due to changes in the economic or political climate that have occurred between those months in some years.

Range of Spending Is Also Similar to 2019

The latest spending estimate reflects 32% of Americans planning to spend $1,000 or more on Christmas gifts, 21% spending between $500 and $999, 29% spending between $100 and $499, and 2% spending less than $100.

These percentages are nearly identical to what Gallup found in November 2019, further indicating that the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has not altered Americans' normal holiday spending patterns.

Americans' Christmas Spending Estimate

Roughly how much money do you think you personally will spend on Christmas gifts this year?

	Nov 1-14, 2019	Nov 5-19, 2020
	%	%
$1,000 or more	34	35
$500-999	21	19
$250-499	16	13
$100-249	14	18
Under $100	2	3
None/Don't celebrate	8	9
Not sure	4	4
Average, including zero	$846	$852
Average, excluding zero	$927	$940
GALLUP

Although spending intentions vary by household income, the figures at each income level are also essentially unchanged from 2019. Currently, those living in households earning $100,000 or more per year plan to spend an average of $1,291 on Christmas gifts. This drops to $888 among those earning between $40,000 and $99,999, and to $516 among those earning less than $40,000.

Estimated Christmas spending is also higher among households with children younger than 18 living at home ($1,103) than in households without children ($749).

Americans Are Modestly Cautious in Describing Their Spending Plans

Separately, the poll asks Americans to say whether the amount they plan to spend on Christmas gifts is more, the same as, or less than what they spent the year prior.

As is almost always the case, the largest segment of Americans, 57%, say they will spend about the same on gifts while a larger proportion say they will spend less (28%) rather than more (15%).

Christmas3

Line graph. Annual trend since 1999 in Americans' report each November of whether the amount they plan to spend on Christmas gifts is more, about the same, or less than what they spent the year prior. In all years except 2008, the majority have said they will spend the same amount. The percentage saying they will spend less has varied from a high of 46% in 2008 to a low of 18% in 2000. The November 2020 figure is 28%.

Each November since 2002, the public has tilted toward saying they will spend less money rather than more, with the gap between those figures ranging from six points in 2016, 2017 and 2018 to 39 points in 2008. Holiday sales tended to be below average in years when the advantage for less spending was high, while spending was relatively strong in low-gap years.

This year's 13-point difference matches the mean historical gap in spending expectations, providing further evidence that holiday retail sales will be about average in 2020.

Bottom Line

Americans' latest estimate of their spending on gifts this holiday season offers retailers some hope of normalcy at the end of a year that has been anything but normal. Of course, how and where Americans spend may differ from prior years amidst an accelerating surge in COVID-19 cases nationwide, with some types of retailers benefiting more than others.

There is also no guarantee that consumers' spending intentions will be sustained over the next month when holiday shopping typically kicks into high gear. How much Christmas shoppers follow through on their November spending mood could depend on the extent to which the present surge in COVID-19 cases compels renewed lockdowns that crimp household income and in-person retail shopping. Smaller family gatherings and fewer holiday parties could also mean less impetus to expand gift-giving beyond one's immediate household.

On the other hand, recent research by Franklin Templeton and Gallup suggests that should Congress pass a second stimulus bill before Christmas that includes direct checks to families -- a long-shot at this late date -- retailers could potentially see a slight boost in spending beyond what is predicted today.

(Gallup USA)

November 25, 2020

Source: https://news.gallup.com/poll/326654/americans-holiday-spending-intentions-strengthen-november.aspx

666-43-14/Poll

Biden's Favorability Rises to 55%, Trump's Dips to 42%

Biden's current rating is the highest it has been since February 2019, two months before he declared his candidacy for president, when it was 56%. Trump's latest favorability falls short of the highest of his presidency, 49% in April, during the initial stages of the coronavirus pandemic.

Line graph. Favorable ratings of Donald Trump and Joe Biden since January 2019. The latest readings, from November 2020, are 55% for Biden and 42% for Trump.

These findings are from a postelection survey conducted Nov. 5-19, a period during which Trump's legal team was challenging the results in a number of states. The increase in Biden's favorability between Gallup's final preelection and first postelection readings is driven by independents and Republicans, whose positive ratings of Biden grew from 48% to 55% and 6% to 12%, respectively. Democrats' nearly unanimous positive ratings remained constant.

Trump's slightly lower postelection favorable rating is owed more to Republicans than independents or Democrats. Republicans' rating of the president fell six points to 89%, while it was essentially unchanged among independents and static among Democrats.

Partisans' Favorable Ratings of Donald Trump and Joe Biden

% of Americans with a favorable opinion

	Oct 16-27	Nov 5-19
	%	%
Joe Biden
Republicans	6	12
Independents	48	55
Democrats	95	96
Donald Trump
Republicans	95	89
Independents	38	36
Democrats	3	3
GALLUP, 2020

Historical Comparisons of Candidate Favorability Pre- and Postelection

Since 2000, the winning presidential candidate's favorability ratings have increased slightly after the election. In 2000, when George W. Bush was not declared the winner until several weeks after Election Day, neither he nor Al Gore enjoyed an initial postelection bump. Yet, after the Supreme Court's Dec. 12 decision in Bush v. Gore determined Bush had won reelection, his favorability rose four points.

Additionally, since 2000, the winner's postelection favorability reached the majority level in every election except 2016, when Trump was the most personally unpopular presidential candidate in Gallup polling history. Biden's six-point increase in favorability this year is in line with those for other presidents and presidents-elect.

The pattern for losing presidential candidates is mixed. Some, including John McCain in 2008 and Mitt Romney in 2012, had significantly higher favorable ratings after the election. (McCain's showed the greatest increase: 14 points.) Hillary Clinton's favorability was unchanged after the 2016 election, and there is no reading for John Kerry until July 2005, by which time his favorability had fallen 10 points. Trump's three-point postelection decline is unique over the past six presidential election cycles.

Pre- and Postelection Favorable Readings of Presidential Candidates, 2000-2020

% of Americans with a favorable opinion

	Final preelection reading	Postelection reading (Nov/Dec)	Change
	%	%	pct. pts.
2020
Joe Biden	49	55	+6
Donald Trump	45	42	-3
2016
Donald Trump	34	42	+8
Hillary Clinton	43	43	0
2012
Barack Obama	55	58	+3
Mitt Romney	46	50	+4
2008
Barack Obama	62	68	+6
John McCain	50	64	+14
2004
George W. Bush	51	60	+9
John Kerry	52	NA	NA
2000*
George W. Bush	55	59	+4
Al Gore	56	57	+1
* Data for 2000 are among registered voters
GALLUP

Favorable Ratings of Parties Are Similar

Although Americans' views of the Republican and Democratic Parties are not appreciably different from readings over the past several months, the slight edge that the Democratic Party enjoyed over the Republican Party in September has narrowed. The 45% of U.S. adults who view the Democratic Party favorably is not significantly different from the 43% who have the same view of the Republican Party.

The highest recent reading for the Republican Party was 51% in January amid Trump's impeachment trial. The Democratic Party has not reached that level since November 2012, after Barack Obama won a second term.

Line graph. Favorable ratings of the Democratic and Republican Parties since 2012. The latest readings, from November 2020, are 45% for the Democratic Party and 43% for the Republican Party.

While roughly nine in 10 Democrats and Republicans alike hold favorable opinions of their own parties, independents view the Democratic Party more positively than the Republican Party, 41% vs. 33%.

Partisans' Favorability Ratings of the Democratic and Republican Parties

% of Americans with a favorable opinion

	Democratic Party	Republican Party
	%	%
Republicans	5	90
Independents	41	33
Democrats	92	9
GALLUP, NOV. 5-19, 2020

(Gallup USA)

November 30, 2020

Source: https://news.gallup.com/poll/326885/biden-favorability-rises-trump-dips.aspx

666-43-15/Poll

Prior to COVID-19, child poverty rates had reached record lows in U.S.

Before the coronavirus outbreak sent the U.S. economy into a recession, the share of American children living in poverty was on a downward trajectory, reaching record lows across racial and ethnic groups, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data.

The number of impoverished children also declined across racial and ethnic groups. In particular, the numbers of poor Black and White children reached new lows in 2019 (each around 3 million). While there are about as many White children as Black children living in poverty, it’s worth noting that there are more than three times as many White children as Black children in the U.S.

The greatest decline was in the number of Hispanic children living in poverty. In 2019, 3.9 million Hispanic children were living in poverty, down from 6.1 million impoverished Hispanic children nearly a decade earlier. But there are still more Hispanic children in poverty than any other racial or ethnic group, which has been the case since at least 2007. This is probably because Hispanics are the largest and the youngest racial or ethnic minority population in the U.S. and because the Hispanic child poverty rate is relatively high (21%).

Overall, children are overrepresented among America’s impoverished population. Some 22% of the U.S. population are children, but those younger than 18 represent 31% of all Americans living in poverty.

Black and Hispanic children are particularly overrepresented. Black children represent a quarter of the Black population but 35% of all Black people living in poverty. And Hispanic children are 31% of the total Hispanic population but represent 41% of all impoverished Hispanics. In comparison, children represent about equal shares of total Asian and White populations and of impoverished Asians and Whites.

(PEW)

November 29, 2020

Source: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/11/30/prior-to-covid-19-child-poverty-rates-had-reached-record-lows-in-u-s/

666-43-16/Poll

In the pandemic, the share of unpartnered moms at work fell more sharply than among other parents

While previous research on the labor market shows that the pandemic has similarly affected mothers and fathers overall from September 2019 to September 2020, a new Pew Research Center analysis finds that the share of unpartnered mothers who are employed and at work has fallen more precipitously than among other parents.

In September 2020, six months since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak, 67.4% of unpartnered mothers with children younger than 18 at home were working – employed and on the job – compared with 76.1% in September 2019. This 9 percentage point drop is the largest among all groups of parents, partnered or not. Unpartnered fathers experienced a less severe decrease (4 points), about the same as the drop seen by partnered mothers and fathers (about 5 points each).

How we did this

Terminology

Black and Hispanic unpartnered mothers each experienced about a 10-point decline in the share employed and at work from September 2019 to September 2020. This was nearly double the decrease in the share of White unpartnered mothers who are working (about 6 points). The decreases in the shares of Black and Hispanic unpartnered mothers at work are also nearly double what their partnered counterparts experienced in this yearlong period.

The decline in the share of unpartnered mothers employed and at work is particularly pronounced among those whose youngest child is 5 years old or younger. In September 2020, 58.5% of unpartnered moms in this group were employed, down from 69.7% a year earlier. Unpartnered mothers whose youngest child is 6 to 17 years old also saw a drop, but not as steep – from 79.6% in September 2019 to 71.9% in September 2020. In this same time frame, there was about a 4-point drop among partnered moms whose youngest child is 5 years old or younger (from 60.5% to 56.9%) and a roughly 6-point drop for those whose youngest child is 6 to 17 years old (from 72.7% to 67.0%). Regardless of relationship status, mothers are generally more likely to be employed and at work if they have older children.

Unpartnered mothers with young children at home also saw more of a decrease in labor force participation — that is, the percentage of the population 16 or older actively working or looking for work — from September 2019 to September 2020 than did other mothers. The labor force participation rates declined about 7 percentage points for unpartnered mothers whose youngest child is 5 years old or younger, compared with a 3-point drop for those whose youngest child is 6 to 17 years old. The labor force participation rate for partnered mothers edged down by 1 point for those whose youngest child is 5 years old or younger and dropped about 3 points for those whose youngest child is 6 to 17 years old.

The disproportionate impact of pandemic-related job loss on unpartnered mothers reflects, at least in part, the demographic characteristics of this group. Black women made up 31.4% of unpartnered mothers in September 2020, compared with only 12.2% of all mothers older than 16. When it comes to education, 26.9% of unpartnered mothers had at least a bachelor’s degree, compared with 43.3% of all mothers 16 and older. As previous research shows, the pandemic recession has hit certain groups, such as Black and Hispanic women and those with less education, particularly hard.

Overall, women are more likely to be unpartnered parents than men. In September 2020, 19.7% of mothers living with children younger than 18 at home had no partner present, a much higher share than among fathers (4.7%). Unpartnered mothers are more likely than unpartnered fathers to live with young children. Some 33.6% of unpartnered mothers live with children younger than 6, compared with 25.9% of unpartnered fathers.

(PEW)

November 24, 2020

Source: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/11/24/in-the-pandemic-the-share-of-unpartnered-moms-at-work-fell-more-sharply-than-among-other-parents/

AUSTRALIA

666-43-17/Poll

Movement in Melbourne CBD at only 27% of normal after lockdown ends, well behind Sydney CBD (42%)

A special analysis of movement data in Australia’s Capital City CBDs during 2020 shows movement levels remain well below those seen earlier in the year in all six State capitals.

Comparing movement levels during 2020 shows that movement levels in the Melbourne CBD have been lower than all other Capital City CBDs every week since late March when the first national lockdown began and hit a low of only 11% of normal in the final week of August.

Movement levels in the Sydney CBD have tended to track lower than smaller cities since the ‘second wave’ began in early July and have not been above 50% of normal since hitting 51% in mid-August. At the time there were significant fears in Sydney that the city would soon follow the path trodden by Melbourne in the preceding weeks and also enter a second lockdown.

The Adelaide CBD and Perth CBD have been the standouts for most of 2020 with movement levels consistently between 70-80% of the pre-COVID-19 levels including a high of 86% of normal in the Adelaide CBD in early August.

However, Adelaide’s good run came to an abrupt end last week with the three-day shutdown causing the city’s weekly movement average to tumble to only 38% of normal in the week to November 23 and drop from first place (at 75%) before the shut-down to now be above only Melbourne.

Australian Capital City CBDs average 7-day movement levels March – November 2020:
% Movement is compared to the 7-day average in Jan-Feb 2020

Source: Roy Morgan collaboration with UberMedia who provide anonymous aggregated insights using mobile location data. Note: Movement data for the Capital City CBDs excludes the residents of the respective CBDs.

Roy Morgan has partnered with leading technology innovator UberMedia to aggregate data from tens of thousands of mobile devices to assess the movements of Australians as we deal with the restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The interactive dashboard available on the website tracks the movement data for those visiting the Capital City CBDs during 2020, excluding the CBD residents of each city. Movement data from several key locations around Australia is also available to view by using the interactive dashboard.

Michele Levine, CEO of Roy Morgan, says closely analysing the movement data in Australian cities during 2020 shows the large impact measures taken to combat COVID-19 have had around with Melbourne an outlier as the hardest hit:

“Melburnians finally emerged from a near four-month lockdown in the last week of October but analysing movement data during the month of November shows there’s still a long way for the southern capital to go to catch up to interstate rivals when it comes to returning people to the Central Business District.

“In the week to November 23 the average movement data in the Melbourne CBD was at only 27% of the average level during January-February 2020 pre COVID-19 and the associated lockdowns. This is nearly double the movement in the final week of lockdown to October 27 (14%) but still well below all other Capital City CBDs.

“The long-running trends show movement in the Melbourne CBD plunged further and harder than any other CBD in late March and has tracked lower than other cities ever since.

“Sydney CBD has consistently been the second lowest and particularly since early July when the ‘second wave’ of COVID-19 threatened to lockdown the ‘Harbour City’. However, extensive contact tracing and testing eventually suppressed the outbreak although the average movement in the Sydney CBD has not been above 50% since mid-August more than three months ago.

“The big mover (in the wrong direction) over the past week has been the Adelaide CBD for which average movement data has plunged to only 38% of normal after the city experienced a short-lived 3 days of lockdown last week. For the three days of lockdown (November 19-21) average movement in the Adelaide CBD was at only 16% of the pre COVID-19 level.

“The underlying take-out from comparing the movement data of the Capital City CBDs of all six States is that so-called ‘COVID-Normal’ is still significantly different to pre COVID-19 with movement levels well below pre-pandemic averages.

“The key reasons movement levels remain significantly lower are the millions of city office workers that are still working from home around the country and the closure of domestic and international borders. The closed borders prevent interstate or overseas tourists from visiting the Capital Cities and also mean many international students that tend to congregate near the CBDs have been blocked from re-entering Australia over the past few months.

“As long as international borders remain closed there will clearly be only a trickle of international tourists, and students, allowed into Australia from countries such as New Zealand. Because of this it is vital that to revitalise and reinvigorate the CBDs of Australia’s great cities that office workers are encouraged to return to the office as soon as it is safe to do so.”

(Roy Morgan)

November 27, 2020

Source: https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/8586-roy-morgan-ubermedia-covid-19-movement-capital-cities-november-2020-202011270422

MULTICOUNTRY STUDIES

666-43-18/Poll

COVID-19 Magnifies Pre-Existing Gender Inequalities in MENA

COVID 19 is being perceived as a disruptor, an accelerator and an agent for innovation and advancement in various fields across the world. Yet, its impact has been a decelerator for women’s rights and gender equality globally. The UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed warned that without immediate action, “the pandemic could set back women’s rights by decades”. And, the latest Arab Barometer public opinion survey of citizens across five countries in the Arab world confirm that Arab women have suffered more on economic and social dimensions. As such, responses and recovery plans should prioritize the support and protection of women in MENA. Otherwise, COVID’s impact could “unravel the limited progress that we have seen in terms of gender equality, women’s participation in the workforce and positive attitudes towards some women’s rights and their roles in society in the Arab world.”

COVID-19’s Economic Toll on Women in MENA

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, women’s labor force participation was disproportionately less (21%) than that of men in the Arab world (70%). Then, the pandemic’s economic impact further threatened Arab women’s livelihood and income security. Although Arab Barometer’s survey results show that, overall, relatively few citizens in the countries surveyed have lost a job due to COVID-19, many more have suffered a temporary interruption. Yet, in both cases, women bear a disproportional share of the job cuts: in Morocco the difference between women and men who permanently lost their jobs is eight percentage points while in Algeria and Tunisia it is four points. Similarly, women are more likely to have temporarily lost their jobs in Algeria (11-point difference compared to men) as well as Tunisia (8-point difference).

A closer look at the numbers reveal even deeper disparities. The COVID-19 economic downturn might have hit Arab women harder than men, but it is felt even harder by poorer women. Disparities based on age and level of education are also noticeable among women’s permanent and temporary disruption of work, although the magnitude varies across countries surveyed.

The Pandemic’s Impact on Arab Women’s Social Lives

COVID’s toll on Arab women isn’t only economic; the pandemic has dramatically affected the social lives of Arab women as well. The COVID-related health scare, the imposed lockdown, school closures, and the increased demands of the family and home, which are predominantly women’s responsibilities in MENA, have taken a heavy toll on Arab women. In four of the five countries surveyed, roughly a third of citizens say their biggest concern about COVID is the death of a family member, and citizens not following recommendations, according to Arab Barometer wave 6. Lebanon is the only exception where two-thirds worry about the death of a family member compared with only 5 percent who say citizens not following recommendations. However, women are experiencing a higher level of health anxiety and stress about family member’s health compared to men. In all five countries surveyed, more women than men say they are worried about illness or death of a family member, with the greatest percentage difference in Tunisia (19 points) and Jordan (18 points), while the difference in Lebanon is 9 points and in Algeria and Morocco it is 8 points, respectively.

The Pandemic’s outsized effect on Arab Women’s Safety

Moreover, the pandemic has had an outsized effect on Arab women’s safety and general wellbeing. The recent UNESCWA report alerts of the dramatic increase in levels of gender-based violence in the Arab world amid the Covid-19 crisis. For those Arab women trapped in violent relationships, the crisis has forced many to stay at home with their abuser making the likelihood of violent incidents more frequent. Arab Barometer’s results further reinforce this reality. The results reveal that citizens perceive that violence against women in their community has increased since the outbreak of the coronavirus. The highest rate of perceived increase in abuse of or violence against women is in Tunisia (63%), followed by Algeria and Morocco (41%, respectively), while the perceived increase of gender-based violence in Jordan is 27%, and in Lebanon is 20%.

In fact, as I mentioned in my previous blog on domestic violence during COVID-19 in MENA, women at risk in the Arab world who are seeking safety and security during the prolonged quarantine are presented with false choices. This is primarily a result of the Arab governments’ failure in prioritizing the support and protection of women in their recovery-response plans. However, the situation is even more alarming for women victims who have recently lost their jobs and are already living in or dangerously close to poverty line, as they become even more dependent on their abuser for financial security and shelter.

Arab Women Seeking Refuge in Prayer

During this time of uncertainty, it appears that Arab women are seeking refuge in prayer to help cope with all the COVID-related health, economic and social stressors. Overall many citizens across the countries surveyed are praying far more frequently than before the pandemic: 17% in Jordan, 21% in Tunisia, 33% in Morocco, and 38% in Algeria. Yet, Arab women increased their rate of prayer significantly more than Arab men; in Algeria the gap is 21 percentage points, while it is 20 points in Morocco, 16 points in Tunisia, and 13 points in Jordan.

Prioritizing Women’s Rights and Gender Equality

The economic and social effects of COVID have been disproportionally harder on Arab women than men. In fact, the dire outcomes that Arab women are facing during the COVID crisis are primarily influenced by the deeply ingrained gender inequalities, and the discriminatory social norms in MENA. Consequently, it is necessary that governments counter these effects by prioritizing the support and protection of women by focusing on the advancement of women’s rights and gender equality. Otherwise, Arab women will continue to live in vulnerable conditions, which has significant social and economic repercussions on their families and their societies at large.

(Arab Barometer)

December 01, 2020

Source: https://www.arabbarometer.org/2020/12/covid-19-magnifies-pre-existing-gender-inequalities-in-mena/

666-43-19/Poll

NATO seen in a positive light by many across 10 member states

Half or more people across all 10 NATO countries surveyed have a positive view of the organization, ranging from a high of 79% in Denmark to 50% in France. Among Americans, 57% have a favorable view of NATO, with only 25% expressing an unfavorable opinion (17% did not give a response). In five countries, about a third or more hold unfavorable opinions of NATO. The Spanish have the most unfavorable views among those surveyed: 43% have a negative opinion of the organization.

When surveyed in 2019, those in Central and Eastern European countries tended to have mixed responses toward NATO. In Poland and Lithuania, for example, over three-quarters had a favorable view of the alliance. However, in Slovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria, roughly half or fewer felt positively toward NATO. Unfavorable views of the organization were more widespread in Greece and Turkey, where 51% and 55% held negative views, respectively.

How we did this

NATO is seen favorably in Sweden as well. While not a member of NATO, 65% of Swedes see the organization in a positive light. A 2017 Center survey found that 47% of Swedes supported their country joining NATO, while 39% opposed membership (14% did not offer an opinion).

The Center has been tracking views of NATO in the countries surveyed since 2009. Over the past 11 years, favorable sentiment toward the alliance increased significantly in some countries (Canada, +12 percentage points from 2013, and Sweden, +7 points from 2016), while declining in others (Germany, -15 points from 2009, and France, -21 points over the same period).

Over the past year, favorable ratings of the organization have remained relatively stable across the 10 NATO countries included in the survey. And in two countries – Canada and the UK – favorable views of the organization are the highest recorded since the Center began asking this question in 2009.

In fact, in four countries with trends that date back to the Obama presidency, the highest ratings for NATO have been measured in the past four years, including in the United States. (The other three countries are Canada, the UK and Sweden.) And many other countries surveyed had seen a significant increase in favorable views of NATO between 2016 and 2017. In 2018, when President Donald Trump was explicitly criticizing the organization’s other member states for not contributing enough on defense spending, 64% of Americans expressed a positive view of NATO.

American views of NATO are shaped by political party affiliation, according to past Pew Research Center surveys. Historically, Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents are more likely to express a favorable opinion of the organization than Republicans and Republican-leaning independents. In the summer of 2020, seven-in-ten Democrats had a favorable view of NATO, compared with less than half (46%) of their Republican counterparts, a difference of 24 percentage points.

Among Democrats, NATO favorability has ticked up from 61% in 2019 to 70% this summer. Republican views of the alliance have held steady at roughly half since 2009, although in 2013, a record low of only 43% held a positive view of NATO.

In nine of the 10 NATO member states surveyed, those who favor compromise with other countries on international issues are more likely to have a favorable opinion of NATO than those who prefer a more independent approach. For example, in the Netherlands, 73% of those who say their country should take into account the interests of other countries even if it means making compromises with them express a positive opinion of NATO, compared with 59% who say their country should follow its own interests even when other countries strongly disagree. Double-digit differences on this question are present in the U.S., Denmark, Italy, Canada, Belgium and Germany.

In some cases, educational attainment also informs views of NATO: Across five NATO member states included in the survey, those with a postsecondary education or more schooling are more likely to have a positive opinion of NATO than those with a secondary education or less schooling. This difference is particularly large in Germany, where 70% of those with more education have a favorable view of NATO, compared with 54% of those with less education. In the U.S., those with more education are also more likely to provide a response.

NATO recommends member states commit 2% of their gross domestic product to defense spending, a guideline that has been in place since 2006. But just 10 of the 29 member states for which data is available spend 2% or more on defense. (Data is not included for Iceland, which has no permanent military force.)

The U.S. is the leading defense spender among member states, committing an estimated 3.87% of GDP to defense expenditures in 2020. Nine other countries – including several in Central and Eastern Europe – also meet NATO’s 2% threshold. Just one country – Luxembourg – spends less than 1% of GDP on defense.

While Trump has been openly critical of the level of allies’ defense spending, estimated defense expenditures as a share of GDP have risen since 2016, not only in the U.S. but among key NATO allies as well. For example, this year marks the first in which France is estimated to spend over 2% of GDP on defense. The UK has already reached this threshold, and German defense spending is on the rise.

(PEW)

November 30, 2020

Source: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/11/30/nato-seen-in-a-positive-light-by-many-across-10-member-states/