Almost half (43%) of the world's inhabitants are optimistic about the approaching 2021, while 26% of people do not expect significant changes, another 24% and 7% are pessimistic or found it difficult to answer, respectively. Such data follow from the results of the global research "Index of Happiness" carried out by the Gallup International association of independent research agencies in 41 countries at the disposal of TASS.

The global optimism index stood at 19 percentage points, reaching its highest in three years.

The most optimistic countries in 2020 were Nigeria (69 pp), Indonesia (66 pp) and Azerbaijan (65 pp). The UK, which for the first time in a long time left the minus zone a year ago, continues to show an increase in optimistic sentiment from 39 p.p. The leaders in terms of optimism also include the United States, Finland, Kyrgyzstan and India. Austria, Germany, Mexico and North Macedonia were close to the global level.

Italy (-43 p.p.) and Hong Kong (-34 p.p.) traditionally became the countries with the most pessimistic citizens about the coming year, Bulgaria (-29 p.p.) joined them in 2020. Poland (-32 p.p.) and the Czech Republic (-19 p.p.) were pessimistic. Thailand, Serbia, South Korea, Turkey and Russia were also in the negative zone with -13 pp, while among Russians, almost half (45%) do not expect significant changes in the coming year, and another 16% are optimistic.

As noted in the study, polarization in the "happiness index" has no relationship with the level of per capita income. "Despite the global growth of the index, the polarization of countries in terms of optimism is obvious. Developing countries traditionally believe that the coming year will bring more positive, and many developed countries of Europe, faced with serious restrictions this spring, see no reason for optimism," he commented on the results of the study vice-president of Gallup International, president of "Romir" and founder of Mile Group, doctor of sociological sciences Andrey Milekhin.

The international association of independent research agencies Gallup International, in the framework of the annual global survey "End of the Year", asks respondents around the world the traditional question about their expectations for the coming year: what will it be - better, worse or like the previous one. In November-December, more than 38 thousand people in 41 countries answered the questions of researchers, whose opinion can be extrapolated to all inhabitants of the Earth. The exclusive representative of the association in Russia and the CIS countries is the Romir holding.

(TASS Research)

December 26, 2020

Source: https://romir.ru/press/tass--issledovanie-bolee-40-jiteley-zemli-vstrechayut-2021-god-s-optimizmom

SUMMARY OF POLLS

ASIA

(Singapore)

Attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination in Singapore

Our new study finds that the majority of people in Singapore are more likely to get vaccinated if their friends do so. With fewer than one in three people in Singapore saying that they would ‘definitely’ take a vaccine for coronavirus when it becomes available, the power of family and friends could be key to encouraging uptake. (Kantar)

December 14, 2020

MENA

(UAE)

A large majority of UAE residents are interested in lucky draws

YouGov looked at lucky draw competitions run in the UAE to understand a little more about who takes part and what they may want from such draws in the future. We polled a representative sample of 1,000 UAE residents in October 2020 and discovered that 83% are either very or somewhat interested in participating in lucky draws, specifically the Big Ticket Abu Dhabi Duty Free or the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire draws. (YouGov)

December 12, 2020

AFRICA

(Uganda)

Many Ugandans question value of elections in ensuring representation and accountability, Afrobarometer survey shows

Substantial proportions of Uganda’s electorate don’t see voting as an effective way to ensure that their views are represented and to hold leaders accountable, the latest Afrobarometer survey shows. And almost half say that communities that don’t vote for the ruling party may suffer negative consequences. While the share of citizens who say elections enable voters to remove non-performing leaders has grown to a majority, almost four in 10 still disagree. (Afrobarometer)

December 21, 2020

EUROPE

(Germany)

Medium-sized companies see digitization as an opportunity for more sustainability

Three quarters of medium-sized companies see digitization as an opportunity for more sustainability in their own operations. That is the result of a representative survey of small and medium-sized companies by the Marketing Research Institute Produkt + Markt (Wallenhorst). The survey was commissioned by the competence platform sustainable.digital , which is part of the German Federal Environment Foundation (DBU, Osnabrück) and the Federal German Working Group for Environmentally Conscious Management. (Product and Market)

November 09, 2020

(Sweden)

1 in 10 will celebrate Christmas alone - this is how Swedes think about Christmas

That Christmas 2020 goes down in history as a different Christmas in the shadow of the pandemic is a fact. 7 out of 10 say that this year's Christmas celebration is different compared to previous Christmases and 3 out of 10 feel more alone. E-commerce, on the other hand, appears to be increasing sharply. Stricter restrictions and the call to be outdoors or gather the family in a digital celebration have set many traditions and Christmas plans in motion. (Origo Group)

December 14, 2020

(Netherland)

Christmas in the times of corona

In 2019, 92% of the Dutch celebrated Christmas. That was the highest score in eight years of research: Christmas peaked like never before. These Christmas celebrants were in a company of an average of eleven other people, mainly from their own immediate family circle. After all, together with Easter, Christmas in the Netherlands is the family celebration par excellence. Supermarkets also know that very well. In recent weeks, they have only reinforced this image with their traditional and very sweet TV commercials. Christmas has to be tinkered with, especially in times of corona. (Motivaction)

December 28, 2020

(UK)

How religious are British people?

Although the United Kingdom is a monarchy formally led by a ruler who also governs the official church – the Church of England – belief in ‘a god’ in the UK is low. Only a quarter of Britons (27%) say they actually believe in ‘a god’. A further one in six (17%) believe in the existence of ‘a higher spiritual power’, but not ‘a god’. Amongst British Christians, just over half (56%) believe in the existence of God, whilst 17% believe in a higher power. One in ten (10%) of British Christians say they do not believe there is ‘a god’ or ‘a higher power’. (YouGov)

December 29, 2020

(UK)

Jesus, his birth and resurrection: fact or fiction?

The stories of Christmas and Easter form the foundations of the Christian religion and beliefs. A YouGov study on the perception of Christian religious holidays has looked into how familiar Britons are with the Biblical accounts of events celebrated on Christmas and Easter, whether they believe them to be accurate, and what they think about the identity of Jesus Christ. (YouGov)

December 29, 2020

(UK)

Two thirds of students want to return to university after the Christmas break

New YouGov data shows that despite much negative coverage around students’ experiences during the pandemic, most would like to return to university rather than stay at their home outside term-time once Christmas is over. About half of students (53%) say they would like to come back to university and be taught in-person or in-person and online. Another one in eight (13%) want to return but be taught entirely online, while a quarter (26%) would prefer to stay home and attend classes virtually. (YouGov)

December 23, 2020

(UK)

Rishi Sunak’s job satisfaction ratings remain strong – even with Labour supporters

Three in five Britons are satisfied with the job Rishi Sunak is doing as Chancellor of the Exchequer. New figures from Ipsos MORI’s Political Monitor reveal most Britons are unfamiliar with Anneliese Dodds, the shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer. Two in five (41%) say that they’ve never heard of hear while just under a quarter (23%) say they’ve heard of her but know nothing about her. (Ipsos MORI)

December 18, 2020

(UK)

What’s the legacy of this year’s Black Lives Matter protests?

The murder of George Floyd triggered mass protests on both sides of the Atlantic this spring, bringing the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement to new prominence. YouGov research shows that while some view the movement as controversial, it did create awareness and spark conversations about racism. For one, nearly all Britons (87%) regardless of ethnicity know who George Floyd was and why his name appeared in the news. (YouGov)

December 23, 2020

NORTH AMERICA

Is Marriage Becoming Irrelevant?

Americans are less inclined now than in recent years to see marriage as critical for couples who have children together or for couples who plan to spend the rest of their lives together. Most U.S. adults have been married at some point in their lives, but those figures are declining. Still, the vast majority of adults who have never been married remain interested in getting married someday. (Gallup USA)

December 28, 2020

U.S. Ethics Ratings Rise for Medical Workers and Teachers

At the end of a year when medical workers have braved exposure to the coronavirus to provide lifesaving care, Americans have become more likely to laud the honesty and ethics of nurses, medical doctors and pharmacists. Still, nurses remain the undisputed leader, as they have been for nearly two decades. (Gallup USA)

December 22, 2020

As CDC warned against holiday travel, 57% of Americans say they changed Thanksgiving plans due to COVID-19

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has cautioned Americans to avoid holiday travel this year because of the COVID-19 outbreak. And while it’s not yet clear how many Americans will heed that advice for the upcoming Christmas holiday, more than half (57%) say they changed their Thanksgiving plans due to the pandemic, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey. (PEW)

December 22, 2020

Black, Latino and Asian Americans have been key to Georgia’s registered voter growth since 2016

Following Joe Biden’s narrow presidential win in Georgia, early voting is underway in the state’s Jan. 5 runoff election for two U.S. Senate seats, races that will determine whether both chambers of Congress are led by Democrats during the first years of the new administration. Once a reliably Republican state, Georgia has received much attention for the increasing racial and ethnic diversity of eligible voters in the state, which has highlighted the importance of Black voters and other fast-growing groups like Latino and Asian voters. (PEW)

December 21, 2020

Russia has become an enemy in the eyes of many Americans

In the four years of the Trump Administration, more Americans have become convinced that Russia is not just an unfriendly nation but is now an enemy of the United States. That’s not just because of the belief (held by both the Secretary of State and the Attorney General but not by the President) that Russia was responsible for an extensive cyberattack on U.S. government and corporate computer systems, the scope of which is not yet completely known. (YouGov)

December 23, 2020

AUSTRALIA

Now 77% of Australians would get a vaccine for COVID-19 – down 10% points since April 2020

Of all Australians three-in-four (77%, down 10% points on April 2020) say they are willing to be vaccinated for Coronavirus if a new vaccine becomes publicly available, while a small 12% (up 5%) of Australians are not willing and 11% don’t know, according to a special Roy Morgan survey of an Australia-wide cross-section of 1,008 Australians aged 18+ conducted in November 2020. (Roy Morgan)

December 22, 2020

MULTICOUNTRY STUDIES

More than 40% of the world's inhabitants are optimistic about 2021

December 26, 2020

Fear and Social Distancing: Global Perceptions of Risk Vary

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that the perception of risk affects public health policy -- and public behavior -- as much as actual risk. Results from the Lloyd's Register Foundation World Risk Poll, a global survey conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic, show that countries racked by greater levels of worry about being harmed in the course of daily life often went on to adopt stricter COVID-suppression policies and behaviors. (Gallup USA)

December 28, 2020

ASIA

670-43-01/Poll

Attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination in Singapore

Our new study finds that the majority of people in Singapore are more likely to get vaccinated if their friends do so.

With fewer than one in three people in Singapore saying that they would ‘definitely’ take a vaccine for coronavirus when it becomes available, the power of family and friends could be key to encouraging uptake.

Our study, conducted in November 2020 after the Pfizer vaccine presenting as 90% effective in stage three clinical trials was announced, found that six in ten people in Singapore would be more likely to get a COVID-19 vaccine if one of their friends, family or colleagues did.

A study of 1,000 nationally representative people was conducted by Kantar in Singapore, Australia the USA, UK, France Germany and Italy between 10 – 16 November. Of all countries studied, people in Singapore are the most likely to agree that if they were to catch COVID-19, it would seriously affect their health (67% agree). However, reservations about a COVID-19 vaccine certainly exist in Singapore.

Views and fears about vaccinations

28% of people in Singapore say they would ‘definitely’ get a COVID-19 vaccine when it is available, with 45% saying they ‘probably’ would, despite over two thirds of people saying that they think their health would be seriously affected if they caught COVID-19.

People in Singapore are the least likely to say that, in general, they think vaccines are safe – 61% say so, compared to 62% of people in France, and 75% of people in the UK. Likewise, they are also least likely to say that vaccines are effective. 66% agree, compared to 72% in France and 78% in Australia.

Some of the hesitancy about any vaccine may stem from fears about its safety due to the speed of development. 65% of people in Singapore agree to some extent with this statement.

Tools to increase confidence in the vaccine

Anti-vaccine myths and propaganda now present a major challenge for governments around the world aiming to control the COVID-19 pandemic and get their economies back on track in 2021.

In Singapore, the take up of any COVID-19 vaccine could be bolstered by strong levels of trust in the government and national health authorities, and the modelled behaviour of their peers and communities. This research found that:

Six in ten people in Singapore (60%) agree that they would be more likely to get a COVID-19 vaccine if one of their “friends, family or colleagues safely got it first”, compared to 42% in the USA and 41% in Australia.
When asked about which sources of information they consider to be reliable about COVID-19, two thirds of people in Singapore (66%) state the health authorities in their country to be reliable. More than half (56%) also selected their country’s government as a reliable source of information.
When asked if they trust the government to “make the rights decisions about making a COVID-19 vaccine available in Singapore”, 88% trust the government to some extent.
60% of people in Singapore agree to some extent that a vaccine will not be dangerous if it has been proposed by the public authorities in Singapore. This is the highest level of confidence amongst the countries researched.

Looking to the future

Despite the hesitancy reported by the public towards a vaccine, two thirds (66%) agree that a COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to help life get going again.

The levels of intent to receive any COVID-19 vaccine may also be impacted in Singapore by the public’s belief that they can prevent themselves getting COVID-19 without vaccination – 45% agree to some extent that they can, the highest level amongst the countries studied.

(Kantar)

December 14, 2020

Source: https://www.kantar.com/inspiration/coronavirus/attitudes-towards-covid-19-vaccination-in-singapore

MENA

670-43-02/Poll

A large majority of UAE residents are interested in lucky draws

YouGov looked at lucky draw competitions run in the UAE to understand a little more about who takes part and what they may want from such draws in the future.

We polled a representative sample of 1,000 UAE residents in October 2020 and discovered that 83% are either very or somewhat interested in participating in lucky draws, specifically the Big Ticket Abu Dhabi Duty Free or the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire draws.

However, only 29% say they actually buy a ticket in at least one of the draws every month while a further 39% say they play less often, and 32% say they never play in either draw.

Even among those that say they have never bought a ticket, 60% are somewhat or very interested in doing so, showing a great deal of latent demand.

Those that say they buy a ticket at least once a month are more likely to be higher earners – of those earning over AED 25,000 we find 34% play ‘Big Ticket’ at least monthly and 27% play ‘Millennium Millionaire’. Younger people are more likely to play every month (33% of 18-24s play monthly) but the largest group of players are those aged 25-34 who make up 37% of all monthly players. Women play less frequently and are more likely to say they have never played. Of all nationalities, it is Emiratis who are more likely to have played either game in the past month (35%) though they make up only 14% of all players, and more of those from any nationality living in Abu Dhabi than in Dubai play each month (32% vs 28%).

The games appeal to an interesting group: among those more likely to play each month are new car buyers (37%), regular donators to charity (36%) and fast food eaters (44%). Ticket buyers are also more likely to say they ‘don’t mind taking risks with my money’, with 48% agreeing compare with only 36% of those that don’t buy tickets.

Overall, 65% of the population say they actually would prefer to buy cheaper tickets for smaller prizes rather than more expensive tickets for larger prizes. For those who buy tickets monthly this drops to 60% but for those who never play it rises to 72% (and up further to 80% for women who never play) suggesting a cheaper ticket may be a way of engaging more people to play.

With the launch this year of the Mahzooz lottery it will be interesting to monitor the impact, if any, on the popularity of these two prize draw games.

(YouGov)

December 12, 2020

Source: https://mena.yougov.com/en/news/2020/12/21/large-majority-uae-residents-are-interested-lucky-/

AFRICA

670-43-03/Poll

Many Ugandans question value of elections in ensuring representation and accountability, Afrobarometer survey shows

And almost half say that communities that don’t vote for the ruling party may suffer negative consequences.

While the share of citizens who say elections enable voters to remove non-performing leaders has grown to a majority, almost four in 10 still disagree.

Ahead of the 2021 general elections, how voters perceive the impact of their vote is of paramount importance to the electoral exercise as well as its outcomes.

(Afrobarometer)

December 21, 2020

Source: https://www.afrobarometer.org/press/many-ugandans-question-value-elections-ensuring-representation-and-accountability

EUROPE

670-43-04/Poll

Medium-sized companies see digitization as an opportunity for more sustainability

With a view to the four-day “DIV 2020 and Sustainable Digital Annual Conference” taking place from today (Monday) in digital format , DBU General Secretary Alexander Bonde says: “ With innovative tools, digitalization can become a motor for more sustainability. That needs to be promoted. ”Green start-ups, that is, new companies, as well as small and medium-sized companies play a key role in this, because they very often use sophisticated digital business models to show how digitization can be used for more sustainability. According to the German Advisory Council on Global Change ( WBGU) digitization offers many opportunities in terms of climate and resource protection. But without clear framework conditions, it could also act as a "fire accelerator" for increasing energy and resource requirements as well as greenhouse gas emissions. According to Bonde, these risks need to be reduced.

Digital summit of the federal government

With reference to the digital summitThe DBU General Secretary will present the first results from the company survey “Sustainable Digital Monitor 2020” to the Federal Government, which will start at the end of November with the focus on “Living digitally more sustainably”. As a result, most of the respondents rate the degree of digitization in their own company as average (38 percent). 27 percent of the companies surveyed rate their degree of digitization as “high” and as “very high”. Three quarters of the companies surveyed with 50 to 499 employees, i.e. classic medium-sized companies, see digitization as an opportunity for more sustainability in their own operations. Together with the smallest companies (up to nine employees) and small companies (10 to 49 employees), the figure is 55 percent.

Competence platform sustainable.digital offers possible solutions

According to the DBU General Secretary, the survey also reveals where there is still a need for action: Around two thirds of the respondents (67 percent) say, for example, that there is still a lack of knowledge, practical examples (65) and solutions (65), to use digitization for a more ecological economy. The competence platform “sustainable.digital” is working on this deficit: Companies can easily network here, find out more about practical solutions in a collection of “sustainable.digital modules” and exchange examples of good practice and innovations, for example in the areas of digital Circular economy, 3D printing and green information technology ("Green IT"). During the four-day annual conference together with the Digital Summit Initiative "Germany intelligently networked "(DIV) lectures, practical impulses and discussions take place in a virtual format. The motto for representatives from municipalities and companies: "Implement intelligently networked cities and regions - achieve sustainability!"

(Product and Market Research)

November 09, 2020

Source: https://www.dbu.de/123artikel38834_2442.html

670-43-05/Poll

1 in 10 will celebrate Christmas alone - this is how Swedes think about Christmas

Stricter restrictions and the call to be outdoors or gather the family in a digital celebration have set many traditions and Christmas plans in motion. The pandemic has changed both behaviors and buying patterns and significantly more people choose to shop online - something that lasts even before Christmas. 45 percent of Swedes will increase their purchases online in this year's Christmas gift shop. The main reason for increased online shopping is that they want to avoid congestion, but also that the supply in digital commerce has improved. It has also become easier to shop digitally.

E-commerce as a pastime

Many people today work from home and for fun, 2 out of 10 admit that those who spend their time shopping for larger amounts online. Regardless of the reason for buying, the digital pandemic trend seems to be here to stay. 4 out of 10 state that they will retain their new digital habits even after Covid-19.

33 percent feel lonely

Nearly half of Swedes, however, will skip both online shopping and retail shopping this Christmas. 47.5 percent believe that their Christmas gift purchases this year will decrease. One reason may be changed Christmas celebrations as 7 out of 10 say that this year's Christmas differs compared to previous Christmases when the celebration took place together with family and relatives outside the household you live in. This year, 53 percent will celebrate Christmas together with those closest to the household and 1 in 10 will celebrate Christmas all alone. However, the loneliness is prominent as 1 in 3 state that they feel more alone before this year's Christmas celebration.

- The Swedes are moving towards a lonelier Christmas 2020. The results confirm what we have thought and this year it will be even more important to find ways to break the loneliness for people - without jeopardizing the restrictions, says Karin Hedelin Lundén, regional manager at Origo Group in Gothenburg.

(Origo Group)

December 14, 2020

Source: https://press.origogroup.com/posts/pressreleases/1-av-10-kommer-att-fira-jul-ensam---sa-tanker

670-43-06/Poll

Christmas in the times of corona

V ie ring beslotener circuit I n the period 2012-2018 were the Christmas parties , with an average of fifteen people or even more, significantly higher than in the last two years. D e trend towards more intimate groups in 2020 will obviously an enforced by corona have continued . Not that the whole of the Netherlands will adhere to the advice of the government, because we are Dutch for that . R ver a quarter has already announced to the curtains and Christmas with m Year Old r than three to four 'external' .
But it is not going to be grand and compelling . W e count on groups of around 7 people on average ; that the reproduction factor , the famous R, may continue to fluctuate around 1 . In addition, approximately a quarter of the Dutch will celebrate Christmas more than once, but that was not unusual with inevitable in-laws.

M i calender breakers The Christmas parties this year will therefore be smaller, but also the number of breakers will lower it n than in previous years. With a bit of intelligent thinking , and with an oblique view of our polls around other holidays in times of corona , we expect the number of physical celebrants to drop by about 10 percent , particularly among the over- 45s. Equally likely is the increase in the number of people who do celebrate Christmas , but only then.

Physical contact most missed The lockdown forces many to celebrate Christmas at home, in a smaller than desired circle. That already sounds sad and it is also extremely sour, especially at a time when you want to hug and cherish your parents and children, your grandchildren and grandparents . At more than six in ten Dutch people , appointments with relatives and friends are the number one priority of activities they miss most. Compared to physical contact , communication via digital devices remains , how smart
also, a pitiful surrogate.

Great p loop for retail , boost tje for the hospitality industry in 2019 fourth Christmas fifteen percent (also) in the hospitality industry, especially in restaurants. That is now gone, but fortunately for these entrepreneurs there is the necessary compensation by ordering and having meals delivered at home . We expect that one in six or seven households this year a Christmas dinner at home late delivery doo r the local hospitality industry . According to the country's largest meal delivery company, that could even be more than 30 percent
. Apart from the logistical (im) feasibility, however, this is a serious overestimation of what will happen, with a dash of your well-understood self-interest.

Because that scenario is also at odds with the corona-stimulated trend towards more frequent and longer self-catering , a development that also continued after the end of the first lockdown. Christmas 2020 is the perfect time to showcase new or refreshed knowledge and cooking skills in your own kitchen. The big winner of Christmas 2020 is therefore the retail trade. Nielsen bec i jferde last week though sales growth in supermarkets of more than ten percent . D ate number will not go down in the last weeks of the year. If only because d The sugar-sweet commercials will be off the tube by then .

(Motivaction)

December 28, 2020

Source: https://www.motivaction.nl/kennisplatform/nieuws-en-persberichten/kerst-in-tijden-van-corona

670-43-07/Poll

How religious are British people?

A quarter of Britons say they believe in ‘a god’. Four in ten neither believe in ‘a god’ nor in a ‘higher power’

Amongst British Christians, just over half (56%) believe in the existence of God, whilst 17% believe in a higher power. One in ten (10%) of British Christians say they do not believe there is ‘a god’ or ‘a higher power’.

Belief in ‘a god’ is low across all age groups. Older Britons – those aged 60 and above – are the most likely to believe in a supreme deity, but even there just a third (36%) hold this view.

Overall, four in ten (41%) Britons believe there is neither ‘a god’ nor ‘a higher power’. Younger generations are the most likely to think there is no greater force out there, including 50% of 25-39 year olds and 45% of 16-24 year olds, compared to 32% of those 60 and over.

Women (48%) are notably more likely than men (36%) to say they believe in the existence of ‘a god’/‘a higher spiritual power’. A quarter (28%) of women believe there is ‘a god’, whilst one in five (20%) believe that there is some form of a higher spiritual power.

Religiousness in Britain

Over half (55%) of Britons say they do not belong to any particular religion. A third (35%) belong to one of the recognised Christian denominations (20% to the Church of England and the rest to other denominations). A further 7% belong to other religions.

A quarter of religious people (23%) said their religion is ‘very important’ to them, and a further third (32%) say it is ‘somewhat important’. However, four in ten (42%) of those who belong to a particular religion say it doesn’t play an important role in their lives.

The gender breakdown of the results shows that more women (59%) than men (51%) consider religion to be important in their lives.

Amongst British Christians, 44% say that religion isn’t important in their life. Only half as many (22%) of those who belong to other religions say the same.

(YouGov)

December 29, 2020

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/philosophy/articles-reports/2020/12/29/how-religious-are-british-people

670-43-08/Poll

Jesus, his birth and resurrection: fact or fiction?

Three in ten people in Britain say that the Biblical portrayal of Christmas is accurate. Just over a quarter of Britons believe that Jesus was ‘the son of God’

The Biblical accounts of Jesus’ birth and resurrection

Seven out of ten (69%) Britons say they are ‘very familiar’ with the story Jesus’ birth and a further quarter (26%) said they are ‘somewhat familiar’.

When it comes to Easter – the story of Jesus’ resurrection – six in ten (61%) say they are very familiar with it, and another three in ten (32%) are somewhat familiar.

For both stories, the percentages of those who are familiar with them are almost the same for Christians, non-Christians and those who don’t identify with any religion.

Britons are, however, split when it comes to how accurate the Biblical story of Jesus’ birth is.

For 6% the story is completely accurate, whilst a further quarter (25%) say it’s somewhat accurate. Conversely, over half (52%) consider the nativity story to be historically inaccurate. Just under one in five (17%) say they don’t know.

Among British Christians over a quarter (27%) say they don’t believe in the accuracy of the Christmas story, but six in ten do (59%).

Nearly half (47%) of Britons belonging to non-Christian religions think the account of Jesus’ birth doesn’t stand, whilst three in ten (28%) think it does. For those who are not religious, seven in ten (68%) doubt the account of Jesus’ birth told in the Bible, whilst 15% think it is true.

The age breakdown of the results also shows that younger generations are less likely to believe in the accuracy of the story of Jesus’ birth. Only a fifth (21%) of those in their mid-20s and 30s, and over a quarter (27%) of those 16-24, say the story is accurate; this applies to three in ten (30%) of those in their 40s and 50s, and four in ten (41%) of those 60 and older.

Was Jesus truly the son of God, a historical figure, or just made up entirely?

YouGov research shows that the belief of Jesus being ‘the son of God’ is held by over a quarter (28%) of Britons. Four in ten (41%), however, say Jesus was a historical figure but not the son of God. One in seven (15%) don’t think he existed at all.

Among British Christians, six in ten (59%) say Jesus was the son of God. However, a quarter (24%) see him as only a historical figure, while 6% say he was entirely fictional.

Our study has found that a fifth (21%) of non-Christians and one in ten (10%) of those who say they are not religious, believe Jesus to be the son of God. Half of the non-Christians (48%) and non-believers (51%) believe Christ existed, but was not a divine figure.

(YouGov)

December 29, 2020

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/philosophy/articles-reports/2020/12/29/jesus-his-birth-and-resurrection-fact-or-fiction

670-43-09/Poll

Two thirds of students want to return to university after the Christmas break

Half of students also want to receive face to face teaching next term – currently most are only taught online

About half of students (53%) say they would like to come back to university and be taught in-person or in-person and online. Another one in eight (13%) want to return but be taught entirely online, while a quarter (26%) would prefer to stay home and attend classes virtually.

Students living on campus or in private accommodation are most keen to return. Nearly two thirds say their preference would be to come back and have at least some in-person teaching (63%). One in seven (15%) want to return but only be taught online. A similar proportion (14%) want to stay home and have classes online.

Among students who have spent most of the autumn/winter semester living with their parents or guardians, half want to return to university next term. This includes just over two fifths (44%) who want at least some in-person teaching, while 6% would prefer only being taught online. Another two in five (38%) want to stay put and attend classes virtually.

Currently, only a third of students are being taught in person – either combined with virtual learning (30%) or exclusively (3%).

Most students living away from home are going back for Christmas

The research also shows that four out of five students (78%) who live on campus or rent privately will spend Christmas at their home outside term-time. One in six (16%) will stay in their student accommodation.

The student travel window was 3-9 December, so most students intending to go home have probably already done so. Most students (58%) feel their university communicated clearly with them about the logistics around returning home for Christmas, but the majority say the government’s messaging was unclear (59%).

(YouGov)

December 23, 2020

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/education/articles-reports/2020/12/23/two-thirds-students-want-return-university-after-c

670-43-10/Poll

Rishi Sunak’s job satisfaction ratings remain strong – even with Labour supporters

Three in five Britons are satisfied with the job Rishi Sunak is doing as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

New figures from Ipsos MORI’s Political Monitor reveal most Britons are unfamiliar with Anneliese Dodds, the shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer. Two in five (41%) say that they’ve never heard of hear while just under a quarter (23%) say they’ve heard of her but know nothing about her. Twenty-two percent say they do not know very much about her and 11% say they know a great deal or fair amount about her. This compares with 46% who say they know a great deal or fair amount about Rishi Sunak, the current Chancellor, whereas just 12% say they’ve never heard of him and 13% say they’ve heard of him but know nothing about him.

The new poll also shows:

Rishi Sunak’s job satisfaction ratings remain strong. Three in five Britons (61%) say they are satisfied with the job he is doing (down 3 points from September), one in five (19%) are dissatisfied (down 2 points).
82% of Conservative voters are satisfied with Sunak and 6% dissatisfied. Sunak even enjoys support from a majority of Labour voters with 55% satisfied and 28% dissatisfied.
Almost half of Britons (48%) say that Rishi Sunak would make the most capable Chancellor compared with 17% who say Anneliese Dodds. Three in ten (29%) say they don’t know. This is the widest gap between Chancellor and Shadow Chancellor Ipsos MORI have recorded in the time the Conservatives have been in office since 2010.

Sunak v Dodds Ipsos MORI Director of Politics Keiran Pedley said of the findings:

Our polling consistently shows the Conservatives ahead of Labour on which party is best placed to manage the economy and these numbers reinforce that message. The Conservatives will hope to sustain this advantage in 2021, as they navigate the post-COVID recovery, whilst Labour will hope they can find a winning economic message to turn the tide.

(Ipsos MORI)

December 18, 2020

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/rishi-sunaks-job-satisfaction-ratings-remain-strong-even-labour-supporters

670-43-11/Poll

What’s the legacy of this year’s Black Lives Matter protests?

Britons have mixed opinions about the impact of the UK protests following George Floyd’s death

For one, nearly all Britons (87%) regardless of ethnicity know who George Floyd was and why his name appeared in the news. Another 5% are familiar with his name but are unsure why, while only 8% of the public have not heard of him at all.

People are less familiar with Breonna Taylor, an African-American woman who was shot and killed in her sleep during a police raid on her home in May. Despite the fact that Taylor’s death became key to the protests, only about two in five Britons have heard of her and know why (43%), while another 12% recognise her name but are unsure of the reason. Some 45% of Britons don’t know who she is.

People from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities are more likely to know of Breonna Taylor and why she was in the news (53%) than Britons in general. Nevertheless, one in three (34%) still haven’t heard of her.

Some Britons are discussing racism more – but mainly with people of the same race

While most Britons with family (59%) say there’s not been any change in how often they discuss racism with relatives, about a third (34%) say they’ve broached the subject more often recently.

When it comes to friends and colleagues, the data suggests people are more comfortable with discussing the issue with someone of the same race. While nearly three in ten Britons with friends from the same ethnic background (28%) have talked with them about racism more often, this is only true for just under a fifth (18%) of those with friends of a different race.

The same pattern appears among workers. About a fifth of employees with colleagues of the same race (21%) have spoken with them about racism to a greater extent, compared with 16% of those with colleagues of a different race.

Britons from BAME communities are more likely to say they’ve talked about racism to a greater extent with every type of relationship. Nearly two in five (38%) are increasingly chatting about it with their family. Compared with the wider population, a higher proportion are also discussing racism more with friends and colleagues with different ethnicities at respectively 26% and 25%.

Among all Britons, younger people are much more likely to say they’ve addressed the topic more frequently. Three in five 18-24-year-olds with family (60%) have talked about racism with relatives to a greater degree, compared with a fifth of those aged 65 and over (20%).

But even among young people there’s a big gap in how many are discussing racism more with friends of the same ethnicity (58%), compared with those with friends of a different race (43%).

Many people agree with the BLM movement but are sceptical of the protests

Close to half of Britons (47%) have a favourable view of the Black Lives Matter movement, while a slightly smaller proportion view it unfavourably (41%).

But only a third of people (32%) believe the protests earlier this year affected Britain positively, while two in five (40%) believe the impact was negative. About one in six (17%) say it was neither positive nor negative.

People from BAME communities are generally much more supportive of Black Lives Matter than the wider population. Nearly three quarters (73%) have a favourable view of the movement, while only one in seven say the opposite (14%). Similarly, half say the protests had a positive impact, while only 14% say it was negative. Just under a quarter are think the impact has been neither positive nor negative (23%).

(YouGov)

December 23, 2020

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2020/12/23/whats-legacy-years-black-lives-matter-protests

NORTH AMERICA

670-43-12/Poll

Is Marriage Becoming Irrelevant?

Americans See Marriage as Less Important for Couples With Children Together

Fewer U.S. adults now than in past years believe it is "very important" for couples who have children together to be married. Currently, 29% say it is very important that such a couple legally marry, down from 38% who held this view in 2013 and 49% in 2006.

Line graph. Since 2006 fewer Americans have said it is very important that a couple with a child together legally marry and more have said it is not important that they do so.

Another 31% of U.S. adults currently say it is "somewhat important" for couples with children to be married, bringing the total to 60% who consider it important to some degree. Meanwhile, four in 10 say it is not too (18%) or not at all (22%) important.

In 2006, Americans were more than twice as likely to say it is very important (49%) for couples with children to wed as to say it is not important (23%).

The latest results are based on Gallup's annual Values and Beliefs poll, conducted May 1-13. The poll updated several trends on Americans' views about marriage asked previously over the past two decades.

The trends are consistent with Americans' evolving views of marriage. Sixty-six percent now believe it is morally acceptable to have a baby outside of marriage, an increase from 53% the first year the question was asked in 2001. Seventy-two percent, up from 53% in 2001, consider sex between an unmarried man and woman morally acceptable.

Most key subgroups are less likely now than in 2013, and all are less likely than in 2006, to view it as critical that couples with children together legally marry. Political liberals and young adults are two groups whose opinions have not changed appreciably in the past seven years.

Belief That It Is Very Important That Couples With Children Together Legally Marry, by Subgroup

	2006	2013	2020	Change, 2006-2020
	%	%	%	pct. pts.
Men	53	37	29	-24
Women	45	39	28	-17
18-34 years old	30	22	22	-8
35-54 years old	49	35	23	-26
55+ years old	63	53	38	-25
White adults	45	37	27	-18
Non-White adults	57	41	33	-24
College graduate	41	31	25	-16
Not college graduate	51	41	31	-20
Conservative	62	55	41	-21
Moderate	42	33	22	-20
Liberal	30	18	21	-9
Republican	62	49	36	-26
Independent	42	35	29	-13
Democrat	42	33	18	-24
Married	55	44	33	-22
Not married	39	31	25	-14
Children under 18	48	32	30	-18
No children under 18	48	41	27	-21
Attend church weekly	65	58	45	-20
Attend church monthly	58	41	32	-26
Seldom/Never attend	32	24	19	-13
GALLUP

Frequent church attendees (45%), political conservatives (41%) and Americans aged 55 and older (38%) and are among the groups most likely to believe marriage is crucial for parents. Democrats (18%), those who seldom or never attend church (19%), political liberals (21%) and moderates (22%), and adults under age 55 (23%) are among the groups least likely to regard marriage as being very important for such couples.

Parents of minor children (30%) are not significantly more likely than nonparents (27%) to view marriage as critical. Those who are currently married (33%) are slightly more likely than those who are not married (25%) to say it is important, though the current eight-percentage-point gap between these two groups has narrowed from 16 points in 2006.

Americans More Inclined to See Marriage as Critical for Life Partners

A separate question in the survey finds Americans are more likely to believe it is very important for couples to marry if they plan to spend the rest of their lives together (38%) than if they have a child together. Twenty-six percent think it is somewhat important for couples who plan to spend their lives together to get married, while 15% say it is not too important and 21% say it is not important at all.

As with the decline in public insistence that couples with children marry, fewer today than in the recent past say it is important that committed couples marry. The current 38% who say it is very important for couples to marry if they plan to live together the rest of their lives is down slightly from 43% in 2013 and more substantially from 54% in 2006.

Line graph. Since 2006 sharply fewer Americans have said it is very important that a couple marry if they plan to spend the rest of their lives together.

Religiosity and political ideology are the strongest predictors of the importance people attach to couples marrying when they want to spend their lives together.

Sixty-seven percent of weekly church attendees regard marriage as very important for couples who want to spend their lives together, compared with 22% of those who rarely or never attend church.
Fifty-five percent of conservatives versus 23% of liberals believe it is very important that such couples wed.

There are also significant differences by age, partisanship, race and education. Older Americans, Republicans, non-White adults and college nongraduates place more importance on marriage for couples who want to live together than do younger Americans, Democrats, White adults and college graduates.

All key subgroups are less likely now than in 2006 to believe it is very important for couples to marry if they plan to live together the rest of their lives.

Belief That It Is Very Important for Couples to Marry if They Plan to Spend the Rest of Their Lives Together

	2006	2013	2020	Change, 2006-2020
	%	%	%	pct. pts.
Men	56	43	39	-17
Women	53	43	38	-15
18-34 years old	50	34	29	-21
35-54 years old	46	41	40	-6
55+ years old	67	54	43	-24
White adults	51	41	34	-17
Non-White adults	63	50	48	-15
College graduate	38	32	31	-7
Not college graduate	62	48	42	-20
Conservative	74	63	55	-19
Moderate	47	37	34	-13
Liberal	31	22	23	-8
Republican	73	56	51	-22
Independent	49	38	36	-13
Democrat	45	39	27	-18
Married	60	49	43	-17
Not married	45	37	33	-12
Children under 18	56	40	43	-13
No children under 18	54	45	36	-18
Attend church weekly	82	68	67	-15
Attend church monthly	62	50	46	-16
Seldom/Never attend	33	26	22	-11
GALLUP

Desire for Marriage Still Strong; Most Have Been Married

The lesser importance Americans place today on being married is borne out to some degree in the trends in marriage rates. The poll finds that most Americans (69%) have been married at some point in their lives -- encompassing those currently married, divorced or widowed. While this rate is similar to the 72% found in 2013 when the question was last asked, it is down from 80% in 2006.

In terms of those currently married, 49% report this today, also down from 55% in 2006.

Line graph. The percentage of U.S. adults who have been married at some point in their lives has fallen from 80% in 2006 to 72% in 2013 and 69% now. The percentage of U.S. adults who are currently married has fallen from 55% in 2006 to 52% in 2013 and 49% now.

The percentage of those currently married has shown greater decline when compared with historical Gallup trends. Between 1978 and 1983, a consistent 64% of Gallup poll respondents reported being married. The percentage fell below 60% in the mid-1990s and has been below 50% since 2015.

Much of that decline in the marriage rate in the past four decades is accounted for by the 8% who say they are unmarried but living with a partner -- a category not included in Gallup surveys prior to 1999. The percentage who report being divorced has also doubled, from 5% in the late 1970s and early 1980s, to 10% since 2015, while the percentage who say they are single or never married has increased modestly from 20% to 22%.

Despite this slide in marital rates, the vast majority of U.S. adults who have not been married -- 81% -- say they would like to get married someday. This is essentially unchanged from 78% when the question was last asked, in 2013.

Therefore, while people may think it is less important for couples to marry regardless of the situation, it is still a choice most people make, or hope to make, for themselves.

Bottom Line

Americans' attitudes about marriage continue to evolve, with fewer saying it is important for couples to marry if they have children together or if they want to spend the rest of their lives together. These trends are consistent with changes in U.S. attitudes on a variety of moral values issues, which have moved in a less traditional direction over the past two decades. Solid majorities of Americans now view sex between an unmarried man and woman, same-sex relations, and having a baby outside of marriage as being morally acceptable.

While the marriage rate is declining, the desire of those who have never been married to get married someday remains high, with more than eight in 10 singles hoping to marry. Thus, their evolving attitudes about marriage may reflect increasing acceptance for how others lead their lives rather than a profound shift in their own lifestyle preferences.

(Gallup USA)

December 28, 2020

Source: https://news.gallup.com/poll/316223/fewer-say-important-parents-married.aspx

670-43-13/Poll

U.S. Ethics Ratings Rise for Medical Workers and Teachers

Nurses earn a record 89% very high/high score for their honesty and ethics this year, four percentage points greater than their prior high, last recorded in 2019.
Medical doctors' rating has improved even more in the past year, rising 12 points to 77% and exceeding the previous high of 70% found in 2011 and 2012.
Pharmacists' honesty and ethics rating is up seven points to 71%. While not their highest rating, it is the highest since 2012, when 75% rated them this positively.

Line graph. Percentages of Americans rating pharmacists, medical doctors and nurses as having very high or high honesty and ethical standards since 1999. Currently, 89% rate nurses, 77% medical doctors and 71% pharmacists very high or high in honesty.

The latest results are based on a Dec. 1-17 Gallup poll in which Americans were asked to rate the honesty and ethics of 15 different occupational groups as very high, high, average, low or very low. Gallup first conducted its Honesty and Ethics poll in 1976 and has updated it annually since 1990. A handful of professions have been on the list every year, while Gallup asks about others periodically.

Nurses have topped Gallup's Honesty and Ethics list in all but one year since they were added in 1999. The exception is 2001, when firefighters were measured on a one-time basis shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and earned the highest score to date for any profession, 90%. Nurses fell one point shy of that mark this year.

Grade-School Teachers Also Enjoying Increased Respect

After nurses and doctors, grade-school teachers (the only category of teachers measured) are the next-highest-rated profession, with 75% rating their ethics very high or high.

Although only one point ahead of their previous high in 2007, it is the first time since then that grade-school teachers have scored over 70% and represents a nine-point improvement from their most recent rating in 2017. This may reflect public appreciation for the risks taken by teachers in going back to school during the pandemic, as well as their commitment to teaching under unprecedented circumstances, whether in the classroom or online.

Line graph. Americans' views of the honesty and ethical standards of grade-school teachers since 2004. Currently, 75% of U.S. adults rate them very high or high for honesty and ethical standards.

While not in the top tier, nursing home operators are another group that has faced extraordinary challenges this year during the pandemic. These workers are in eighth place, with a new high of 36% rating their ethics positively. That is 10 points above their previous rating in 2017 and four points ahead of their prior high of 32% recorded in 2013.

Police Officers in Top Five, Members of Congress and Salespeople Worst-Rated

Police officers rank fifth this year, with 52% rating them highly, similar to their 54% score in 2019, and making them the only profession aside from the top four to have a majority of Americans rating their ethics highly.

Members of Congress and car salespeople tie for last, with just 8% rating them highly, and advertising practitioners are close at 10%. Members of Congress had received acclaim from 12% of Americans in 2019, their highest in a decade, but even that small increase was short-lived.

No other profession rated this year experienced much change in its honesty and ethics score. That includes lawyers, journalists and bankers in the bottom half of the list and members of clergy and judges in the top half. Judges' 43% score is identical to their previous rating in 2017.

Profession Ratings for Having Very High/High Honesty and Ethical Standards

Please tell me how you would rate the honesty and ethical standards of people in these different fields -- very high, high, average, low or very low?

	Dec 2-15, 2019	Dec 1-17, 2020	Change
	%	%	pct. pts.
Nurses	85	89	+4
Medical doctors	65	77	+12
Grade-school teachers	--	75	--
Pharmacists	64	71	+7
Police officers	54	52	-2
Judges	--	43	--
Clergy	40	39	-1
Nursing home operators	--	36	--
Bankers	28	29	+1
Journalists	28	28	0
Lawyers	22	21	-1
Business executives	20	17	-3
Advertising practitioners	13	10	-3
Car salespeople	9	8	-1
Members of Congress	12	8	-4
Dashes (--) indicate profession not rated in 2019
GALLUP

While below their high point of 68% in November 2001, today's 52% rating of the police is well above their all-time low of 37% recorded in 1977. Their more recent low was a 48% reading in 2014.

Line graph. Americans' views of the honesty and ethical standards of police officers since 1977. Currently, 52% of U.S. adults rate them very high or high for honesty and ethical standards.

Partisans Share High Respect for Healthcare Workers, Teachers

Republicans and Democrats are in broad agreement that nurses, doctors, grade-school teachers and pharmacists have very high or high honesty and ethical standards, with majorities of both groups considering them such.

The two partisan groups also agree that several other professions -- bankers, business executives, lawyers, advertising practitioners, nursing home operators, car salespeople and members of Congress -- fall short of this standard.

Partisans show notable differences on four of the 15 professions tested this year:

Majorities of Republicans versus fewer than four in 10 Democrats rate police officers and clergy highly for honesty and ethics.
About half of Democrats versus far fewer Republicans rate judges' and journalists' ethics positively.

2020 Honesty and Ethics Ratings, by Party ID

% Very high/High honesty and ethical standards

	Republican	Independent	Democrat	Net difference (Republican minus Democrat)
	%	%	%	pct. pts.
Police officers	79	48	36	+43
Clergy	54	32	38	+16
Bankers	34	31	25	+9
Business executives	19	20	11	+8
Lawyers	18	25	17	+1
Car salespeople	10	7	10	0
Advertising practitioners	9	12	11	-2
Pharmacists	71	69	75	-4
Nurses	87	89	91	-4
Members of Congress	4	10	8	-4
Medical doctors	70	76	84	-14
Nursing home operators	28	35	43	-15
Judges	37	42	52	-15
Grade-school teachers	65	73	85	-20
Journalists	5	28	48	-43
GALLUP, DEC. 1-17, 2020

This year's partisan difference on judges -- with Democrats holding more favorable views than Republicans -- is a reversal from the previous measurement in 2017, when more Republicans (54%) than Democrats (42%) rated them highly. While the three-year gap makes it difficult to pinpoint a reason for the change, it may reflect the impact of recent rulings against Donald Trump's presidential campaign in its attempts to overturn the results in the states that decided the election.

Other notable differences are seen by gender, race and age:

Women (81%) are more likely than men (69%) to rate grade-school teachers highly.
A majority of White Americans (59%) versus less than half of non-White Americans (39%) rate the police highly.
Ratings of nursing home operators are much lower among adults 55 and older (28%) and 35 to 54 (34%) than among those under age 35 (48%).
By contrast, ratings of police officers are higher among older Americans: 62% of adults 55 and older and 56% of middle-aged adults rate them positively, versus 35% of the youngest age group.
Ratings of clergy are also higher among older Americans: 50% among those 55 and older and 41% among the middle age group, versus 24% among the youngest group.

Bottom Line

With the healthcare industry at the forefront of the global war on the coronavirus, nurses, medical doctors and nursing home operators all have received their highest ratings in Gallup records for their honesty and ethics, while pharmacists' already-high rating is the best in nearly a decade. Teachers, who -- in many cases -- are interacting in person with large numbers of students, appear to be enjoying the same surge of respect.

These findings mirror Gallup's annual Confidence in Institutions poll conducted in June and July, which found sharp increases in the percentage of Americans expressing high confidence in the medical system and public schools. At that time, less than two months after controversy erupted over the death of George Floyd in police custody in May, confidence in the police was at an all-time low of 48%. By contrast, today, the honesty and ethical rating of police officers is about the same as a year ago. Whether this means the public opinion effects of the Floyd event have faded, or that police officers as individuals are held less responsible for police violence than the police as an institution, is not clear.

While partisan conflict has been in high relief this year over the presidential election, the Honesty and Ethics poll reveals several areas where Republicans and Democrats agree, most notably in their high regard for medical professionals and teachers.

(Gallup USA)

December 22, 2020

Source: https://news.gallup.com/poll/328136/ethics-ratings-rise-medical-workers-teachers.aspx

670-43-14/Poll

As CDC warned against holiday travel, 57% of Americans say they changed Thanksgiving plans due to COVID-19

How we did this

Overall, a third of U.S. adults (33%) say they changed their Thanksgiving plans “a great deal,” while roughly a quarter (24%) changed their plans “some.” Another 38% of adults say their plans changed “not too much” (16%) or “not at all” (21%), according to the survey of 12,648 U.S. adults, conducted Nov. 18 to 29 as part of the Center’s American News Pathways project. The United States has recorded more than 17.7 million cases of COVID-19, including more than 316,000 deaths.

Partisan differences over many aspects of COVID-19 have been apparent since the early days of the outbreak, and those differences extend to the share of Americans who say they changed their Thanksgiving plans because of the virus. Seven-in-ten Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say they changed their Thanksgiving plans a great deal or some due to the virus, compared with 44% of Republicans and GOP leaners.

Democrats and Republicans differ over several other aspects of everyday life amid the outbreak, according to a separate Pew Research Center report based on the same survey. For example, eight-in-ten Republicans say they would feel comfortable visiting with a close friend or family member inside their home, compared with 52% of Democrats. And while 64% of Republicans say they would feel comfortable eating out in a restaurant, the figure falls to 27% among Democrats.

The share of Americans who say they changed their Thanksgiving plans due to COVID-19 varies by education level as well as partisanship. Seven-in-ten adults with a postgraduate education and 66% of those with a bachelor’s degree say they changed their Thanksgiving plans a great deal or some due to the outbreak. That compares with 53% of adults with some college education and 51% of adults with a high school diploma or less education.

Adults under 30 are somewhat less likely than older Americans to say they changed their Thanksgiving plans this year. About half of Americans ages 18 to 29 say this (51%), compared with 58% of those ages 30 to 49, 56% of those 50 to 64 and 62% of those 65 and older.

There are no major differences by gender, race or ethnicity on whether U.S. adults changed their Thanksgiving plans a great deal or some, though Hispanic adults are slightly more likely than White adults to say they did so (62% vs. 55%). White Americans are the most likely to say they did not change their plans – 41% say this, compared with 34% of Black Americans, 30% of Hispanic Americans and 24% of Asian Americans.

The Center’s recent survey found that the share of Americans who changed their Thanksgiving plans also varies by where people get their news, particularly among Republicans.

(PEW)

December 22, 2020

Source: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/12/22/as-cdc-warned-against-holiday-travel-57-of-americans-say-they-changed-thanksgiving-plans-due-to-covid-19/

670-43-15/Poll

Black, Latino and Asian Americans have been key to Georgia’s registered voter growth since 2016

The number of Black registered voters in Georgia increased by about 130,000 between Oct. 11, 2016, and Oct. 5, 2020, the largest increase among all major racial and ethnic groups, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of Georgia Secretary of State’s Office data. Meanwhile, early reports suggest that turnout in November 2020 among Black registered voters increased compared with 2016, but not as much as other groups.

The increase of 520,000 in new registered voters in Georgia since 2016 came from a variety of sources, as no single racial or ethnic group accounted for more than 25% of the newly registered. Even so, some groups of registered voters saw larger increases than others, shifting the overall racial and ethnic composition of registered voters.

How we did this

The number of Latino and White registered voters increased by roughly the same amount, each by 95,000, despite there being far fewer Latino than White existing registered voters (260,000 vs. 3.8 million). The number of Asian registered voters increased by 63,000, a substantial amount relative to the group’s Oct. 5, 2020, total (188,000).

Roughly 72,000 newly registered voters (14%) did not disclose their race or ethnicity, while 56,000 (11% of newly registered voters) identify with other racial and ethnic groups. The number of Native American registered voters more than doubled from 6,000 in 2016 to 15,000 in 2020.

In addition, roughly 76,000 new voters have reportedly registered between the presidential election Oct. 5 deadline and the Dec. 7 U.S. Senate runoff registration deadline. Fewer than half (46%) of these new voters identified themselves as White.

White registered voters remain the largest group among all Georgians registered to vote, making up 53% in 2020 – down from 63% just before the 2008 election. Meanwhile, Black registered voters make up 30% of the state’s registered voters, little changed since 2008.

While Latino and Asian registered voters each make up relatively small shares of voters on Georgia’s rolls, 4% and 3% respectively, both groups have grown rapidly. In 2008, each group made up only 1% of Georgia voters. The share of those who did not disclose their race or ethnicity increased from 4% to 9% during this time.

As was the case with the rest of the nation, Georgia’s turnout among registered voters was up in November (69%) compared with 2016 (62%). However, turnout in the state remained below the levels seen in the 2012 and 2008 presidential elections.

Women make up a majority of registered voters across major racial and ethnic groups, particularly among Black voters

Women make up a majority (53%) of Georgia’s registered voters. However, gender differences are larger among Black and Latino voters than among White and Asian voters.

In 2020, more than half (56%) of Black registered voters are women while 44% are men. And even as women make up a larger share of voters than men across racial and ethnic groups, the difference is starkest among Black voters.

Among Latinos, women make up 53% of registered voters while men make up 47%. The gender balance among both Black and Latino registered voters is closer than it was in 2016.

Atlanta area has propelled Georgia’s growing diversity among registered voters

The Atlanta metropolitan area added 301,000 registered voters from 2016 to 2020 and accounted for a majority of the state’s increase (58%) during this time. Overall, the metro area’s 3.9 million registered voters account for 54% of the state’s registered voters in 2020. The Atlanta area, which had a turnout rate (70%) among registered voters, aided Biden’s win. This was due in large part to support in suburban areas that once reliably backed Republican presidential candidates.

All 16 central counties in the metro saw higher numbers of registered voters in 2020 than in 2016. Growth was greatest in Forsyth, Paulding and Cherokee counties, where voter registration numbers rose by 18%, 17% and 16% respectively over 2016. Gwinnett County, one of the metro’s most populated, also saw significant growth. It recorded 54,000 more registered voters in 2020 than in 2016 – a 10% increase.

Among major racial and ethnic groups in the Atlanta metro area, the number of Black registered voters increased the most between 2016 and 2020 – by 115,000, or 9%. Henry and Rockdale counties saw the largest increase in Black registered voters as a share of their voter rolls, both having risen by 6 percentage points to 45% and 54% respectively.

The number of Hispanic and Asian registered voters also increased significantly, especially relative to their population size in the metro area. There were 60% more Hispanic registered voters in 2020 compared with 2016, up from 106,000 to 170,000. The number of Asian registered voters in the Atlanta area grew by 55% over the same period, from 99,000 to 152,000. Growth among Hispanic and Asian registered voters was especially notable in Gwinnett county. As a share of the county’s electorate, Hispanics and Asians saw both their shares increase by 3 percentage points, to 9% and 10%. Meanwhile, the Black electorate rose by 1 point and the White electorate dropped by 7 points in the county.

White registered voters saw their shares drop in every central county in the metro area, but declines were most notable in Forsyth and Henry counties, where their shares dropped by 9 points and 8 points respectively.

(PEW)

December 21, 2020

Source: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/12/21/black-latino-and-asian-americans-have-been-key-to-georgias-registered-voter-growth-since-2016/

670-43-16/Poll

Russia has become an enemy in the eyes of many Americans

In the four years of the Trump Administration, more Americans have become convinced that Russia is not just an unfriendly nation but is now an enemy of the United States.

That’s not just because of the belief (held by both the Secretary of State and the Attorney General but not by the President) that Russia was responsible for an extensive cyberattack on U.S. government and corporate computer systems, the scope of which is not yet completely known.

Perceptions of Russia have been changing slowly, and despite President Donald Trump’s cultivation of a relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, most Americans in the latest Economist/YouGov Poll who are aware of the attack blame Russia for it.

Republicans typically agree with President Trump: for example, in this poll (as in previous polls) most Republicans believe fraud changed the outcome of the November Presidential election. But on this question a plurality of Republicans disagree with President Trump and agree with the overall public that Russia is responsible for the attack.

More than two-thirds of the public have heard something about the cyberattack, with Democrats much more aware of it than Republicans. More than eight in ten Democrats (83%) and 63% of Republicans have heard at least a little about the cyberattack. So have two-thirds of independents.

Perception of Russia as an “enemy” of the United States has risen 11 points since April 2017. It is now the plurality view - held by 38% - which it was not four years ago. Republicans have changed the most: 40% now call Russian an enemy, up 16 points from 2017.

Republican opinion of Russia has gotten worse just in the last month. In late November, only 28% of Republicans said Russia was an enemy of the US; now 40% of Republicans think that.

Among the quarter of the public who say they have heard nothing about the attack, 17% call Russia an enemy. Among those who have heard something, 44% do. Among those who believe Russia is responsible for the cyberattack, 58% do.

President-elect Joe Biden will have to deal with Russia in less than a month, and Americans, even his own voters, are not particularly optimistic about what he might accomplish. Biden supporters think he can improve relations with China and with Iran, and tend to think relations with North Korea won’t change one way or the other during his time in office. But when it comes to Russia, more than four in ten Biden voters (43%) think relations will get worse. Just one in four think relations would improve in a Biden Administration.

The public overall is more negative about the future of future US relations with all four countries.

(YouGov)

December 23, 2020

Source: https://today.yougov.com/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/12/23/russia-has-become-enemy-eyes-many-americans

AUSTRALIA

670-43-17/Poll

Now 77% of Australians would get a vaccine for COVID-19 – down 10% points since April 2020

Men are more likely than women to get the COVID-19 vaccine (See Question 5 details below)

Analysis by Gender shows a significantly more men (83%, down 6%) than women (72%, down 13%) are willing to be vaccinated if a new Coronavirus vaccine became publicly available.

Analysis by State show those in New South Wales are most likely (81%) to be vaccinated if one became publicly available, while West Australians (69%) and Queenslanders (70%) are the least likely. Additionally, 20% of Queenslanders would not be willing to be vaccinated if one became publicly available much higher percentage than any of the other States: WA (14%), NSW (11%), VIC (9%) and SA (6%).

If a new Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine became publicly available, I would be willing to be vaccinated - By States

Source: Roy Morgan online survey of Australians conducted from November 12-17, 2020, n=1,008.
Base: Australians aged 18+.

Australians accept international travel restrictions to combat the virus (See Question 1 details below)

Large majorities of Australians in all States, both genders and across all age groups agree travel restrictions between countries are acceptable in order to fight against the spread of Coronavirus. Agreement is highest for people aged 50-64 (93%) or 25-34 (93%) and in South Australia (96%) and New South Wales (93%). In addition, 91% of both men and women agree that travel restrictions between countries are acceptable.

Do you think travel restrictions between countries are acceptable in order to fight against the spread of the Coronavirus? By Age

Source: Roy Morgan online survey of Australians conducted from November 12-17, 2020, n=1,008.
Base: Australians aged 18+.

More Australians say the Australian Government is handling the Coronavirus crisis well (See Question 2 details below)

Now 82% of Australians agree (up 17% since April) the Australian Government is handling the Coronavirus well - 23% (up 2%) strongly agree while a further 59% (up 15%) agree.

An unchanged 75% of Australians disagree the threat from the virus is exaggerated (See Question 3 details below)

One-in-five Australians agree the threat from Coronavirus is ‘exaggerated’ with those living outside capital cities more likely to agree (24%) the threat from Coronavirus is exaggerated than those from capital cities (19%).

Three quarters of Australians would sacrifice their ‘human rights’ to help prevent the spread of the virus – a drop of 5% points from April (See Question 4 details below)

A reduced 75% (down 5% since April) of Australians agree they are willing to sacrifice some of their ‘human rights’ if it helps prevent the spread of the Coronavirus compared to 17% (up 3% over the same time period) disagree.

A decreasing 77% (down 7%) of women agree they would willingly sacrifice their’ human rights’ if it helps prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. Of men 73% (down 2%) are willing, 21% not willing and 6% are undecided.

Thinking about the year ahead in Australia (See Question 6 details below)

In November, before the recent Coronavirus outbreak in Sydney, only 10% of Australians believed 2021 will be “Worse” while 17% believed it will be “the same” and a majority of 59% said it will be “Better” while 14% said they “Didn’t know”.

This question was covered extensively in a separate release available to view here.

Australians were asked a series of six questions to determine their views regarding the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the world via an online survey of an Australia-wide cross-section of 1,008 Australians aged 18+ conducted from November 12-17, 2020. The first five questions were on a five-point scale with strongly agree, agree, disagree, strongly disagree and don’t know the available responses.

● Question 1: “Do you think travel restrictions between countries are acceptable in order to fight against the spreading of the Coronavirus?”

● Question 2: “I think the Australian Government is handling the Coronavirus well?”

● Question 3: “I believe the threat from the Coronavirus is exaggerated?”

● Question 4: “I am willing to sacrifice some of my human rights if it helps prevent the spread of the virus?”

● Question 5: “If a new Coronavirus vaccine became publicly available, I would be willing to be vaccinated?”

(Roy Morgan)

December 22, 2020

Source: https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/8604-gallup-international-survey-covid-19-opinion-questions-november-2020-202012211153

MULTICOUNTRY STUDIES

670-43-18/Poll

More than 40% of the world's inhabitants are optimistic about 2021

The global optimism index stood at 19 percentage points, reaching its highest in three years.

(TASS Research)

December 26, 2020

Source: https://romir.ru/press/tass--issledovanie-bolee-40-jiteley-zemli-vstrechayut-2021-god-s-optimizmom

670-43-19/Poll

Fear and Social Distancing: Global Perceptions of Risk Vary

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that the perception of risk affects public health policy -- and public behavior -- as much as actual risk.

Results from the Lloyd's Register Foundation World Risk Poll, a global survey conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic, show that countries racked by greater levels of worry about being harmed in the course of daily life often went on to adopt stricter COVID-suppression policies and behaviors. Meanwhile, the countries least worried about (pre-COVID) safety and health risks have generally taken fewer precautions, despite being among the most vulnerable to the disease because of high-density cities, thick global travel networks and large elderly populations.

People living in Sweden, for example, express the least concern about mundane risks out of 142 countries and areas surveyed. When it comes to potential harm from food, water, electrical power lines and appliances, almost no Swedes say they are very worried. Violent crime and severe weather register significant concern with 10% and 9% of the population, respectively. By contrast, in Mozambique, 57% of adults say they are very worried about serious harm from the food they eat and 49% about the water they drink. Majorities there are very worried about severe weather (60%) and violent crime (58%), and many worry about serious harm from electrical power lines (38%) and household appliances (34%).

These gaps in concern are evidently grounded in actual experiences. According to the World Risk Poll, those worried about serious harm from a given source are far more likely to report having experienced it or known someone who has. Official records show early death and severe injury are much more common in Mozambique and lower-income countries than in Sweden and higher-income countries, according to data from the World Health Organization.

Experience with risk has shaped the response to COVID-19. Sweden is well-known for initially declining to issue stay-at-home orders or close restaurants and other businesses, require masks, or otherwise issue more than minor restrictions on its population, which has a relatively older and urbanized population. In mostly rural Mozambique, by contrast, the average age is 34 (compared with 48 in Sweden) -- but schools and some workplaces there closed when the pandemic began, and masks are required. The actual threat has been far greater in Sweden. Mozambique has seen only four deaths per 1 million people from COVID-19, compared with 626 per million in Sweden.

The influence of the recent past is apparent in East Asia. In Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea, mask-wearing became even more widespread after the 2003 SARS epidemic -- and they enacted other disease-suppression habits, leaving those countries and areas well-prepared for the current crisis.

This pattern -- where relatively recent past experiences related to either safety or trauma guide present behaviors in addressing the same ostensible situations -- means that high-income countries, especially the United States and many in Europe, have taken fewer precautions than many countries in the developing world. Whether countries overreacted or underreacted will likely be debated for years to come, but it is clear that people living in different countries perceived the risks from COVID quite differently.

Chart. This chart plots different statistics from a variety of sources, including the percentage of the population worried about everyday risks before the COVID-19 pandemic, the average age of the population, tourist revenue, and countries adopting mask mandates by overall risk perceptions before the pandemic.

The disconnect between perceived risk and actual risk is personal. Results from a global survey conducted early in the pandemic by economist Thiemo Fetzer from the University of Warwick and his collaborators showed that older people had similar levels of worry about their health as younger people, despite being at much greater risk of death. People living in countries and regions with relatively high COVID-19 death rates (the United States and Europe) were also less worried about their health at the onset of the pandemic than those living in places with lower death rates, such as Africa and East Asia.

The varying perceptions of risk have motivated varying actions. Those who say they are worried about their health exhibit much more cautious behaviors and endorse stricter rules and enforcement of social distancing, a concept psychologist have deemed "functional fear."

Chart. This chart displays the relationship between age and people's worry about their health during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the relationship between people's worry about their health and attitudes and behaviors in regard to COVID-19 policies.

This connection between fear and policy is playing out right now in the United States, as Gallup's research with Franklin Templeton has shown. Those who express greater fear of the virus are far more likely to favor restrictions on schools and businesses as well as other disease-suppression measures.

Chart. This chart plots COVID-19 policy preferences, behaviors during the pandemic, and people's confidence in going out by the level of worry people have about experiencing serious health effects if they were to contract the coronavirus.

Moreover, the policy preferences and perceptions of risk have a partisan edge. Democrats tend to overstate the risks to young people, and Republicans tend to understate the lethality of the virus more generally.

If President-elect Joe Biden wants more Americans to take greater precautions until they receive a vaccine, he will need to convince many who have not been harmed that the risks are nonetheless serious, either to them or to others. On the other hand, exaggerating the threat from COVID will make it easier to dismiss. In the United States and a number of other prosperous nations, logical conclusions from evidence-based research will have to serve as the impetus for behavioral change, in the absence of a recently shared collective experience of harm.

(Gallup USA)

December 28, 2020

Source: https://news.gallup.com/opinion/gallup/328187/fear-social-distancing-global-perceptions-risk-vary.aspx