The online survey was conducted between January 22 and February 5, 2021 among more than 20,000 adults in 27 countries. It reveals that an average of 60% believe that a person's race, ethnicity or national origin play a role in their educational opportunities, their access to housing and their access to social services. On average, 38% answer that their own race, ethnicity or national origin has affected their own educational opportunities, 38% answer that it has affected their own access to social services and 35% their own access to housing. But for each type of opportunity, about a third say that their race, ethnicity or national origin has had no influence at all.

Across the 27 countries, an average of 46% answer that the events of the past year have increased the gap in opportunities and access to housing, education, employment and / or social benefits in their country. 43% say that the events have not had any effect on the differences while 12% say that they have reduced the differences.

Perceptions vs. personal experiences

Perceptions and personal experiences of how much race, ethnicity or national origin affect one's possibilities vary greatly between countries. Compared to the average across the 27 countries for all four measured opportunities, several countries differ with their significantly higher or lower levels of perceptions combined with significantly higher or lower levels of personal experiences:

High perception and high personal experience: South Africa and India
High perception and low personal experience: Japan, Belgium and France
Low perception and high personal experience: Malaysia
Low perception and low personal experience: Russia, Poland, Sweden and the UK

The significance of the events of the past year

There are very different attitudes between countries as to whether and how the events that have taken place in the last year have affected the differences in opportunities based on ethnicity or national origin. On average, 46% across the 27 countries say that these events have widened the gap, while 43% say they have had no impact. 12% answer that they have reduced the differences:

About six out of ten in Latin America, Spain and South Africa and approx. half in France, Italy, Malaysia, Japan, Sweden, Belgium and the United States say recent events have widened the gap in opportunities based on ethnicity or national origin in their own country.
Only about one in three in Germany, Poland and Saudi Arabia, one in four in China and one in seven in Russia answer the same.

(Ipsos Denmark)

4 March 2021

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/da-dk/betydningen-af-etnicitet-og-national-oprindelse-pa-muligheder-i-samfundet

SUMMARY OF POLLS

ASIA

(Indonesia)

One In Ten Indonesians Has Ever Increased Debt To Cover Expenses

(YouGov Indonesia)
March 2, 2021

(India)

Two-Thirds Of Urban Indian Women Claim To Use Digital Payment Modes Regularly

YouGov’s latest survey on women and payment modes reveals nearly two-thirds of urban Indian women (67%) use digital modes of payment on a general basis. Almost as many use cash (64%) but slightly lesser make payments through cards (54%). In comparison to these mediums, less than a third (30%) use internet banking for transactional purposes.

(YouGov India)

March 3, 2021

(Pakistan)

Nearly 9 In 10 Pakistanis Favor The Senate Bill That Calls For Arabic To Be A Mandatory Part Of The Syllabus In Educational Institutions: Gallup & Gilani Pakistan

(Gallup Pakistan)

March 5, 2021

AFRICA

(Nigeria)

Reasons Why Super Eagles Of Nigeria Crashed Out Of The World Cup

The top reason for the Super Eagle’s poor performance at the Russia 2018 World Cup was inexperience of the players and coach (30%). Other major reasons mentioned were poor selection of players (17%), inadequate preparation (16%), racist/biased referees (11%), under-rating their opponents (5%) and lack of motivation (2%).

(Market Trends International)

March 7, 2021

WEST EUROPE

(UK)

Confidence In The Vaccine Growing, Even Among The Most Hesitant In People Tracked In New Ipsos MORI UK KnowledgePanel Poll

Overall, three in five (60%) of those who were not already ‘definitely’ sure they would take the vaccine in December 2020, have either already taken or become more positive about the vaccine (although the biggest movement has been among those who were already feeling they would probably take the vaccine). For example, half (52%) of those who previously said they ‘probably would’ take the vaccine, now ‘definitely would’.

(Ipsos MORI)

2 March 2021

More Than Four In Ten (46%) Britons Say They Support The Budget Compared To 11% Who Oppose

By more than four to one, the public backs the Budget. More than four in ten (46%) Britons say they support the measures outlined today, compared to 11% who oppose. Two thirds of Conservative voters are supportive of the Budget (66%), but it also garners support from Labour voters, by 38% to 18%. When it comes to specific measures in the budget, the extension of the furlough scheme to September is also widely welcomed. Half (49%) of Britons approve of the scheme lasting until about this time – just 16% think it should be ended earlier.

(YouGov UK)

March 03, 2021

A Fifth Of Home Schooling Parents Lack The Tech For Their Children To Access E-Learning Consistently

Nearly a fifth of parents with school-aged children (18%) say their kids are still going to school – up from 3% in May. Meanwhile, three quarters (74%) say their children are staying home – down from 88% in the first national lockdown. Among parents who have three or more children, the proportion who lack the technology to ensure all their children can consistently access remote learning rises to three in ten (32%), while only 13% of parents with just one child say the same.

(YouGov UK)

March 04, 2021

Voting Intention: Con 45%, Lab 32% (3-4 Mar)

The latest YouGov/Times voting intention figures show that the Conservatives have widened their lead over the Labour party to 13pts with 45% of the vote (+4), while Labour has 32% (-4). Elsewhere, the Liberal Democrats are on 6% (+1), the Greens 7% (n/c) and Reform UK have 3% (n/c) of the vote. Boris Johnson also widens his lead on our 'best Prime Minister' question. Just over a third of Britons (36%) say he would make the better head of government, while just under three in ten people (28%) favour Keir Starmer. A third of voters (33%) are undecided.

(YouGov UK)

March 04, 2021

(France)

The French Video Game Market Achieves Its Best Performance, Posting Growth Of + 11.3%

With 2.7 billion euros in 2020, the console ecosystem, which is growing by + 10%, represents more than half of the total market value. 2.3 million consoles were sold in 2020 , which generated an increase in value of + 11%. Valued at 1.182 billion euros, the PC Gaming market is driven by growth in Hardware and Accessories, which grew by + 20% and + 13% respectively.

(Ipsos France)

March 4, 2021

(Germany)

18 Percent Of Women In Germany Prefer To Have A Man As A Boss

(YouGov Germany)

March 5, 2021

NORTH AMERICA

(Canada)

31% Of Canadians Are Comfortable With Economic/Business Restrictions Ending

31% of Canadians are comfortable with economic/business restrictions ending when all Canadians who want the vaccine have received their required doses. 18% would prefer to wait at least 6 months after all Canadians have received their vaccine to end the restrictions. 43% of Canadians who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine think they will receive their first dose in August 2021 or later.

(Leger)

March 2, 2021

(USA)

Most Americans Support Tough Stance Toward China on Human Rights, Economic Issues

Roughly nine-in-ten U.S. adults (89%) consider China a competitor or enemy, rather than a partner. More broadly, 48% think limiting China’s power and influence should be a top foreign policy priority for the U.S., up from 32% in 2018. Today, 67% of Americans have “cold” feelings toward China on a “feeling thermometer,” giving the country a rating of less than 50 on a 0 to 100 scale.

(PEW)

MARCH 4, 2021

(Brazil)

Seven Out Of 10 Brazilians Believe That Race Influences Job Opportunities

World Economic Forum assesses the impact of race, ethnicity and nationality on access to opportunities in various sectors. In Brazil, the results are worrying. With regard to employability, 71% of the ears in the country perceive the influence of a person's skin color and origin in obtaining work. Of these, 41% think it influences a lot and 30% believe it influences in some way.

(Ipsos Brazil)

March 4, 2021

AUSTRALIA

Inflation Expectations Increase To 3.7% In February – Higher In Country Regions Than Capital Cities

In February Australians expected inflation of 3.7% annually over the next two years, up 0.1% points on January, and the highest since February and March 2020 (4.0% for both). Inflation Expectations are now 1% point below their long-term average of 4.7%. Inflation Expectations have now increased by 0.5% points in the last six months, the fastest increase for the index since late 2016/early 2017 when the index increased by 0.6% points in only two months.

(Roy Morgan)

March 04 2021

Public Transport Use Increases In December Qtr 2020 But Still Well Down On A Year Earlier

New research shows over 7.8 million Australians aged 14+ (37%) used public transport during the December quarter 2020. This is up over 950,000 from the September quarter 2020 when just under 6.9 million (33%) were using public transport – a low reached during Melbourne’s long second lockdown and significant restrictions on people’s movement in Sydney.

(Roy Morgan)

March 02 2021

Bank Of Queensland Purchase Of Me Bank Set To Widen Customer Base To Over 1 Million Australians

New data from Roy Morgan shows over 1 million Australians are customers of either Bank of Queensland or ME Bank. Bank of Queensland announced its intention to purchase 100% of ME Bank for $1.3 billion last week. Bank of Queensland’s (BOQ) $1.3 billion purchase of ME Bank is the biggest merger of two local banks for over a decade and with over 1 million customers between them the bank will be behind only the four major banks and Bendigo Bank (the largest second-tier bank) for total customers.

(Roy Morgan)

March 02 2021

Roy Morgan Business Confidence Up 0.3pts To 120.8 In February Majority Of Businesses Say Next 12 Months Is A Good Time To Invest

In February 2021 Roy Morgan Business Confidence increased 0.3pts (+0.2%) to 120.8. Business Confidence has now averaged 121.5 over the last three months, its highest three-month average since January – March 2014 (123.1). Business Confidence is now 7.3pts above the long-term average of 113.5. The good news is that an increasing majority of 55.5% of businesses said the next 12 months is a ‘good time to invest in growing the business’ and even more, 60.6%, expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months.

(Roy Morgan)

March 02 2021

MULTICOUNTRY STUDIES

65% Of All Adults Across 27 Countries Believe That A Person's Race, Ethnicity Or National Origin Influences Their Job Opportunities

A new Ipsos survey for the World Economic Forum shows that 65% of all adults across 27 countries believe that in their country, a person's race, ethnicity or national origin influences their job opportunities. If we ask the respondents' own race, ethnicity or national origin, an average of 39% answer that it has affected their own job opportunities. It reveals that an average of 60% believe that a person's race, ethnicity or national origin play a role in their educational opportunities, their access to housing and their access to social services.

(Ipsos Denmark)

4 March 2021

International Report: Gender Equality In 2021

For the past five and a half, many events have taken place, including the birth of the MeToo movement. Each number is based on an average of the net scores obtained from ten statements dealing with gender equality, with a maximum possible score of +100, and a minimum possible score of -100. Spain entered the rankings and took the lead, with a score of +68. Italy is second with +65, and the UK third with +64. The first ten places are exclusively occupied by the European countries studied, the United States and Australia. Indonesia closes the standings, with a score of +17, a drop of 13 points since 2015.

(YouGov France)

March 4, 2021

Europeans Think Vaccine Manufacturers Have Behaved Unfairly But Tend To Oppose Blocking Exports

Fully two thirds of French people, and a majority of Germans, think manufacturers have behaved unfairly. Just 10-17% think the opposite. Britons strongly disagree, with 48% thinking they have behaved fairly, vs 14% who think they have behaved unfairly. Asked whether or not it would be preferable to restrict exports if doing so violated contracts that non-EU countries (like Australia) had made with COVID-19 manufacturers, the French are opposed by 39% to 23%, the Swedes by 40% to 18% and the Danes by 35% to 22%.

(YouGov Denmark)

March 5, 2021

Covid-19 One Year On: Global Public Loses Confidence In Institutions

Among the eight countries analyzed, the only exceptions are Australia, where confidence in the government’s COVID-19 response is now higher than it was a year ago (78% very or somewhat confident in January 2021 vs. 70% in February 2020) and Germany, where it is statistically comparable (54% vs. 50%). Public opinion on the matter in the United States (47%) and Russia (45%) is divided. Only about one-third of those in the United Kingdom (37%) and France (36%) and one-quarter in Japan (24%) believe their national government can deal with the virus.

(Ipsos Egypt)

5 March 2021

More Than Half Of Consumers (56%) Intend To Avoid Going To A Bank Branch As Much As Possible In The Future

This proportion varies depending on the market: from 34% in Denmark to 81% in Mexico. In most cases, half or more of consumers say they intend to forgo visiting their branch. At the European level, some countries such as Spain (73%), Poland (70%) and Italy (67%) are among the nations most likely to avoid displacement. Conversely, Denmark (34%), Germany (43%) and France (45%) are the least affected countries.

(YouGov France)

March 8, 2021

ASIA

680-43-01/Poll

One In Ten Indonesians Has Ever Increased Debt To Cover Expenses

YouGov's latest research examines the financial impact of COVID-19 on Indonesians, and how Indonesians' attitudes and priorities will continue in 2021.

“On the Money: YouGov's Global Banking and Finance report 2021”, uses YouGov's Plan & Track data to provide a high-level overview of financial attitudes, preferences and habits in 17 global markets.

Given the impact of the pandemic on the global economy and workforce, it may come as no surprise that seven in ten (72%) are actively cutting unnecessary spending. This is especially the case for those aged 45 and over, with more than eight in ten (84%) having done so. Young Indonesians (ages 18 to 24) are the least likely to reduce unnecessary spending, with only three in five (62%) doing so. In contrast, young Indonesians (ages 18 to 24) were most likely to have saved more in the past six months, and those over 45 were the least likely to do so (38% vs 22%). More than a third of Indonesians (35%) have also used their savings for expenditure,

One in ten people (10%) must increase debt to cover expenses. This was especially the case for those aged 35 to 44, with one in seven (14%) already owing more.

However, lately it has not always been sad for Indonesians. More than a third of respondents (35%) have managed to save more in the past six months and 3% of respondents do not have to do any of the above.

Taking into account the future, the majority of Indonesians (87%) intend to reduce unnecessary spending. This trend is similar across other APAC markets surveyed, with at least two-thirds of consumers planning to cut costs in the future. In line with recommendations to avoid physical touch, two-thirds of consumers (66%) also intend to use digital banking services wherever possible, and more than half (57%) will now avoid visiting banks in person whenever possible.

YouGov also studied the financial priorities of Indonesians this year. Saving for unexpected hardships (54%) comes at the top, followed by ensuring that you can meet routine financial commitments (38%), and making money through investing (37%). However, there are differences in financial priorities between age groups. Those aged 45 and over were the most likely to prioritize ensuring they could meet their financial commitments, compared to those aged 34 and under (46% vs 32%). Indonesian parents (age 45 and over) are also more likely to ensure that they and their families are adequately protected in an emergency, compared to young Indonesians (age 34 and under) (46% vs 32%).

Those aged 35 to 44 were the most concerned about paying off their debt (40%) in the next twelve months, compared to only a quarter (24%) of adults 34 and under. Data shows that the priorities of young Indonesians are largely focused on spending more money. Compared to those aged 45 and over, young Indonesians were almost three times as likely to prioritize buying assets (11% vs 4%), and nearly twice as likely to prioritize buying a house or property (12% vs 7%). Compared to all other age groups, they are also twice as likely to prioritize returning to their pre-pandemic money-spending habits (7% vs 3%).

Financially devastating for people all over the world, and so is Indonesia, as we see a significant proportion of owing more or refinancing to cover their expenses. However, the data also show that Indonesians are a sensible group financially, with the majority intending to reduce unnecessary spending, and their top priority revolving around saving. It is not yet known how much longer this pandemic will have an impact on people's financial situations, but clearly Indonesians are ready to face any storm by focusing on saving for emergency situations. "

(YouGov Indonesia)
March 2, 2021

Source: https://id.yougov.com/id/news/2021/03/02/satu-dari-sepuluh-orang-indonesia-pernah-menambah-/

680-43-02/Poll

Two-Thirds Of Urban Indian Women Claim To Use Digital Payment Modes Regularly

YouGov’s latest survey on women and payment modes reveals nearly two-thirds of urban Indian women (67%) use digital modes of payment on a general basis.

Almost as many use cash (64%) but slightly lesser make payments through cards (54%). In comparison to these mediums, less than a third (30%) use internet banking for transactional purposes.

Digital payments have been widely accepted by the people of India ever since demonetization happened in the country. The pandemic accelerated the adoption of this mode of payment, not just in India but across the globe.

The data shows that among those who use digital payments modes, more than six in ten women (64%) use it on a regular basis but for one in five women (21%) it is the go-to mode and they only make payments through this medium. Slightly over a fifth (22% each) have recently started using it during the pandemic while another fifth (22%) use it only in the absence of cash or cards. One in seven (14%) use it occasionally.

Convenience stands as the biggest reason among women for using digital payment modes - at 81%. Rewards such a cashback, promotional offers, etc., is the second most popular reason for using it (70%). Apart from these, a large majority of women use digital payment modes because it enables them to keep a record of their payments (68%), while many other use it because they consider it safe and trustworthy (51%) and due to its wide-scale acceptance in the market as a payment method (46%).

When it comes to usage, most women said they use digital payments for mobile recharges (89%). Three- fourths use it for transactions related to delivery services (77%) and payment of utility bills (76%).

Shopping bills (69%), fund transfers (62%), travel & leisure bookings (50%) and toll payments (32%) are the other areas where women use digital payment modes.

When asked about the most preferred apps for digital transactions, Google Pay emerged as the top choice among females in India (43%), followed by Paytm (30%). The other apps like PhonePe, Amazon Pay and BHIM are far behind in terms of their popularity among Indian women (13%, 10% and 3% respectively). However, among generations, it is interesting to note that Gen Z is more likely to use PhonePe while Gen X prefers Amazon Pay or BHIM.

Looking ahead in future, almost eight in ten (78%) women expressed their likeliness to go completely cashless.

Using Profiles, our audience segmentation tool, we have taken a closer look at female digital payment app users to further analyse their characteristics and to better understand what makes them tick.

Profiles data suggests that a typical female digital payment app user in India is young, with three in one women (31%) falling in the age bracket of 30-39 years.

Compared to the national urban population, they are more likely to be married (53% vs 38% nat rep), reside in tier-1 cities (48% vs 35% nat rep) and a large proportion of them work full time (44% vs 35%).

They are prudent with their finances (84%) and look for profitable ways to invest their money (81%), but the willingness to take risks with money (35%) is slightly lower for this group of women. They are good at saving money and find the idea of debt stressful (77% and 73% respectively).

Looking deeper into the shopping habits and preferences of the group, we found that the quality of a product is paramount to these women and they do not mind paying extra for good quality products. They like to check out reviews and value the opinion of experts before deciding to buy something. Having said that, they are always on the lookout for special offers and do not mind switching brands in lieu of some offer.

TV and social media are their main sources of information. It is therefore obvious that TV adverts and online ads are likely to grab their attention. They are more likely to watch TV in the evening (between 6-11 pm) and are regular watchers of channels such as Colors (37%), Star Plus (32%) and &Pictures (31%).

When it comes to on-demand services, YouTube (67%), Amazon Prime (43%), Hotstar (41%) and Netflix (38%) are the most regularly sought after streaming services by them.

If a brand is trying to reach this group of females, advertising needs to be focused around their likes and dislikes, and beliefs, as this will resonate more with them.

Talking about the survey results, Deepa Bhatia, General Manager, YouGov India, said, “YouGov’s data shows that a substantial proportion of urban Indian women use digital payment apps and many more are likely to go completely cashless in the future. This makes them a lucrative group for those in the business of digital payment solutions. Therefore, understanding audience demographics and sentiments is key for brands looking to target this highly engaged group of consumers. Using granular insights about their target audience, brands and agencies can look to understand where the best opportunities lie moving forward and also where they should focus their communication efforts in order to relay the right message at the right time.”

Data collected online by YouGov Omnibus among around 1010 female respondents in India between February 16th -22nd, 2021 using YouGov’s panel of over 8 million people worldwide. Data is representative of the urban adult population in the country.

(YouGov India)

March 3, 2021

Source: https://in.yougov.com/en-hi/news/2021/03/03/two-thirds-urban-indian-women-claim-use-digital-pa/

680-43-03/Poll

Nearly 9 In 10 Pakistanis Favor The Senate Bill That Calls For Arabic To Be A Mandatory Part Of The Syllabus In Educational Institutions: Gallup & Gilani Pakistan

According to a survey conducted by Gallup & Gilani Pakistan, 89% Pakistanis said that they are in favor of the approval of a Senate bill that calls for Arabic to be a mandatory part of the syllabus in educational institutions. A nationally representative sample of adult men and women from across the four provinces was asked the following question, “Just recently, a bill was approved in the Senate that calls for Arabic to be a mandatory part of the syllabus in educational institutions. Are you in favor of this or opposed to this?” In response to this question, 89% said ‘In favor’ while 6% said ‘Oppose’. 5% did not know/did not respond.

(Gallup Pakistan)

March 5, 2021

Source: https://www.gallup.com.pk/post/31532

AFRICA

680-43-04/Poll

Reasons Why Super Eagles Of Nigeria Crashed Out Of The World Cup

MTI recently conducted a quick survey to ascertain the major reasons why Super Eagle of Nigeria crashed out of the Russia 2018 World Cup at the group stage.

The study was conducted across the six geo-political regions covering urban and rural areas. A total of 3,000 interviews were conducted. The sample distribution was proportionate to the population of each State and respondents were randomly selected.

The top reason for the Super Eagle’s poor performance at the Russia 2018 World Cup was inexperience of the players and coach (30%). Evidently, majority of the players appeared for the first time at the World Cup although they may be doing well at club level. The coach did not demonstrate high level of professionalism in the selection of players and applying technical tactics at every stage of the matches they played. For instance, this was exemplified in their match against Argentina. The players’ inexperience led to lack of team work (19%) among them. They played more of individualistic game rather than working together as a team to score goals. This accounted for their inability to convert the chances they had to score goals.
Other major reasons mentioned were poor selection of players (17%), inadequate preparation (16%), racist/biased referees (11%), under-rating their opponents (5%) and lack of motivation (2%).

(Market Trends International)

March 7, 2021

Source: http://www.markettrends-int.com/reasons-why-super-eagles-of-nigeria-crashed-out-of-the-world-cup/

WEST EUROPE

680-43-05/Poll

Confidence In The Vaccine Growing, Even Among The Most Hesitant In People Tracked In New Ipsos MORI UK KnowledgePanel Poll

A new Ipsos MORI UK KnowledgePanel poll has found that in January 9 in 10 UK residents said that they would either probably or definitely take a COVID-19 vaccine, up 7 points since December, with people’s opinion shifting since the vaccine rollout’s very earliest stages.

Would you take a vaccine against COVID-19?

The UK KnowledgePanel allows Ipsos MORI to return to the same participants, allowing us to track people’s shift in vaccine confidence over time. The chart shows that most of the movement is people shifting one step up the spectrum to become more positive about the vaccine, but there have also been some more dramatic shifts – for example, one in six (16%) of those who previously said they were unlikely to take the vaccine now say they definitely will or already have.

Would you take a vaccine against COVID-19?

The biggest shift is seen among 16-24 year olds. The proportion who now say they would take the vaccine has risen from 67% in December 2020 to 83% in January 2021 (including those who have already had it).

When breaking down our UK KnowledgePanel results further, we also see important differences around vaccine take-up between ethnic minority Britons and white Britons.

Would you take a vaccine against COVID-19? Ethnicity

Our findings highlight the importance of tailored public information campaigns and community engagement when it comes to ensuring sufficient vaccine take up. Over half of Britons from a BAME background feel they need more information on the COVID-19 vaccine to make a decision on whether to get it, compared with just 24% of white Britons.

Attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine

Kelly Beaver, Managing Director of Public Affairs at Ipsos MORI said:

These figures from our UK KnowledgePanel show the light at the end of the tunnel for coming out of lockdown successfully. But we cannot risk leaving some communities behind in the race to vaccinate the nation, drilling down into the data highlights the huge importance of community engagement and tailored public information campaigns to ensure we move forward together out of lockdown.

(Ipsos MORI)

2 March 2021

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/confidence-vaccine-growing-even-among-most-hesitant-people-tracked-new-ipsos-mori-uk-knowledgepanel

680-43-06/Poll

More Than Four In Ten (46%) Britons Say They Support The Budget Compared To 11% Who Oppose

Rishi Sunak’s Budget, delivered earlier today, is the first indication of how government’s plans to repair the damage to the public finances caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The chancellor announced a host of measures to support businesses and workers – such as an extension to the furlough scheme, extension of grants for the self-employed and keeping the reduced 5% VAT rate for hospitality – but also announced a freeze both in the personal allowance and in income tax thresholds. Sunak also said that from 2023, corporation tax will rise from 19% to 25% for businesses with profits over £250,000, with those with profits £50,000 and below staying at 19% and those in between on a tapered rate.

A snap YouGov poll, launched as soon as the chancellor finished speaking, shows Initial reaction to the Budget is overwhelmingly positive – although there are very high numbers of “don’t know” responses (42%), unsurprising at this early stage.

Nevertheless, by more than four to one, the public backs the Budget. More than four in ten (46%) Britons say they support the measures outlined today, compared to 11% who oppose.

Two thirds of Conservative voters are supportive of the Budget (66%), but it also garners support from Labour voters, by 38% to 18%.

Measures on the furlough scheme and corporation tax are welcomed

When it comes to specific measures in the budget, the extension of the furlough scheme to September is also widely welcomed. Half (49%) of Britons approve of the scheme lasting until about this time – just 16% think it should be ended earlier. A further 14% want to see the scheme in place for longer still, with Labour voters more likely to feel this way than Conservatives (19% vs 8%).

There is also widespread support for the move to increase corporation tax rates to 25% on profits over £250,000 by 2023. Around two thirds of Britons back such a move 69%, with similar levels of support among Conservative voters (76%) and Labour voters (73%).

(YouGov UK)

March 03, 2021

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2021/03/03/snap-poll-initial-response-budget-2021-positive

680-43-07/Poll

A Fifth Of Home Schooling Parents Lack The Tech For Their Children To Access E-Learning Consistently

A much higher number of children are attending school than in the first national lockdown but many parents still struggle with inadequate internet access and laptops

The government has changed the rules so children with inadequate access to technology are allowed to attend school in the current lockdown. Some schools have reported classrooms being fuller than earlier in the pandemic, and new YouGov figures support this.

But even with more children attending school, some pupils are still being home schooled without access to technology essential for remote learning.

One in five parents with school age children who have spent time home schooling (20%) say they do not have “adequate technology for all of my children to consistently access online lessons” including access to enough computers or because their internet connection is poor.

This is slightly higher among parents in C2DE households (25%) compared to 16% of parents in ABC1 houses who say the same. Among parents who have three or more children, the proportion who lack the technology to ensure all their children can consistently access remote learning rises to three in ten (32%), while only 13% of parents with just one child say the same.

(YouGov UK)

March 04, 2021

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/education/articles-reports/2021/03/04/one-five-home-schooling-parents-say-they-lack-adeq

680-43-08/Poll

Voting Intention: Con 45%, Lab 32% (3-4 Mar)

Latest YouGov Westminster voting intention figures

The latest YouGov/Times voting intention figures show that the Conservatives have widened their lead over the Labour party to 13pts with 45% of the vote (+4), while Labour has 32% (-4).

Elsewhere, the Liberal Democrats are on 6% (+1), the Greens 7% (n/c) and Reform UK have 3% (n/c) of the vote.

Boris Johnson also widens his lead on our 'best Prime Minister' question. Just over a third of Britons (36%) say he would make the better head of government, while just under three in ten people (28%) favour Keir Starmer. A third of voters (33%) are undecided.

(YouGov UK)

March 04, 2021

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2021/03/04/voting-intention-con-45-lab-32-3-4-mar

680-43-09/Poll

The French Video Game Market Achieves Its Best Performance, Posting Growth Of + 11.3%

Some figures for the 2020 video game market in France

A record year : sales of 5.3 billion euros, up 11.3%.
A market boosted by long-awaited releases : 2.3 million consoles, 27.5 million complete games (Console + PC / physical + dematerialized) and nearly 7 million accessories (Console + PC) sold in 2020.
A market driven by the 3 ecosystems : with growth of + 10%, the Console ecosystem represents 51% of the total video game market share, PC gaming is growing by + 9% and Mobile by + 16%.

Julie Chalmette, President of SELL , declares: “The year 2020 was a singular year because of the unprecedented health context and very rich news for the sector. The video game market confirmed the major trends that we had identified. A calendar punctuated by the release of new features eagerly awaited by players, the excellent performance of the current generation of consoles with a rich and varied catalog, as well as the launches of new consoles at the end of the year have made it possible to fuel a virtuous circle for the entire sector. This year also saw the rise of new uses, such as cloud gaming, which are tremendous sources of growth for the industry. "

The Console ecosystem, driving force of the French market

The video game market in France

In terms of game sales, the dematerialized market had a record year : sales of complete dematerialized console games grew by + 79% in one year . Sales of physical games have shown quite remarkable resilience, with a moderate decline of -3.2% despite a difficult context for physical distribution. In addition, software console sales are still dominated by sales of physical games, which represent 38% of the value . Then, 36% of this value is captured by the sales of dematerialized games, and 15% by additional downloadable content and microtransactions.

The French video game market

PC Gaming and Mobile Ecosystems at their All-Time High

Valued at 1.182 billion euros, the PC Gaming market is driven by growth in Hardware and Accessories , which grew by + 20% and + 13% respectively . The Software segment, whose transition is almost complete to dematerialized (98% of turnover being digital), is down slightly by -1.9% . Finally, the mobile market also experienced a historic level in 2020, reaching 1.426 billion euros . A sign of the importance of video games on mobile, games represent 43% of downloads (all applications combined) and 67% of consumer spending, according to IOS and Google Play data combined.

The French video game market

In parallel with these performances, the year 2020 will have marked a change in the outlook on video games. It is now establishing itself as a positive medium offering multiple opportunities beyond its primary function of entertainment.

(Ipsos France)

March 4, 2021

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/fr-fr/le-marche-francais-du-jeu-video-realise-sa-meilleure-performance-et-affiche-une-croissance-de-113

680-43-10/Poll

18 Percent Of Women In Germany Prefer To Have A Man As A Boss

Next Monday is International Women's Day. On this occasion, YouGov asked Germans about jobs and careers. When asked who they preferred as a boss, the majority of Germans (70 percent) answered that they had no preference. 16 percent of all respondents say they prefer to have a man as a boss, and 9 percent of those questioned say they would prefer a woman to be a supervisor. While there is hardly any difference between the sexes to the last statement - 9 percent of men and 8 percent of women make this statement - there is a difference when asked whether you would rather have a man as a boss: So everyone gives fifth woman (18 percent) said that she would rather have a manager than a manager. On the other hand, only 14 percent of men prefer a man to be the boss.

FOR GERMANS IT IS MORE PROBLEMATIC THAN FOR MOST EUROPEANS WHEN A WOMAN EARNS MORE MONEY THAN HER HUSBAND

35 percent of all respondents in Germany are of the opinion that problems can arise when a woman earns more money than her husband. Women say that more often (42 percent) than men (28 percent). Only the Polish respondents make this statement more often among Europeans (37 percent) than the Germans, otherwise Europeans are more cautious with this statement: Among the British, 21 percent say this, among Danes 22 percent, among French 27 percent, among Swedes 29 percent, under Spaniards 31 percent and among Italians 33 percent. In an international comparison, Indonesians say this most frequently (58 percent) and Vietnamese the second most frequently (54 percent).

INTERNATIONAL MAJORITY ADVOCATES INDEPENDENT CAREERS FOR WOMEN

Almost all respondents in the UK (94 percent) say that there is an advantage for women to have a career of their own. Italians (93 percent) are right behind, and among Australians and Thais, 92 percent say so. Danes are least likely to make this statement (77 percent). Among Germans, there are four out of five (80 percent) who advocate independent careers for women.

The results are based on two surveys by the international Data & Analytics Group YouGov, for the 2,049 people in Germany between January 19 and 21, 2021 and almost 27,000 people in 22 markets worldwide between February 19 and March 1, 2021 using standardized online -Interviews were interviewed. The results are representative for the respective populations aged 18 and over.

(YouGov Germany)

March 5, 2021

Source: https://yougov.de/news/2021/03/05/18-prozent-der-frauen-deutschland-haben-lieber-ein/

NORTH AMERICA

680-43-11/Poll

31% Of Canadians Are Comfortable With Economic/Business Restrictions Ending

This survey is conducted in collaboration with the Association for Canadian Studies (ACS) and published in the Canadian Press.

COVID-19 VACCINES

31% of Canadians are comfortable with economic/business restrictions ending when all Canadians who want the vaccine have received their required doses. 18% would prefer to wait at least 6 months after all Canadians have received their vaccine to end the restrictions.
43% of Canadians who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine think they will receive their first dose in August 2021 or later.

(Leger)

March 2, 2021

Source: https://blog.legeropinion.com/en/surveys/north-american-tracker-march-2-2021/

680-43-12/Poll

Most Americans Support Tough Stance Toward China on Human Rights, Economic Issues

President Joe Biden has inherited a complicated U.S.-China relationship that includes a trade war, mutually imposed sanctions on high-ranking officials, tensions flaring over human rights issues, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and an American public with deeply negative feelings toward China.

Roughly nine-in-ten U.S. adults (89%) consider China a competitor or enemy, rather than a partner, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. Many also support taking a firmer approach to the bilateral relationship, whether by promoting human rights in China, getting tougher on China economically or limiting Chinese students studying abroad in the United States. More broadly, 48% think limiting China’s power and influence should be a top foreign policy priority for the U.S., up from 32% in 2018.

Today, 67% of Americans have “cold” feelings toward China on a “feeling thermometer,” giving the country a rating of less than 50 on a 0 to 100 scale. This is up from just 46% who said the same in 2018. The intensity of these negative feelings has also increased: The share who say they have “very cold” feelings toward China (0-24 on the same scale) has roughly doubled from 23% to 47%.

Americans have many specific concerns when it comes to China, and the sense that certain issues in the bilateral relationship – including cyberattacks, job losses to China, and China’s growing technological power – are major problems has grown over the past year alone. Half of Americans now say China’s policy on human rights is a very serious problem for the U.S. – up 7 percentage points since last year. And nine-in-ten Americans say China does not respect the personal freedoms of its people.

Human rights concerns also are frequently cited when Americans are asked, in an open-ended format, about the first thing that comes to mind when they think of China. One-in-five mention human rights concerns, with 3% specifically focused on Uyghurs in Xinjiang. (For more on the open-ended responses, as well as how they were coded, see “In their own words: What Americans think about China.” Quotations from this open-ended question appear throughout this report to provide context for the survey findings. They do not represent the opinion of all Americans on any given topic. They have been edited lightly for grammar and clarity.)

“The Chinese people as individuals are no different than other people, but their government is a totalitarian Communist regime bent on conquering its neighbors and land-grabbing, as shown by their takeover of Hong Kong.”

–Man, 52

Many also mentioned China’s powerful economy, its dominance as a manufacturing center – sometimes at the expense of the environment or workers – and issues related to the U.S.-Chinese economic relationship. Overall, Americans see current economic ties with China as fraught: Around two-thirds (64%) describe economic relations between the superpowers as somewhat or very bad.

“Leader in technology. Makes a lot of cheap products. A possible threat.”

–Man, 54

Americans are also critical of how China is dealing with some key issues. When it comes to dealing with global climate change, for example, a broad 79% majority thinks China is doing a bad job, including 45% who think it’s doing a very bad job. More Americans also think China is doing a bad job (54%) than a good one (43%) dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. Still, people are about as critical of America’s own handling of the pandemic (58% say it is doing a bad job).

As President Biden seeks to navigate this tumultuous relationship, few Americans put much stock in his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping. Only 15% have confidence in Xi to do the right thing regarding world affairs, whereas 82% do not – including 43% who have no confidence in him at all.

While 60% of Americans have confidence in Biden to do the right thing regarding world affairs in general, when it comes to dealing effectively with China, only 53% say they have confidence in him. This is fewer than say they have confidence in him to handle any of the other foreign policy issues asked about on the survey. Partisans are also worlds apart on this issue: 83% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents have confidence in Biden to deal effectively with China, compared with only 19% of Republicans and Republican leaners.

Many other issues related to China are also quite divided across party lines. Republicans are significantly more likely to say the U.S. should get tougher on China on economic issues (instead of trying to strengthen economic relations), to describe China as an enemy of the U.S. – rather than as competitor or partner – and to have very cold feelings toward China. They are also more likely to support limiting the ability of Chinese students to study in the U.S.

Republicans are also more likely than Democrats to describe most issues in the bilateral relationship as very serious problems for the U.S., including the loss of U.S. jobs to China (by 24 percentage points) and the U.S. trade deficit with China (19 points). The gap between the parties on these issues has grown over the past year, too, with Republicans increasingly describing these issues as very serious but Democratic opinion changing little.

Only on human rights-related issues – both the perception that China’s human rights policies are a major problem and support for promoting human rights in China – do Democrats and Republicans largely agree. The sense that China’s human rights policies are an issue in the bilateral relationship also increased a similar amount among both Republicans and Democrats over the past year.

These are among the findings of a new survey by Pew Research Center, conducted online Feb. 1-7 among 2,596 adults who are members of the nationally representative American Trends Panel.

Growing share of Americans express cold feelings toward China

A majority of Americans have negative feelings toward China, up substantially since 2018. Respondents indicated their feelings using a “feeling thermometer” where a rating of zero degrees means they feel as cold and negative as possible, a rating of 100 degrees means they feel as warm and positive as possible, and a rating of 50 degrees means they don’t feel particularly positively or negatively toward China. Based on this, 67% of Americans today feel “cold” toward China (a rating of 0 to 49). This is up 21 percentage points from the 46% who said the same in 2018.

Nearly half (47%) of Americans feel “very cold” toward China – rating it below 25 on the same 100-point scale – which is around twice as many as said the same in 2018 (23%). Similarly, the share of Americans who give China the lowest possible rating of zero has nearly tripled, from 9% in 2018 to around a quarter (24%) in 2021.

Only 7% of Americans have “warm” feelings (51-75) toward China and even fewer (4%) say they have “very warm” evaluations of the country (76-100). One-in-five Americans have neutral feelings toward the country, giving it a rating of exactly 50 on the thermometer.

While negative feelings toward China have increased among both Republicans and Democrats, the size of the partisan gap has also grown since 2018. Today, 62% of Republicans feel “very cold” (0-24) toward China – up 31 points since 2018. In comparison, 38% of Democrats report “very cold” feelings, up 21 points over the same period.

Understanding the over-time change in views of China

Conservative Republicans are even more likely to say they have “very cold” feelings toward China (72%) than moderate or liberal Republicans (48%). Among Democrats, conservatives and moderates (45%) are more likely than liberals (30%) to have very cold feelings toward China.

Men (51%) are more likely than women (43%) to have “very cold” feelings toward China. A majority of those 50 and older (55%) have “very cold” opinions of China, whereas only 40% of those under 50 report the same. Americans with lower levels of education are more likely to feel “very cold” toward China: 51% of those who have not completed college feel this way, compared with 39% of those with at least a bachelor’s degree.

While most Americans have unfavorable views toward China, results of an open-ended question about China indicate that opinions can be multifaceted. Even among those who say have “cold” feelings toward China, there are instances where people report good and bad things.

“I think about the human rights abuses, such as the indefensible treatment of the Uyghurs, as well as the infringements of personal freedoms suffered by all citizens. I think about the gender imbalances still present from the one-child laws of the past, which further harms their society. I [also] think about the centuries of rich culture and history that created incredible art and architecture, as well as incredible inventions that furthered humanity as a whole.”

–Woman, 35

Republicans are much more likely to describe China as enemy of the U.S.

A majority of Americans describe China as a competitor (55%) rather than as an enemy (34%) or a partner (9%).

Partisans differ substantially in their evaluations of the U.S.-China relationship. Whereas 53% of Republicans and independents who lean toward the Republican Party describe China as an enemy, only 20% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say the same. Nearly two-thirds of conservative Republicans say China is an enemy (64%), while only 37% of moderate or liberal Republicans say the same.

While Democrats are more likely than Republicans to describe China as a partner, they are also more likely to describe it as a competitor, with nearly two-thirds of Democrats and Democratic leaners (65%) describing the relationship in this way.

Black, White and Hispanic adults also differ in their evaluations of the U.S.-China relationship. Whites are significantly more likely than Hispanic (21%) or Black adults (12%) to describe China as an enemy (42%). White Americans are also much less likely to describe China as a partner (6%) than are Black (19%) or Hispanic (15%) Americans.

“Powerful U.S. competitor on world stage and long-term frenemy …”

–Man, 51

Older adults, too, are significantly more likely than younger ones to describe China as an enemy. Whereas around half (49%) of those ages 65 and older say that China is an enemy, only 20% of those under 30 say the same. Those who have not completed college are somewhat more likely than those who have a college degree to describe China as an enemy (36% vs. 30%, respectively).

Americans increasingly prioritize limiting China’s power and influence

Nearly half of Americans (48%) think limiting the power and influence of China should be a top foreign policy priority for the country, and another 44% think that it should be given some priority. Only 7% think limiting China’s influence should not be a priority at all. The share of Americans who think limiting China’s power and influence should be a top priority is also up 16 percentage points since 2018.

Republicans are much more likely than Democrats to say limiting China’s power and influence is a top priority (63% vs. 36%, respectively). Conservative Republicans (68%) are even more likely than moderate or liberal Republicans to say this (54%). And, while support for limiting China’s influence has increased since 2018 among both Republicans and Democrats, the rise has been especially steep among Republicans.

Limiting China’s power and influence is one of the top priorities cited by Americans among 20 foreign policy goals asked about in the survey. The only issues of the 20 tested that are named as a top priority by more Americans are protecting the jobs of American workers (75%), reducing the spread of infectious diseases (71%), taking measures to protect the U.S. from terrorist attacks (71%), preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction (64%) and improving relationships with our allies (55%). And, when it comes to comparisons with other countries, more Americans see limiting China’s power and influence as a top priority than say the same of Russia (42%), North Korea (40%) or Iran (38%).

Still, there are major partisan differences with regard to the relative importance of limiting China’s power and influence. For Republicans, it is the fifth most important issue of the 20 tested, while for Democrats, it ranks 12th.

The 27-point gap between Republicans and Democrats when it comes to whether limiting China’s power and influence is a top priority is one of the largest partisan gaps across the 20 issues tested. The only more divisive issues are dealing with global climate change (Democrats 56 points more likely to name this), reducing illegal immigration into the U.S. (48 points higher among Republicans), and maintaining the U.S. military advantage over all other countries (Republicans 38 points more likely).

Older Americans are more likely to say limiting China’s power and influence should be a top priority: 58% of those ages 50 and older say this, compared with 39% of those under 50. Those with lower levels of education are also more likely to call limiting China a top priority: 50% of those who have not completed a bachelor’s degree compared with 43% of those who have.

“I personally fear China’s powers more than any other country.”

–Woman, 80

Partisans sharply divided over confidence in Biden to deal with China

Around half of Americans have confidence Biden will be able to deal effectively with China (53%). Still, this is the issue among six tested in which Americans have the least confidence in Biden. For example, 67% have confidence in him to improve relationships with allies, and around six-in-ten say they think he will be able to deal effectively with the threat of terrorism and global climate change, as well as to make good decisions about the use of military force and international trade.

Women (59%) are more confident than men (48%) in Biden’s ability to deal effectively with China. Black (82%) and Hispanic adults (70%) also express more confidence than White adults (43%). Those with a college degree expect Biden will be able to deal effectively with China at a higher rate than those with less schooling (60% vs. 50%, respectively).

Partisan differences are particularly large. Whereas 83% of Democrats and leaners toward the Democratic Party have confidence in Biden on China, only 19% of Republicans and leaners say the same. Conservative Republicans have even less confidence (10%) than moderate or liberal Republicans (30%), though conservative and moderate Democrats (86%) are about as confident in Biden on dealing with China as liberal Democrats (81%).

Americans anxious about China’s technological and military power

Americans express substantial concern when asked about eight specific issues in the U.S.-China relationship. About three-quarters or more say that each issue is at least somewhat serious. Still, four problems stand out for being ones that half or more describe as very serious: cyberattacks from China, the loss of U.S. jobs to China, China’s growing military power and China’s policies on human rights.

Cyberattacks from China evoke the most concern: Roughly two-thirds consider digital attacks to be a very serious problem. This is a 7 percentage point increase from 2020.

The share who see the loss of U.S. jobs to China as a very serious problem has increased by 6 points since 2020, to 53%. A similar share sees China’s growing military power as a very serious problem (largely unchanged from the 49% who said the same last year).

China’s policies on human rights are seen as a very substantial problem for the U.S. by half of American adults, a 7-point increase since 2020. China’s treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang was recently labeled a “genocide” by former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Results of previous telephone polls indicate that concerns about China’s human rights policies increased between 2018 and 2020 as well.

About four-in-ten Americans see the U.S. trade deficit with China – which decreased for the second year in a row – as a very serious problem, unchanged from 2020. Those with less than a college degree are more likely than those with a college degree or more education to see the trade deficit with China as a very serious problem. Similarly, those with lower levels of education are more likely to call the loss of U.S. jobs to China a very serious problem – but when it comes to other problems, people with different educational attainment levels largely agree.

Tensions between mainland China and Hong Kong or Taiwan are seen as less serious problems for most Americans. While about three-quarters say these two geopolitical issues are at least somewhat serious problems, only about three-in-ten say they are very serious. Still, the share who see Hong Kong’s tensions with mainland China as a very serious problem has increased by 5 percentage points since last year. (Last year’s survey did not ask about tensions between mainland China and Taiwan.)

“They are actively working to take over the U.S. economically rather than militarily. They are pulling our manufacturing abilities, copying advanced technologies, buying up large-scale U.S. corporations and they own much of our debt. They are methodically taking over control of our economy.”

–Man, 82

Across age groups, older Americans express more concern about China-related issues. Americans ages 65 and older are at least 20 points more likely than those ages 18 to 29 to say most issues asked about in the survey are very serious problems.

Republicans and Republican-leaning independents tend to be more concerned about most of these eight bilateral issues than Democrats and Democratic leaners. And conservative Republicans are particularly likely to call most of these issues very serious problems for the U.S. For example, 73% of conservative Republicans see the loss of U.S. jobs to China as a very serious problem, while only 55% of moderate or liberal Republicans agree.

When it comes to China’s human rights policies and tensions between Taiwan and mainland China, however, partisans largely agree. Compared with 2020, concern about various China-related issues generally increased more among Republicans than among Democrats. For instance, while the share of Republicans who say the loss of U.S. jobs to China poses a very serious problem increased by 14 percentage points, there was no significant change among Democrats. On issues where concern rose overall, increases tended to be especially steep among conservative Republicans.

China’s handling of coronavirus and climate

More than a year after the coronavirus became a widespread public health issue in the U.S., more than half of Americans say China has done a bad job dealing with the outbreak (54%). Around a quarter (28%) even think China’s pandemic response has been very bad.

Just 43% think China has done a good job dealing with the coronavirus outbreak, with only 12% saying China has done a very good job.

And, while more Americans say China has done a bad job than a good job dealing with the pandemic, they are just as critical of the U.S.’s handling of the pandemic, which 58% describe as bad.

Republicans (71%) are much more likely than Democrats (39%) to see China as having done a bad job with the COVID-19 outbreak. Those with less than a college degree are more likely to say China has done a bad job compared with those have at least a bachelor’s. White Americans also give China worse ratings than do Black or Hispanic Americans.

“China is the origin country for COVID-19 but they managed to keep the virus from spreading further, way better than the U.S.”

–Woman, 30

One area where Americans think China could do much more is climate change. The world’s largest contributor of carbon emissions, China has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2060 while still espousing its right to develop. By a nearly four-to-one ratio, Americans think China has done a bad job handling climate change, with 45% saying China has done a very bad job. On the other hand, just 2% think China’s approach to global warming thus far has been very good. No more than a quarter rate China’s climate change approach positively regardless of age, education or political affiliation.

Americans want to prioritize human rights in U.S.-China relations

Human Rights Watch called 2020 “the darkest period for human rights in China” since the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Amid crackdowns in Hong Kong, continued persecution of ethnic minorities such as the Muslim Uyghur population and detaining dissidents, Americans, too, have taken notice. Fully 90% of adults in the U.S. say the Chinese government does not respect the personal freedoms of its people. This perspective is shared among large majorities of Americans across age, education and political groups.

And Americans want more focus on human rights – even at the expense of economic ties – in bilateral relations with China. When asked whether the U.S. should prioritize economic relations with China or promote human rights in China, 70% of Americans choose human rights, even if it potentially harms economic relations with China.

About seven-in-ten Democrats and Republicans say the U.S. should promote human rights in China, even if it harms economic relations between the two countries. Among Republicans, those who identify as conservative Republicans are more likely than their moderate or liberal counterparts to hold this opinion. Among Democrats, those who identify as liberal are the most likely to emphasize human rights over economic dealings in U.S.-China relations.

“When I think of China, the first thing that comes to mind is the oppressive measures it takes on those within its borders, especially the plight of Uyghur Muslims, but also the restrictions placed by the Communist government on free speech and dissent by its citizens. After that, America’s weakening role as a superpower in global competition against China comes to mind.”

–Man, 30

Americans favor tougher stance on China economic policies, question efficacy of tariffs

Targeted tariffs and increased intellectual property scrutiny set the backdrop of the U.S.-China trade war and the bilateral economic relationship during the four years of the Trump administration. While President Biden has indicated he would change tack in bilateral economic dealings, he has also described China as America’s “most serious competitor” and has kept some Trump-era China policies in place, at least for now.

Americans, too, see a precarious economic relationship between the two nations: 64% believe current economic relations between the U.S. and China are bad. Among those who say economic relations are good, just 1% say they are very good. (Results of a similar question asked on the phone indicates that Americans increasingly saw bilateral economic ties to be in poor shape over the course of the trade war.)

“I work in tech and my company does a lot of business in China. The trade war and bans on sales to certain companies have hurt our business and seem arbitrary. I have been to China many times. I don’t agree with all of China’s policies but I also don’t agree with how the U.S. government has managed its relationship under Trump.”

–Woman, 49

When thinking about economic and trade policies with China, more Americans want the U.S. to get tougher with China rather than to focus on building a stronger relationship. This opinion is particularly prevalent among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents (72% of whom want the U.S. to get tougher on China), and especially among those who identify as conservative Republicans (81% of whom say the same). About six-in-ten Democrats and Democrat-leaning independents would rather focus on building stronger ties with China, a feeling that is largely consistent among liberal and more moderate or conservative Democrats.

Younger people – those ages 18 to 29 – are also more likely than their older counterparts to stress building a stronger relationship with China over getting tougher with Beijing.

“I think China has grown too big. That normally wouldn’t be a problem but some of the things they have done lately is concerning to me. I don’t like that we owe them so much money. I don’t trust them anymore.”

–Woman, 57

Part of the Trump administration’s trade policy with China involved imposing tariffs on steel, aluminum and assorted other goods from China in the name of national security and American manufacturing.

The U.S. public offers varied reviews of the tariff policies. When asked about the effects of increased tariffs on goods from foreign countries, including from China, more say they were ultimately bad for the U.S. (44%) than good (30%), while about a quarter of Americans think the tariffs had no discernable effect on the U.S. In terms of how the tariffs affected their own life personally, a majority say they had no real effect on them. Opinions on the tariffs’ personal effects differ little based on people’s own incomes or where they are located geographically in the country.

Some partisan differences arise, especially when assessing how tariffs affect the country overall. About half of Republicans say increased tariffs on Chinese and other foreign products were good for the U.S. This sentiment is especially strong among conservative Republicans. Republicans who identify as moderate or liberal are divided, with nearly equal shares describing the tariffs as good and bad. Democrats, on the other hand, most often say the tariffs were bad for the U.S.

Those who think that the U.S. economy is in good shape are more likely to describe the tariffs as good for the country than those who say the American economy is not doing well – 49% vs. 20%, respectively.

Americans generally welcome international pupils, but widespread support for limits on Chinese students

Although international student enrollment in the U.S. fell dramatically in 2020 because of COVID-19, during the 2019-202o school year, more than 1 million international students studied at U.S. colleges and universities, comprising 5.5% of all student enrollment in American tertiary education. And generally speaking, the U.S. public sees these students in a positive light: Eight-in-ten Americans say it is good for U.S. colleges and universities to accept international students, while just 19% think the opposite.

This sentiment is especially strong among certain subgroups in the U.S. population. Black and Hispanic Americans are more likely than White Americans to see international students as an asset. Likewise, younger people and those with a college degree say it is good for U.S. universities to accept international students. Partisanship also plays a role in views of international students. While at least two-thirds of supporters of each party see visiting students in a positive light, 92% of Democrats and Democrat-leaning independents hold this perspective, versus just 67% of Republicans and Republican leaners.

Since 2009, the largest share of international students in the U.S. have come from China, according to the Institute of International Education. In 2019-2020, Chinese students comprised roughly a third of international students in American colleges and universities, and the number of Chinese students in U.S. academic institutions had nearly tripled over the previous decade.

Yet, while the U.S. public generally welcomes international students, people are more divided when it comes specifically to Chinese students. A majority of Americans (55%) support limiting Chinese students studying in the U.S., including about one-in-five Americans who strongly support this idea. On the other hand, 43% oppose limitations on Chinese students, with 18% strongly opposed.

At least half of White, Black and Hispanic Americans would at least somewhat support limits on Chinese students in the U.S. Among those who have obtained a college degree, more oppose than support restricting the number of Chinese students at Americans institutions. A majority of those without a college degree are in favor.

Among Americans ages 50 and older, roughly seven-in-ten are in favor of limiting Chinese students. Those ages 30 to 49 are evenly split between support and opposition, while nearly two-thirds of Americans 18 to 29 oppose the idea. Republicans are also more likely than Democrats to favor limitations on the number of Chinese students attending U.S. college or universities.

“We rely TOO MUCH on goods from China. China is trying to dominate the whole world and we are supporting that with the stuff we buy from them. Too bad their scientists seem to be smarter than ours. And they are welcomed here as students. We have to stop kissing up to China.”

–Man, 79

Confidence in Xi stays low

When asked how much they trust Chinese President Xi Jinping to do the right thing regarding world affairs, roughly eight-in-ten Americans (82%) say they have little or no confidence in the Chinese leader. The share who say they have no confidence at all in Xi has increased by 5 percentage points from 38% last spring to 43%. Previously, levels of distrust in the Chinese president increased sharply after the coronavirus outbreak began.

Negative ratings for Xi are high across demographic and partisan groups, though there are a few modest differences. Men are somewhat more likely than women to distrust Xi, with half of American men saying they have no confidence at all in Xi. Half of White adults likewise say have no confidence at all in Xi. In comparison, 31% of Hispanic adults and 29% of Black adults hold the same opinion.

Across age groups, older Americans are more likely to have no confidence in the Chinese president. While 53% of those 65 and older say they have no confidence at all in Xi, only 35% of those 18 to 29 say the same.

“China is a country to be feared. Their leadership cannot be trusted. We should be harder on China in every way.”

–Man, 76

Among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, a majority (57%) say they have no confidence at all in Xi. Conservative Republicans are nearly 20 points more likely than moderate or liberal Republicans to hold this view.

Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents have slightly more confidence in Xi; only a third say they have no confidence at all in the Chinese president. And, while conservative or moderate Democrats are the least likely to distrust Xi, a majority of them lack confidence in the Chinese president.

(PEW)

MARCH 4, 2021

Source: https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2021/03/04/most-americans-support-tough-stance-toward-china-on-human-rights-economic-issues/

680-43-13/Poll

Seven Out Of 10 Brazilians Believe That Race Influences Job Opportunities

A new study by Ipsos in 27 countries for the World Economic Forum assesses the impact of race, ethnicity and nationality on access to opportunities in various sectors. In Brazil, the results are worrying. With regard to employability, 71% of the ears in the country perceive the influence of a person's skin color and origin in obtaining work. Of these, 41% think it influences a lot and 30% believe it influences in some way.
Considering all respondents, the global average adding the people who answered that race impacts a lot and that it impacts in some way when it comes to getting a job is 65%. The countries that most notice this influence are South Africa (80%), Japan (78%) and Belgium (74%). On the other hand, in Malaysia (44%), China (50%) and Russia (54%) the number of respondents who perceive this influence is lower.
As well as access to jobs, opportunities for education are also impacted by race, ethnicity and nationality, according to 69% of Brazilians. Of these, 36% believe that the origin and color of the skin influence a lot and 33% that it influences it in some way. The global average is 60%.
Adding the answers “a lot” and “somehow”, Brazil was in third place among those who most think that race, ethnicity and nationality influence educational opportunities. First, again, South Africa (76%) and, second, India (72%). For Russians (39%), Poles (47%) and Swedes (48%) the impact is significantly less.
The influence of race on social services is also perceived more strongly in Brazil than in the rest of the world. While 68% of Brazilians believe that a person's skin color and origin can influence access to these services - 32% think they influence a lot and 36% think they influence them in some way - in the world, the percentage is 59 %. The nations that perceive the greatest impact are South Africa (74%), India (74%) and Japan (70%). At the end of the list are Russia (41%), Sweden (49%) and the United Kingdom (50%).
Asked about access to housing, in Brazil, 66% noted the influence of race - 33% answered “a lot” and 33% answered “in some way”. The global average is 60%. Again, the ranking is headed by South Africa (76%), with India (74%) and Belgium (72%) right behind. The smallest impact perceived is in Russia (38%), China (44%) and Poland (46%).
The online survey was conducted with 20,020 people - including 1,000 Brazilians - aged between 16 and 74 years old from 27 countries. The data were collected between January 22 and February 5, 2021. The margin of error for Brazil is 3.5 percentage points.
(Ipsos Brazil)

March 4, 2021

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/pt-br/sete-em-cada-10-brasileiros-acreditam-que-raca-influencia-oportunidades-de-emprego

AUSTRALIA

680-43-14/Poll

Inflation Expectations Increase To 3.7% In February – Higher In Country Regions Than Capital Cities

Inflation Expectations have now increased by 0.5% points in the last six months, the fastest increase for the index since late 2016/early 2017 when the index increased by 0.6% points in only two months.

The continued increases in Inflation Expectations bode well for a strong GDP result for the March quarter 2021. Australia has just notched up two consecutive quarters of growth above 3% of GDP during the September (+3.4%) and December quarters (+3.1%) of 2020 – the first time this has ever happened.

Inflation Expectations are higher in Country Regions of Australia (4%) than in the Capital Cities (3.5%) and this is borne out in each mainland State. The largest gap of 1% point is within South Australia with Inflation Expectations of 4.4% in Country SA (the highest figure for any area) compared to only 3.4% in Adelaide.

The next largest gap of 0.8% points is within Western Australia with Inflation Expectations of 4% in Country WA compared to only 3.2% in Perth – the lowest figure for any Capital City.

In both Victoria and Queensland there is a gap of 0.6% points between Country Regions and the respective Capital Cities. Inflation Expectations are 4.2% in Country Victoria compared to 3.6% in Melbourne and 3.9% in Country Queensland compared to only 3.3% in Brisbane.

The smallest gap of only 0.3% points between the two areas is in NSW. Country NSW has Inflation Expectations of 4% compared to 3.7% in Sydney and in-line with the national average.

Inflation Expectations by Capital Cities & Country Regions: February 2021

Source: Roy Morgan Single Source: February 2021, n=6,034. Base: Australians aged 14+.

Inflation Expectations now highest in Tasmania and NSW, lowest in Western Australia

On a State-based level Inflation Expectations are now highest in Tasmania at 3.8%, an increase of 0.4% points since the low-point of August 2020 and level with NSW also on 3.8%, up 0.5% points.

Inflation Expectations in Victoria are in-line with the national figure at 3.7%, up 0.5% points since August 2020. Just below the national figure are both Queensland 3.6% (up 0.2% points) and South Australia 3.6% (up 0.4% points).

Similarly to its Capital City Perth it is Western Australia which has the lowest Inflation Expectations of any State in February at only 3.4%, despite the largest increase by 0.7% points since August 2020.

As well as increasing Inflation Expectations the ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Rating has continued to recover and was at 110.6 for the month of February 2021, an increase of 21.5pts (+24.1%) since August 2020.

Consumer Confidence for February was the highest monthly figure for the rating since the month of November 2019 (111.2) more than a year ago.

Inflation Expectations Index long-term trend – Expected Annual Inflation in next 2 years

Source: Roy Morgan Single Source: Interviews an average of 4,500 Australians aged 14+ per month (April 2010 – Feb. 2021).

See below for a comprehensive list of RBA interest rate changes during the time-period charted above.

Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine says Inflation Expectations have increased again in February and are now up in four out of the last six months by a total of 0.5% points to 3.7%:

“Inflation Expectations continued their march upwards in February despite two five-day lockdowns in Perth and surrounding areas (February 1-5) and Victoria (February 13-17). The index has now increased by 0.5% points to 3.7% since August 2020, the largest increase since rising by 0.6% points in only a few months in late 2016/early 2017.

“The increasing confidence in the Australian economy is also reflected in the latest Roy Morgan Business Confidence – now at 120.8 in February 2021, an increase of 37.7pts (+45.4%) since a low of 83.1 in August 2020 and the highest monthly ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Rating (110.6 in February 2021) for 15 months since November 2019 (111.2).

“This week marked the release of the latest Australian GDP figures for the December quarter 2020 showing quarterly GDP growth of 3.1% following growth of 3.4% in the September quarter 2020. The economic recovery followed a record 7% GDP decline in the June quarter 2020 as the entire country went into lockdown to halt the spread of COVID-19.

“Looking at the States we see a consistent pattern with Inflation Expectations higher in Country Regions of Australia than in the Capital Cities. Nationally the gap is 0.5% points between Country Regions (4%) and Capital Cities (3.5%).

“The gap is as large as 1% point in South Australia (Country SA 4.4% cf. Adelaide 3.4%) and 0.8% points in Western Australia (Country WA 4% cf. Perth 3.2%) and is smallest in NSW at only 0.3% points (Country NSW 4% cf. Sydney 3.7%).

“Australia’s Capital Cities have been hit hard by COVID-19 and the associated lockdowns. Public transport usage which is largely concentrated in the Capital Cities plummeted from 11.8 million in the December quarter 2019 to a low of only 6.9 million in the September quarter 2020 and had only recovered to 7.8 million by the final quarter of 2020 – still down 4 million on a year earlier.

“In addition the phenomenon of ‘working from home’ which has been widespread over the last year has meant millions of Australians have been absent from their office jobs in the Capital City CBDs. In January Roy Morgan’s movement figures compiled with UberMedia showed movement in Melbourne CBD down 72% on a year earlier and down 66% on a year earlier in the Sydney CBD.

“As the recovery continues during 2021 and increasing numbers of Australians receive a COVID19 vaccine it will be important to track whether the large gap in Inflation Expectations between Capital Cities and Country Regions continues.”

The data for the Inflation Expectations series is drawn from the Roy Morgan Single Source which has interviewed an average of 4,500 Australians aged 14+ per month over the last decade from April 2010 – February 2021 and includes interviews with 6,034 Australians aged 14+ in February 2021.

(Roy Morgan)

March 04 2021

Source: https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/8657-australian-inflation-expectations-february-2021-202103032242

680-43-15/Poll

Public Transport Use Increases In December Qtr 2020 But Still Well Down On A Year Earlier

Despite the quarterly increase, public transport usage in the December quarter 2020 was down by almost 4 million people (a decline of 33.5%) on its pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels when 11.8 million people used public transport in the December quarter 2019.

For the first time buses were the most popular form of public transport used by 5.15 million (24%) just ahead of trains used by 5.13 million (24%). Nearly 1.8 million (8%) travelled on trams and just over 880,000 (4%) travelled on ferries or rivercats.

This new data comes from Roy Morgan Single Source, Australia’s most comprehensive consumer survey, derived from in-depth interviews with over 50,000 Australians each year.

Public transport use in Australia from 2016 – 2020

Source: Roy Morgan Single Source, January 2016 – December 2020, quarterly average sample n = 13,143. Base: Australians aged 14+.

Buses leading form of transport in Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and Hobart

Analysing the results for Australia’s Capital Cities shows that buses were the most popular form of transport in Perth (35% travelled by bus in December quarter 2020) just ahead of Adelaide (33%), Brisbane (32%) and Hobart (24%).

Although over a third of Sydneysiders (36%) travelled by bus this was significantly behind the 44% that travelled by train. Train travel was also the leading form of public transport in Melbourne used by 21% of Melburnians ahead of bus travel (16%).

Another consequence of Melbourne’s long second lockdown was that the city lost its ‘crown’ as the city with the highest level of tram usage to Adelaide. In the December quarter 2020 17% of people in Adelaide travelled by tram compared to only 14% in Melbourne. A year ago, before the COVID-19 pandemic, more than three times as many Melburnians (43%) travelled by tram.

It’s worth noting that for almost the entire month of October Melburnians were heavily restricted due to the city’s long second lockdown and there were considerable restrictions that persisted throughout the remainder of the quarter in the southern capital.

Travelling by ferry/ rivercat is far more popular in Brisbane (9%) and Sydney (7%) than other cities although usage in both was well down on a year earlier when 14% travelled by ferry/ rivercat in Sydney and 12% did so in Brisbane.

Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine says the December quarter of 2020 marked the first upturn in public transport usage across Australia since the beginning of the pandemic:

“Public transport usage in Australia was much lower in the December quarter 2020 than it was a year ago although the quarter did mark the first increase in public transport usage across the country since the pandemic began in March 2020.

“In the December quarter of 2019 11.8 million Australians (56%) travelled by public transport including trains, buses, trams or ferries/ rivercats. This dropped to a low of only 6.9 million in the September quarter 2020, when Melbourne was plunged into a long second lockdown, but subsequently recovered to over 7.8 million in the December quarter 2020.

“Despite this increase public transport usage was still down a sizeable 33.5% on a year earlier as millions of Australians continued to work from home. Since the end of Melbourne’s long lockdown there have been short and sharp lockdowns enforced in South Australia, Brisbane, Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Perth and Victoria to deal with COVID-19 outbreaks that have meant going back to work in the office has been something of a stop-start process for many.

“As the COVID-19 vaccines are rolled out around Australia during the next few months the expectation is that restrictions will be fully lifted at some point later this year and 100% of workers will be allowed to return to the office if they wish to do so.

“However, despite the return to the office of many workers already the experience of 2020 shows many people are able to work well from home which suggests not all workers will in fact return to the office. This consequence of the pandemic, as well as ongoing worries about new strains of COVID-19 emerging, are likely to keep public transport usage below the high levels of 2019 for some time to come even once most Australians have been vaccinated later this year.”

(Roy Morgan)

March 02 2021

Source: https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/8631-public-transport-patronage-in-the-time-of-a-pandemic-february-2021-202103010704

680-43-16/Poll

Bank Of Queensland Purchase Of Me Bank Set To Widen Customer Base To Over 1 Million Australians

Bank of Queensland’s (BOQ) $1.3 billion purchase of ME Bank is the biggest merger of two local banks for over a decade and with over 1 million customers between them the bank will be behind only the four major banks and Bendigo Bank (the largest second-tier bank) for total customers.

A look at the customer profiles for the two banks shows significant geographical complementarity. While both banks have a significant footprint in New South Wales BOQ’s strength is in Queensland and Western Australia while over a third of ME Bank’s customers are from its home base of Victoria.

Over 80% of Bank of Queensland’s customers are in Queensland, New South Wales or Western Australia including nearly half in Queensland, while almost 80% of ME Bank’s customers are in Victoria, New South Wales or Queensland, including over a third in Victoria.

Bank of Queensland’s customers are older than ME Bank’s with over fifth, 21.5%, aged 65+ compared to only 13.9% for ME Bank. In contrast, ME Bank’s customers are of a slightly younger profile with around 60% aged from 35-64 compared to under 50% of Bank of Queensland’s customers.

Bank of Queensland and ME Bank customers by Age

Source: Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia). Feb. 2020 – Jan 2021, n=46,431. Base: Australians 14+. Note: Bank of Queensland figures include customers of subsidiaries such as Virgin Money.

Socio-economically the two banks’ customers are also quite different with Bank of Queensland’s customers spread fairly evenly across all five socio-economic quintiles while over half of ME Bank’s customers are in the top two quintiles – either the highest AB quintile (almost a third) or C quintile (about a quarter).

Employment is also a significant point of differentiation between the two customer bases with nearly three-quarters of ME Bank’s customers currently employed compared to only two-thirds (66%) of Bank of Queensland’s customers.

This difference is also evident about the types of jobs the two banks’ customers have with small business owners significantly over-represented amongst Bank of Queensland’s customers while Professionals, Managers and Semi-Professionals are the most over-represented amongst ME Bank’s customers.

Reflecting the bank’s focus on providing home loans (ME Bank’s biggest source of revenue¹) nearly half of ME Bank’s customers are currently paying off their home compared to just over a quarter who own their own home. In contrast, a slightly larger share of Bank of Queensland’s customers own their own home (36%) than are paying off their home (35%).

¹Financial Year 2020 Full Year Result: ME delivers strong financial result amid COVID-19: https://www.mebank.com.au/news/fy20-full-year-results/

Michele Levine, CEO Roy Morgan, says Bank of Queensland’s purchase of ME Bank brings together two banks with significantly different customer profiles which offers challenges but also opportunities for the merged entity:

“The challenge and opportunity for this merger lies in the differences in the individual bank customers. Both banks have satisfied customers: Roy Morgan Bank Customer Satisfaction Ratings: Bank of Queensland 82.9% and ME Bank 86.4%.

“Over many years and across many industries Roy Morgan has recorded higher levels of customer satisfaction for smaller players. It seems easier to satisfy the needs of customers who have chosen a smaller, niche, brand, than to satisfy the needs of a large, often heterogeneous customer base.

“History shows unsuccessful mergers that see an exodus of customers are those that failed to recognise the unique reasons customers chose their brand in the first place, and stayed with it.

“The age profiles of the two banks also highlight some significant differences with ME Bank drawing nearly 80% of its customers from the key working-age demographic aged 25-64, and particularly 50-64 year olds. In contrast BOQ is over-represented amongst older Australians aged 65+.

“These age profiles contribute to other key differences between the two sets of customers. ME Bank’s customers are far more likely to be employed than those of BOQ and far more likely to be working as Professionals, Managers and Semi-Professionals. ME Bank’s customers are also far more likely to be paying off their home rather than owning it outright.

“These factors coalesce into not only very different demographic and psychographic profiles but also significant differences based on the values, mindsets and attitudes that motivate consumer behaviour that are represented by Roy Morgan’s Values Segments.

“ME Bank’s customers are heavily skewed towards the two most affluent Values Segments in particular with nearly 50% drawn from either Visible Achievement or Socially Aware compared to around a third of Bank of Queensland’s existing customers.

“People identified with Visible Achievement are successful and confident people who retain traditional values about home, work and society and who place a great emphasis on providing their families with a high quality environment. Socially Aware people are ‘information vacuum cleaners’ and tend to seek detailed information about their options and consider the consequences of each choice carefully before making a decision.

“If Bank of Queensland and ME Bank can continue to satisfy the needs and desires of their original customer bases and provide the value of scale the geographic and customer profile complementarity will see the new merged entity emerge as a serious player in the financial services market.”

Bank of Queensland and ME Bank customers by home ownership status

(Roy Morgan)

March 02 2021

Source: https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/8651-bank-of-queensland-me-bank-merger-february-2021-202103010658

680-43-17/Poll

Roy Morgan Business Confidence Up 0.3pts To 120.8 In February Majority Of Businesses Say Next 12 Months Is A Good Time To Invest

The good news is that an increasing majority of 55.5% of businesses said the next 12 months is a ‘good time to invest in growing the business’ and even more, 60.6%, expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months.

Business Confidence is now 16.2pts higher than it was a year ago at 104.6 in February 2020. Business Confidence for February is now clearly above the latest ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence of 110.3 for February 27/28, 2021.

Roy Morgan Monthly Business Confidence -- Australia

Source: Roy Morgan Business Single Source, Dec 2010-Feb 2021. Average monthly sample over the last 12 months = 1,306.

Business Confidence is over 15% higher than a year ago in February 2020

Business Confidence has averaged 121.5 during the last three months and at 120.8 in February is a substantial 16.2pts (+15.5%) higher than the same month a year ago in February 2020 (104.6).

A year ago we were in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic with air travel from China banned at the start of February and worries mounting about the impact the virus would have on the Australian economy which had just endured a summer of devastating bushfires.

Business Confidence is significantly higher in all six Australian States than this time last year and highest in South Australia at 131.4, an increase of 21.2pts (+19.3%) on the same month a year ago.

Business Confidence is also riding high and well above the national average in New South Wales at 129.5, up 18.1pts (+16.2%) on a year ago.

The biggest increase in Business Confidence over the last year has been in Western Australia with an increase of 29.5pts (+32.7%) to 119.6 – and just below the national average of 120.8.

There are three States in which Business Confidence has not increased as much and is now marginally below the national average in Tasmania and lowest of all in Queensland and Victoria.

Business Confidence in Queensland is now at 112.7, an increase of 11.1pts (+10.9%) on a year ago and is at 111.6 in Victoria, up 10.5pts (+10.4%) on February 2020.

Businesses in Victoria have had a tougher year than elsewhere with a long second lockdown and three lockdowns in the last year. The figures for JobKeeper in the December quarter 2020 show 626,000 Victorians were receiving the wage subsidy, more than any other State and equivalent to 18% of all Victorian employees.

Business Confidence by State in February 2020 vs. February 2021

Source: Roy Morgan Business Single Source, February 2020, n=991, February 2021, n=1,237. Base: Australian businesses. *The figure for Tasmania is a comparison of Dec 2020 – Feb 2021 and Dec 2019 – Feb 2020.

Wholesale, Mining and Agriculture are the most confident industries to start 2021

All but two industries (Accommodation & Food Services and Information Media & Telecommunications) had positive Business Confidence ratings above the neutral level of 100 in January-February 2021 and 15/18 industries have a higher rating now than they did a year ago. The only exceptions are Transport, Postal & Warehousing, Education & Training and Information Media & Telecommunications.

Wholesale had the highest Business Confidence at 152.6 in January-February 2021 up 41.8pts (+37.8%) on the same period a year ago. Following closely behind are Mining on 145.1 (up 9pts, +6.7%), Agriculture on 136.9 (up 34pts, +33%) and Public Administration & Defence on 133.1 (up 19.6pts, +17.2%).

Also well into positive territory are Property & Business Services on 132.8, Finance & Insurance on 132.4, Manufacturing on 127.0, Community Services on 125.7, Construction on 120.0 and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services on 118.4.

Business Confidence for Top 10 Industries in January/February 2021

Source: Roy Morgan Business Single Source, January & February 2021, n=2,258. Base: Australian businesses. Note: In the chart above green bars represent Business Confidence in positive territory above 100 and above the national average and blue bars represent Business Confidence in positive territory above 100 but below the national average.

A majority of businesses expect ‘good times’ for the economy over the next 12 months and five years and say the next 12 months is a ‘good time to invest in growing the business’

Businesses are very confident about the Australian economy’s performance over the next year with over three-fifths, 60.6% (down 1.1ppts), expecting ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next year while just over a third, 37.2% (up 1.8ppts), expected ‘bad times’;
In good news businesses are also confident about the longer-term outlook with 56.4% (down 0.7ppts) expecting ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next five years compared to 36.6% (up 1.9ppts) which expect ‘bad times’;
Well over two-fifths of businesses, 41.8% (up 4ppts), said the business was ‘better off’ financially than this time a year ago (the highest figure for this indicator for two years since March 2019) while 34.2% (down 3.6ppts), said the business is ‘worse off’;
Slightly fewer than half of all businesses, 46.0% (down 4.1ppts), expect the business will be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while only 13.4% (down 2.6ppts) expected the business to be ‘worse off’.
In addition, an increasing majority of businesses, 55.5% (up 2.6ppts), said the next 12 months is a ‘good time to invest in growing the business’, while 34.6% (up 1.4ppts) said it will be a ‘bad time to invest’;

Michele Levine, CEO of Roy Morgan, says Business Confidence has had its strongest summer since 2013/14 with an average of 121.5 over the last three months and confidence up all around the country compared to a year ago:

“Business Confidence is at 120.8 in February, up 16.2pts (+15.5%) on a year ago and during the three months of summer has averaged 121.5 – the highest figure for summer since 2013/14 when the index averaged 124.7 just before Joe Hockey’s confidence sapping 2014 Federal Budget.

“On a State-based level Business Confidence is highest in SA (131.4), NSW (129.5) and WA (119.6) with all three States enjoying gains of at least 18pts compared to a year ago.

“Western Australia heads to a State Election in the next few weeks in which incumbent Premier Mark McGowan is expected to win a record-breaking victory. In an unprecedented move Opposition Leader Zak Kirkup has already conceded three weeks before the election.

“Business Confidence is lagging in Victoria at 111.6 in February – the lowest of any State and likely caused by the impending end of the JobKeeper wage subsidy. The latest figures released by the Australian Treasury show 626,000 Victorians receiving the subsidy in the December quarter 2020 – equal to 18% of all employees in the State and a far higher rate than anywhere else.

“The next highest rate of JobKeeper wage subsidies is in NSW on 12% (491,000 employees) receiving the subsidy ahead of Queensland on 10% (259,000 employees). There are another 233,000 employees spread across WA, SA, Tasmania, the ACT and NT who were receiving the JobKeeper wage subsidy in the December quarter 2020.

“Victoria’s recent five-day lockdown has provided another blow to Business Confidence in the State with Premier Daniel Andrews promising to do so again ‘if he has to’. However, there is definite good news with the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine beginning in late February set to provide a definite boost to the economy as travel restrictions ease and the likelihood of further lockdowns and snap border closures eases.

“Businesses are taking a positive view on the year ahead with over three-fifths, 60.6%, expecting ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months and almost as many businesses, 55.5% (up 2.6ppts), saying the next 12 months is a ‘good time to invest in growing the business’.

“The industries which have been most heavily impacted by the lockdowns and border closures including travel and tourism, accommodation and food services and storefront retail will be hoping that a vaccinated population can return to a sustained normality during 2021.”

(Roy Morgan)

March 02 2021

Source: https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/8652-roy-morgan-business-confidence-febuary-2021-202103010647

MULTICOUNTRY STUDIES

680-43-18/Poll

65% Of All Adults Across 27 Countries Believe That A Person's Race, Ethnicity Or National Origin Influences Their Job Opportunities

Perceptions vs. personal experiences

High perception and high personal experience: South Africa and India
High perception and low personal experience: Japan, Belgium and France
Low perception and high personal experience: Malaysia
Low perception and low personal experience: Russia, Poland, Sweden and the UK

The significance of the events of the past year

About six out of ten in Latin America, Spain and South Africa and approx. half in France, Italy, Malaysia, Japan, Sweden, Belgium and the United States say recent events have widened the gap in opportunities based on ethnicity or national origin in their own country.
Only about one in three in Germany, Poland and Saudi Arabia, one in four in China and one in seven in Russia answer the same.

(Ipsos Denmark)

4 March 2021

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/da-dk/betydningen-af-etnicitet-og-national-oprindelse-pa-muligheder-i-samfundet

680-43-19/Poll

International Report: Gender Equality In 2021

In November 2015, YouGov conducted a global study on attitudes towards gender equality . For the past five and a half, many events have taken place, including the birth of the MeToo movement. Questions relating to gender equality have thus been particularly highlighted, but have mentalities for all that changed a lot?

The 2021 version of the study reports mixed results.

Evolution of national scores

Each number is based on an average of the net scores obtained from ten statements dealing with gender equality, with a maximum possible score of +100, and a minimum possible score of -100.

Spain entered the rankings and took the lead, with a score of +68. Italy is second with +65, and the UK third with +64. The first ten places are exclusively occupied by the European countries studied, the United States and Australia.

Indonesia closes the standings, with a score of +17, a drop of 13 points since 2015.

A major drop is also recorded in Sweden. While the country led the rankings in 2015 (+72), its score has since fallen to +60, placing it just behind Denmark, whose score of +62 remains unchanged over the period. France comes in 6th position, stable at +59.

At the same time, Malaysia is the country which is experiencing the best progression, going from +30 to +42, ie an evolution twice as important as that of the following country (the United Kingdom, which recorded an increase of 6 points).

National figures, however, conceal important differences between men and women. This gap is particularly strong in China, with a score of +65 for women, and +37 for men. We note that the eastern countries tend to present larger gaps than the western countries. Poland is an exception, with a significant interval of 18 points (+43 for men vs. +62 for women).

What about in France?

The results of this study highlight significant differences between the perception of French women and men.

Indeed, 93% of French women think that men and women should receive equal pay. Their male counterparts are less likely to have the same opinion on the question: 83%.

In addition, nearly 9 in 10 women believe that men should spend more time on household chores (89%) - a view shared by 81% of men.

It should also be noted that nearly 3 in 10 men (29%) think that the primary role of a woman is to take care of her husband (against 15% of women).

Methodology:

Omnibus study carried out from February 10 to March 1, 2021, with 25,754 people in 21 countries (Spain, United States, Poland, Italy, United Kingdom, Sweden, France, Denmark, United Arab Emirates, India, Germany, Indonesia, Australia, Mexico, Singapore, China, Thailand, Poland, Philippines, Vietnam, Hong Kong). The samples are representative of the national adult population of each country, according to the quota method.

(YouGov France)

March 4, 2021

Source: https://fr.yougov.com/news/2021/03/04/rapport-international-legalite-des-sexes-en-2021/

680-43-20/Poll

Europeans Think Vaccine Manufacturers Have Behaved Unfairly But Tend To Oppose Blocking Exports

The EU is also seen as having botched the vaccine rollout on the continent

During the spat between Britain and the EU over distribution of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, it looked briefly like the European Commission might block exports of the drug to the UK. This never came to pass, but now news has emerged that the EU has upheld a request from Italy to block shipment of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Australia due to the company’s alleged failure to honour their contract with the EU.

A YouGov EuroTrack poll conducted in mid-February shows there is a strong sense among Europeans that COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers have not behaved fairly in how they distribute their vaccines.

The poll also found that Europeans tend to be opposed to the EU blocking export of coronavirus vaccines, although they are somewhat less worried about doing so in cases like this. Asked whether or not it would be preferable to restrict exports if doing so violated contracts that non-EU countries (like Australia) had made with COVID-19 manufacturers, the French are opposed by 39% to 23%, the Swedes by 40% to 18% and the Danes by 35% to 22%. Only the Germans are split, with 29% thinking it favourable to allow export while 28% would prefer to block shipment and redistribute the vaccines within the EU.

Opposition is higher in all countries (except Sweden, where it is about the same) when the same question was posed but with potential downside being damage to relations with that country (obviously a very real risk in this particular case).

Reluctance to block exports is highest of all if it meant that poorer countries wouldn’t get the vaccine, or it meant people outside the EU would die (again, a possibility in this case).

Europeans would have preferred to copy the UK in paying slightly more to get vaccines sooner

The vaccine crisis is one of the EU’s own making, with the body having focussed on getting prices down at the expense of speed. This could have been avoided if they had a greater awareness of public priorities: asked to choose between getting the vaccines sooner at a slightly higher price, or cheaper at a slightly later date, people in all countries surveyed strongly prefer the faster option.

The EU is widely seen as having botched the vaccine rollout. Most Germans (58%), as well as around half of Britons (52%) and French people (47%) say the body has managed the rollout badly – higher numbers than say so of the United States, traditionally the poster child or bad COVID practice. (Indeed, the low figures the USA gets on this question do seem at odds with the much greater numbers of people America has vaccinated relative to the EU).

The Germans and French are hardest of all on themselves, however, with 61% of the former and 68% of the latter saying their country has handled things poorly.

Three quarters of Britons (77%) think the UK has done well on the vaccine rollout, with agreement from 49% of Germans and 45% of French people.

(YouGov Denmark)

March 5, 2021

Source: https://yougov.dk/news/2021/03/05/europeans-think-vaccine-manufacturers-have-behaved/

680-43-21/Poll

Covid-19 One Year On: Global Public Loses Confidence In Institutions

Washington, DC, March 5, 2021 – Nearly a year after the World Health Organization declared the spread of the novel coronavirus a pandemic, Ipsos has found that people from six of eight major countries are less confident in their government's ability to deal with COVID-19 than last year.

Global health officials and the media also took a hit in this arena. Majorities in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States expect that, in the long term, people will question global health authorities. On average, about three in ten adults surveyed across the eight countries believe the media exaggerates the extent of the COVID-19 outbreak, as was the case a year ago.

Doctors and local healthcare workers remain the one group that tends to be more trusted now than at the beginning of the crisis.

National governments did not meet expectations

Over the past year, in most countries studied, confidence in the government’s ability to deal effectively with the coronavirus has decreased. Among the eight countries analyzed, the only exceptions are Australia, where confidence in the government’s COVID-19 response is now higher than it was a year ago (78% very or somewhat confident in January 2021 vs. 70% in February 2020) and Germany, where it is statistically comparable (54% vs. 50%).

• As in Australia and Germany, a majority in Canada (60%) is confident that their government can handle the coronavirus.

• Public opinion on the matter in the United States (47%) and Russia (45%) is divided. Only about one-third of those in the United Kingdom (37%) and France (36%) and one-quarter in Japan (24%) believe their national government can deal with the virus.

• The countries showing the steepest drop in confidence in their national government's COVID-19 response are Japan (minus 39 percentage points), the United Kingdom (-28), the United States (‑21), and France (‑20).

Confidence in National Government to Effectively Deal with the Coronavirus

Global health officials lose authority

Most people across the eight countries studied think the pandemic has impacted trust in global health authorities. Over the past year, this opinion has gained in prevalence.

• Majorities in each country, from 73% in France to 51% in Russia, say they are very or somewhat likely to think global public health authorities will be questioned in the long term.

• The expectation that trust in global health authorities will be weakened shows double-digit growth in nearly all countries, including France and the United Kingdom (+28 percentage points, each), Canada and Germany (+22, each), Russia (+21), and to a lesser extent in the United States (+17) and Australia (+14). Japan is the only exception (+4).

Likelihood Trust in Global Health Authorities Will be Questioned in the Long Term

One year into COVID-19, doctors and local healthcare professionals gain trust

In all eight countries surveyed, most people are “very” or “somewhat” confident that local healthcare professionals, such as doctors, can deal with COVID-19 in their communities.
• As of now, Australia (89%), Canada (84%), the United States (80%), and the United Kingdom (79%) are the countries whose residents have the most confidence that their local healthcare professionals will be able to manage the novel coronavirus, followed by Germany (76%), France (74%), Japan (61%), and Russia (52%).

• Compared to one year ago, people have grown confident in their local healthcare professionals’ ability to respond to COVID-19 in Germany (+27 percentage points), Russia (+13), Australia (+10), the United States and the United Kingdom (+8, each), and Canada (+7).

• The only countries where confidence in local healthcare professionals’ COVID response is lower now than a year ago are Japan (-15 percentage points) and France (-4).

Confidence in Healthcare Professionals in the Community to Effectively Deal with the Coronavirus

Belief that the media exaggerates the extent of the COVID-19 outbreak

A sizeable minority of adults surveyed in every country think the media distorted the scope of the COVID-19 outbreak. On average, about three in ten across the eight countries (from 23% in the U.K to 37% in the U.S.) believe the media exaggerates the extent of the COVID-19 outbreak.

•   Since February of last year, belief that media coverage of the pandemic is exaggerated has grown in two countries, Japan (+8 percentage points) and the United States (+7);
•   It has decreased in Russia (-18), Germany (-6), and the United Kingdom (-4);
•   It is statistically unchanged in Canada (-2), Australia (-2), and France (+3).

Belief that Media Exaggerated Extent of COVID-19 Outbreak

About the Study
The survey is conducted on Ipsos’ Global Advisor online platform among adults aged 18-74 in Canada and the United States, and 16-74 in Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, and the United Kingdom.
The first wave was conducted between February 7-10, 2020. The 33rd and most recent wave reported in this document was conducted January 28-31, 2021.
For each of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the U.K., and the U.S., the samples of each survey wave have a size of 1,000 and can be taken as representative of the country’s general adult population aged 16-74 or, for the US and Canada, aged 18-74.
For Russia, the samples of all survey waves conducted between February and July 2020 size have a size of approximately 1,000; those of waves conducted since August 2020 have a size of approximately 500. The samples in Russia are more urban, more educated, and/or more affluent than the general population and should be viewed as reflecting the views of the more “connected” segment of the population.
The data is weighted so that each country’s sample composition best reflects the demographic profile of the adult population according to the most recent census data. Multi-country averages reflect the average results for all the countries where the survey was conducted. They are not adjusted to the population size of each country and are not intended to suggest a total result.
Where results do not sum up to 100 or the ‘difference’ appears to be +/-1 more/less than the actual, this may be due to rounding, multiple responses, or the exclusion of “don't know” or not stated responses.
The precision of Ipsos online polls is calculated using a credibility interval with a poll of 1,000 accurate to +/- 3.5 percentage points and of 500 accurate to +/- 4.8 percentage points.

(Ipsos Egypt)

5 March 2021

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/en-eg/covid-19-one-year-global-public-loses-confidence-institutions

680-43-22/Poll

More Than Half Of Consumers (56%) Intend To Avoid Going To A Bank Branch As Much As Possible In The Future

According to the results of our international study , more than half of consumers (56%) intend to avoid going to a bank branch as much as possible in the future.

This proportion varies depending on the market: from 34% in Denmark to 81% in Mexico. In most cases, half or more of consumers say they intend to forgo visiting their branch.

At the European level, some countries such as Spain (73%), Poland (70%) and Italy (67%) are among the nations most likely to avoid displacement. Conversely, Denmark (34%), Germany (43%) and France (45%) are the least affected countries.

On the other hand, our data shows that concerns about security have decreased a lot: in France, a majority (70%) think that managing their finances online is done in a secure way ; in Great Britain, this figure even climbs to 74%.

Across the 17 markets studied, two-thirds of consumers want to use digital means such as mobile banking or online loan applications as much as possible (66%). In Spain (77%), Poland (78%), Mexico (79%) and India (80%), this represents more than three quarters of the consumers questioned.

Note: enthusiasm is lower in Denmark (48%) and France (53%).

In markets such as Great Britain, neobanks without a physical branch are taking advantage of this trend and offering exclusively digital financial services. Although their market share is lower than that of traditional players like HSBC and Barclays, the demographics of their audience is revealing.

Take the example of Starling Bank and Revolut, two major challengers within the sector: at least half of their customers (Starling 54% & Revolut 50%) are between 18 and 34 years old, against a little over one third (35%) of the national population.

In comparison, the data from our Profiles tool shows that people who like to visit their bank branch are a minority, and generally older. Only three in ten say that the accessibility of their local branch is a motivation when choosing a bank (29%), and one in ten say that it is their main motivation (10%). Finally, it can be seen that these people are more likely to belong to the over 55 age group (47% compared to 38% of the UK national population).

(YouGov France)

March 8, 2021

Source: https://fr.yougov.com/news/2021/03/08/vers-la-fin-des-agences-bancaires/