|
BUSINESS & POLITICS IN THE WORLD GLOBAL OPINION REPORT NO. 720 Week:
December 06 –December 12, 2021 Presentation:
December 17, 2021 Entertainment
Industries Shrink By Around 10% During Pandemic In Japan In
January-September 2021, Households In Turkey Spent 39% On FMCG Trust
In The Police Drops For The Second Year In A Row From 76% To 71% Six
In 10 Britons Spent Christmas 2020 With A Smaller Group Of Family Because Of
COVID Restrictions Christmas:
44% of French people opt for an artificial tree Half
(50%) Of French People Say Their Health Has Deteriorated Since The Start Of
The Epidemic 48%
Of French Consider That Eric Zemmour “Really Wants To Change Things” Socialism,
Capitalism Ratings In U.S. Unchanged Estimated
Consumption In 2020 Was 534 Gallons Per Driver In U S America’s
Public School Teachers Are Far Less Racially And Ethnically Diverse Than
Their Students In
Most Of The 33 Countries Surveyed, The Majority Don’t Expect The Pandemic To
End Any Time Soon Among
8 Countries Surveyed In Europe, Nuclear Power Is Not Unanimous INTRODUCTORY NOTE
720-43-23/Commentary:
A
Median Of 56% Across 17 Advanced Economies Surveyed In 2021 Say
Their Political System Needs Major Changes Or Needs To Be Completely Reformed
As democratic nations have wrestled with economic, social and geopolitical upheaval in recent years, the future of liberal democracy has come into question. In countries across the globe, democratic norms and civil liberties have deteriorated, while populists have enjoyed surprising success at the ballot box. Newly democratic nations have struggled, while more-established, once self-assured democracies have stumbled, exposing long-simmering weaknesses in their social fabrics and institutional designs. These trends have been well-documented by organizations such as the Economist Intelligence Unit, Freedom House, International IDEA and the Varieties of Democracy project (V-Dem), which measure and track the quality of democracy around the world. Public opinion researchers have also focused on these issues by examining how citizens think about democracy and its alternatives. At Pew Research Center, we’ve applied a comparative, cross-national lens to explore global trends in attitudes toward political representation and individual rights. For many, democracy is not delivering In part, the current moment of anxiety about liberal democracy is linked to frustration with how democratic societies are functioning. Pew Research Center surveys have consistently found large shares of the public in many countries saying they are dissatisfied with the way their democracy is working. And for many, this dissatisfaction is leading to a desire for political change. A median of 56% across 17 advanced economies surveyed in 2021 say their political system needs major changes or needs to be completely reformed. Roughly two-thirds or more express this opinion in Italy, Spain, the U.S., South Korea, Greece, France, Belgium and Japan.
Even where the demand for significant political reform is relatively low, substantial minorities want at least minor changes. In all of the publics surveyed, fewer than three-in-ten say the political system should not be changed at all. However, there is widespread skepticism about the prospect for change. In eight of the 17 publics, roughly half or more of those polled say the political system needs major changes or a complete overhaul and say they have little or no confidence the system can be changed effectively. This discontent and disillusionment with the political status quo is tied to many factors, including economic performance, governmental competence and the overall fairness of the political and economic system. Our research over time has shown that when people think their countries are performing poorly on these dimensions, confidence in democracy often slips. Over the past decade and a half, people around the world have experienced a global financial crisis and more recently a pandemic-driven global downturn. Many have grown pessimistic about the long-term economic future, and our data has illustrated how economic pessimism feeds dissatisfaction with the way democracy is working and weakens commitment to democratic values. In 2019, we analyzed data from 27 countries to better understand what was driving dissatisfaction with the way democracy is working. We found that the strongest predictor of being dissatisfied was being unhappy with the current state of the national economy. Another significant predictor was how someone feels about economic opportunity. People who said the statement “most people have a good chance to improve their standard of living” did not describe their country well were more likely to be dissatisfied with the way democracy is functioning.
The economic prospects for the next generation also matter. In the survey we conducted across 17 advanced economies in spring 2021, dissatisfaction with the way democracy is working was much more common among people who expect that when children in their country today grow up, they will be worse off financially than their parents. The economic pessimists are also especially likely to think their country’s political system needs major changes or needs to be completely reformed. For example, in the United Kingdom, 61% of respondents who are pessimistic about the next generation’s financial prospects think their country needs significant political reform, compared with just 34% among those who are optimistic that the next generation will do better financially than their parents. The same survey highlighted the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on attitudes toward democracy. People who believe their country is doing a poor job of dealing with the pandemic are consistently more likely to say they are dissatisfied with the way their democracy is working and that they want significant changes to the political system. For instance, 73% of Germans who feel their country is handling the crisis poorly say they believe their political system needs major changes or should be completely overhauled, while just 32% of those who think the country is handling it well express this view. Beyond the state of economy and public health, opinions about whether countries are living up to basic principles of fairness and justice affect how people feel about the political system. Are political elites, for example, able to manipulate the system to their own advantage? In many countries, large shares of the public say yes. Across 27 nations we polled in 2018, a median of 54% said that most politicians in their country are corrupt. This sentiment was especially high in Greece (89%) and Russia (82%). When we asked Americans a similar question in the fall of 2020, two-thirds said most politicians are corrupt. Perceptions of fairness, or unfairness, in the judicial system also shape how people feel about their democracy. In our 2018 survey, for example, 68% of Hungarians who felt the court system in their country did not treat everyone fairly were dissatisfied with democracy. Only 32% of those who said they had a fair judiciary were similarly dissatisfied. Just as people want their individual rights respected within the judicial system, they want their fundamental rights respected in the arena of public debate. In our 2018 international survey, people mostly said they had freedom of speech in their country; however, those who said they did not have it were significantly more likely to be unhappy with the way their democracy is working. Mixed assessments three decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall To mark the 30th anniversary of the collapse of communism and the fall of the Berlin Wall, Pew Research Center conducted a survey that highlighted the gap between what citizens want from democracy and what they actually see happening in their countries. It found that democracy is popular today in Central and Eastern European nations that for decades had to endure its main competitor throughout the Cold War, Soviet-style communism. But citizens in these nations nonetheless had strong criticisms and deep disappointments about the post-communist era. When we asked people in nine former Eastern Bloc nations whether they approve of the shift their countries made to multiparty democracy, they largely said yes, although significant minorities said no, including more than one-third in Bulgaria and Ukraine. Majorities of Bulgarians and Ukrainians said the economic situation for most people was actually better under communism. And even in countries with much more positive assessments of the transition to democracy and capitalism, there are concerns about certain impacts of this transition. Roughly four-in-ten or more across these nations say the changes since the fall of communism have had a negative influence on health care, law and order, and family values. Many also thought politicians and business people benefited more than ordinary people when their countries moved to a multiparty system and a market economy. A median of 89% said politicians benefited a great deal or a fair amount from the changes in their country, 80% said the same of business people, but only 41% believed ordinary people benefited from these changes.
People like democracy, but their commitment to it is often not very
strong Broadly speaking, democracy is a popular idea. When asked about it, people generally say it’s a good way to govern. However, enthusiasm for it as a political system, and for specific democratic rights and institutions, is often tepid. This lack of commitment, which is driven in part by the frustration many feel about the functioning of democracy, may be one reason some would-be autocrats and political entrepreneurs have been able to bend the rules and norms of liberal democracy with relatively few consequences. As a 2017 Pew Research Center survey demonstrates, people in regions around the world broadly embrace representative democracy. A median of 78% across the 38 nations polled said that “a democratic system where representatives elected by citizens decide what becomes law” is a very or somewhat good way to govern their country. More than half expressed this view in every country polled. However, even at this broad level, enthusiasm for representative democracy was somewhat subdued – a median of only 33% said it is a very good approach to governing. In addition to representative democracy, the survey found considerable support for direct democracy. Across the 38 countries polled, a median of 66% said “a democratic system where citizens, not elected officials, vote directly on major national issues to decide what becomes law” is a very or somewhat good way to govern their country. As we’ll discuss below, the appeal of direct democracy speaks to the demand many citizens express for more public involvement in politics.
However, the same survey found substantial support for nondemocratic approaches to governing. For example, a median of 49% believed a system in which “experts, not elected officials, make decisions according to what they think is best for the country” would be very or somewhat good. And while autocracy was less popular, it was embraced by a remarkably large share of the public in many nations. A median of 26% considered “a system in which a strong leader can make decisions without interference from parliament or the courts” a very or somewhat good way to govern. Even military rule had its supporters. A median of 24% said “a system in which the military rules the country” would be a very or somewhat good system. In five countries – Vietnam, Indonesia, India, South Africa and Nigeria – roughly half or more expressed this opinion, as did at least 40% in another six nations. And higher-income nations weren’t completely immune: 17% in the United States, Italy and France believed military rule could be a good way to run the country. The fact that so many citizens in “consolidated” democracies seemed willing to embrace military rule may seem a striking finding, but it’s largely consistent with what other survey research projects, such as the World Values Survey and the Voter Research Group, have found over time.
In many countries, people who place themselves on the right of the political spectrum and those with less formal education are more likely to support alternatives to democratic governance. For example, 27% of Americans who identified as conservative thought autocracy would be a good way to govern, compared with 14% who identified as liberal. And 20% of conservatives supported military rule, compared with 12% of liberals. People with lower levels of educational attainment were more likely to consider military rule a good way to govern in 23 countries. Beyond democracy as a system of government, there is also limited commitment to some specific democratic principles. In a 2019 Pew Research Center survey, most people said nine democratic rights and institutions tested were important. But again, these views varied widely across regions and countries, and in some places, relatively few said it is very important to have them in their country.
A median of more than 67% across 34 countries rated a fair judicial system, gender equality and freedom of religion as very important. But there was less support for holding regular competitive elections, freedom of speech and press freedom. A median of roughly six-in-ten or fewer said it was very important to have free expression on the internet or to allow human rights groups and opposition parties to operate freely. Attitudes toward free expression illustrate the challenges of living up to and interpreting democratic principles, even in countries where democratic values are widely endorsed. In a 2015 Pew Research Center survey, a median of 80% across 38 countries believed people should be able to publicly make statements that criticize their government’s policies, but only 35% said the same about statements that are offensive to minority groups or are religiously offensive. And only around a quarter said people should be able to publicly make statements that are sexually explicit. Political and social divisions are amplifying the challenges of
contemporary democracy
Most modern democracies are increasingly diverse, with globalization, economic restructuring, immigration and urbanization all contributing to social and cultural change. Recent trends from Pew Research Center surveys indicate that in many advanced economies, a growing share of the public views diversity as a strength of their society. In Greece, for example, the share who say having people of many different racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds makes their country a better place to live more than doubled between 2017 and 2021. Over the same period, favorable views of diversity increased by about 10 percentage points or more in Japan, the Netherlands, the UK and Spain. Slightly smaller increases can be seen in Germany, South Korea, Australia and Sweden. Despite more people welcoming diversity, many continue to see racial and ethnic discrimination as a serious challenge. A median of 67% across the same 17 publics say racial or ethnic discrimination is a problem where they live. Roughly three-in-ten or more in Germany, Spain, the UK, Greece, France, the U.S. and Italy say it is a very serious problem in their country. Younger adults and those on the ideological left are often more convinced on this point. In the U.S., about two-thirds of Americans on the left say racial and ethnic discrimination is a very serious problem in their country, compared with only 19% of Americans on the political right. U.S. democracy no longer a model While many people acknowledge racial and ethnic discrimination as a problem in their own country, they often see it as a larger issue in the U.S. A median of 89% across the advanced economies we polled in 2021 – not including the U.S. – say discrimination against groups based on their race or ethnicity is a serious problem in the U.S. This sentiment is strongest in Spain and New Zealand, where roughly two-thirds believe discrimination in the U.S. is a very important issue. Overall, international publics see major challenges for American politics and society, even at a time when attitudes toward the U.S. have significantly improved following Joe Biden’s victory over Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Across the 16 advanced economies surveyed, a median of just 17% consider American democracy a good model for other countries to follow. A median of 57% think it used to be a good example but has not been in recent years. And around a quarter say the U.S. has never been a good example. The belief that democracy in the U.S. has never been a good model for other nations is especially common among young adults.
Ideological and partisan differences are also a concern in some advanced economies. This is especially true in the U.S., where 90% say there are strong conflicts between people who support different political parties (the U.S. is tied with South Korea for the highest percentage on the survey). Whether cleavages are based on race, ethnicity or ideology, citizens who worry about these fault lines are often less satisfied with the way democracy is working and more likely to want significant reforms to their political systems. The global pandemic has, if anything, intensified perceived political and social divisions. Across the 17 advanced economies we surveyed in 2021, a median of 61% say their country is more divided than before the outbreak. Moreover, the share of the public that feels this way has risen substantially as the pandemic has worn on. In the spring of 2020, only months into the crisis, just 29% of Canadians believed they were more divided, but a year later 61% express this view. We also found that people who think their country is more divided today are particularly likely to be dissatisfied with the state of democracy and to want political reform. COVID-19 may have provided a unifying threat in its early days, but the sense of unity has dissipated.
People want a stronger public voice in politics and policymaking As our surveys have shown, citizens have no shortage of criticisms about the current state of democracy. But they also show that people haven’t given up on democracy – in fact, instead of turning away from it, many want more democracy and a stronger voice in the political system. Clearly, many are frustrated with the way political representation is working, and they are more than a little frustrated with elected representatives. In a 34-nation Pew Research Center survey in 2019, a median of 64% disagreed with the statement “most elected officials care what people like me think.” While most feel politicians are not listening to them, many also see government working for the few rather than the many. A median of 50% disagreed with the statement “the state is run for the benefit of all the people,” while 49% agreed. And troublingly, in several countries where long-term trends are available, the belief that the state is run for the benefit of everyone in society has decreased significantly over time. For example, 88% of Italians in 2002 said their government was run for the benefit of all, but only 30% held this view in 2019. Over the same nearly two-decade period, the share who feel their state is run for the benefit of everyone also dropped significantly in Germany, Poland, the UK, the U.S., Bulgaria, Turkey, Russia, South Africa, Ukraine and Kenya.
However, all of this frustration has not necessarily led to apathy or helplessness. Despite the disconnect with political elites, many still think they have some agency over what happens in politics. Across 34 nations polled in 2019, a median of 67% agreed that voting gives ordinary people some say about how the government runs things. But beyond voting, there is also considerable interest in reforms and democratic innovations that could provide citizens with a more active voice in decision-making. As noted above, the idea of direct democracy – where citizens vote directly on what does or does not become law – is popular around the globe. And a fall 2020 survey of France, Germany, the UK and the U.S. found that citizen assemblies, or forums where citizens chosen at random debate issues of national importance and make recommendations about what should be done, were overwhelmingly popular. Around three-quarters or more in each country said it is very or somewhat important for the national government to create citizen assemblies. About four-in-ten considered it very important. As a recent report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) highlights, these efforts at deliberative democracy have become increasingly common in nations around the world in recent years. Regardless of what one thinks about direct or deliberative democracy, the fact that so many people seem interested in these ideas speaks to the widespread desire for a more active voice in the political system. A new analysis of the ways in which people understand and value democracy also highlights the importance of voice. We recently asked people in Australia and the UK to describe what democracy means to them in their own words, and many spoke of the need for citizens to have a voice in government. Many used language describing democracy as a system in which elected officials listen to the public and citizens have a strong influence on decisions. One woman from the UK said that to her, democracy means that “everyone in their country of residence, including myself, deserves our views to be listened to and acted upon.” Reversing the well-documented negative trends regarding the health of democracy around the world will be difficult and complicated, but our research suggests ordinary citizens want a voice in this discussion, and they believe a healthy democratic system will include a stronger role for them in making decisions about the important issues that shape their lives. (PEW) DECEMBER 7, 2021 Source: https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2021/12/07/global-public-opinion-in-an-era-of-democratic-anxiety/ SUMMARY
OF POLLS
ASIA (Japan) Entertainment Industries Shrink By Around 10% During
Pandemic In Japan The number of leisure facilities, bars and
restaurants declined by nearly 10 percent across Japan following government
requests to suspend or curtail operations to prevent novel coronavirus
infections, according to industry surveys. A survey by the All-Japan Karaoke
Industrialist Association shows the number of karaoke parlors dropped by 908,
or a record high 9.7 percent, to 8,436 in fiscal 2020, while sales were
halved to 197.3 billion yen ($1.74 billion). (Asahi Shimbun) December 6, 2021 MENA (UAE) About Three In Ten (30%) Consumers In UAE Stated ‘Acceptance’
As The Word To Describe Their Feeling Towards AI & Automation The whitepaper titled International Technology Report 2021 explores sentiments and perceptions towards AI across 17 geographies and 19,000 consumers, and aims to help public and private sector organisations plan, while acknowledging and empathizing with human aspirations and concerns. The data shows beliefs about the impact of automation on society skew more towards positive feelings among UAE residents. About three in ten (30%) consumers in UAE stated ‘Acceptance’ as the word to describe their feeling towards AI & automation, and almost a similar proportion chose optimism, hope, and excitement (28% each). (YouGov MENA) December 7, 2021 AFRICA (South
Africa) More Than Seven In 10 (72%) South Africans Say That
Domestic Violence Is A Criminal Matter Requiring The Involvement Of Law
Enforcement Agencies Almost three-quarters (73%) of South Africans believe that GBV increased “somewhat” or “a lot” over the past year. More than seven in 10 (72%) say that domestic violence is a criminal matter requiring the involvement of law enforcement agencies, while just 26% see it as a private matter to be handled within the family. Alcohol abuse (25%), drug abuse (20%), and unemployment (16%) are most widely seen as the main cause of domestic violence in South Africa. (Afrobarometer) 7 December 2021 WEST
EUROPE (UK) Trust In The Police Drops For The Second Year In A Row From
76% To 71% Trust in the police has fallen by eight percentage points. Sixty-three per cent say they trust the police to tell the truth, down from 71% in 2020 and 76% in 2019. Having said that, this score is little different to the average level of trust recorded in the police since 1983. There is no difference between men and women on trust in the police, with 64% of the former and 63% of the latter saying they trust them to tell the truth. (Ipsos MORI) 7 December 2021 A Third (33%) Of Britons Think Athletes Should
Boycott The Beijing Winter Olympics Due To Concerns About China’s Human
Rights Record When it comes to a diplomatic boycott – that is, the non-attendance of royalty, ambassadors and politicians, among others – Britons are in favour by 43% to 18%, while 40% say they don’t know. Conservative voters are particularly likely to support a diplomatic boycott (by 52% to 17%), while Labour voters also support diplomats staying away (by 40% 19%). However, when it comes to whether British athletes should boycott the event, Britons are split. While a third (33%) our think athletes should boycott the Games, 30% think they should attend – and 37% say they don’t know. (YouGov UK) December 07, 2021 Six In 10 Britons Spent Christmas 2020 With
A Smaller Group Of Family Because Of COVID Restrictions YouGov data reveals that 58% of Britons spent Christmas Day with a smaller group of family than normal because they were adhering to Covid-19 restrictions. Just 29% spent Christmas with the same number of people they usually did, with another 9% saying they spent Christmas alone but this was normal for them. Tory and Labour voters were equally likely to have empty seats round the table last year – 61% of Conservative voters and 60% of Labour voters say they spent their Christmas Day with a smaller family group as a result of following restrictions. (YouGov UK) December 08, 2021 (France) Christmas: 44% of French people opt for an artificial tree Nearly 3 in 4 French people say they enjoy the Christmas season (73%) - a figure that climbs to 81% among 18-34 year olds. 44% agree that it is a commercial celebration, a feeling shared by 56% of 18-24 year olds. Only 1 in 10 people consider Christmas to be a predominantly religious event (11%). In 2021, the experiential side attracts the French more. Indeed, 33% of French people would like to be offered a trip, a figure which is increasing by women (38%). At the same time, 19% would like to receive a car and 14% a computer. (YouGov France) December 8, 2021 Half (50%) Of French People Say Their Health Has
Deteriorated Since The Start Of The Epidemic To date, the health report of the French is mediocre, with an average of 6.5 / 10 in their state of health, with significant disparities. Their levels of fatigue (rated at 5.9 / 10), physical activity (rated at 5.9 / 10), the quality of their sleep (rated at 6.1 / 10), and muscle and bone problems ( evaluated at 6.4 / 10) are the most critical. More generally, the French population is divided since half (50%) of French people declare that their state of health has deteriorated since the start of the epidemic. (Ipsos France) December 9, 2021 48% Of French Consider That Eric Zemmour “Really Wants To
Change Things” The image that the French have of Eric Zemmour is extremely divisive, and generally bad. If he can rely on certain qualities linked to his voluntarism (48% consider that he "really wants to change things" and 45% that he is "courageous"), he is also perceived as a candidate likely to stir up the divisions of the country: only 30% of the French find it “unifying”, 58% being of the opposite opinion. His personal image is also degraded: only 30% of French people consider him "honest" and 22% "sympathetic". ”. (Ipsos France) 10 December 2021 NORTH AMERICA (USA) Socialism, Capitalism Ratings In U.S. Unchanged Americans' positive ratings of capitalism and socialism. Sixty percent of U.S. adults in 2021 have a positive image of capitalism, and 38% have a positive image of socialism. These ratings have been stable over time. Gallup has assessed Americans' opinions of these terms on six occasions since 2010. Their opinions on each have not moved much, apart from a significant decline in positive ratings of the federal government over time, from as high as 51% in 2012 to 38% in both the 2019 and 2021 surveys. (Gallup) DECEMBER 6, 2021 U S Public Divided Over Whether People Convicted Of Crimes
Spend Too Much Or Too Little Time In Prison Overall, 28% of U.S. adults say people convicted of crimes spend too much time in prison, while 32% say they spend too little time and 37% say they spend about the right amount of time, according to a Pew Research Center survey of 10,221 adults conducted in July 2021. The question was asked as part of a broader survey examining differences in Americans’ political attitudes and values across a range of topics. The survey asked about prison time in a general way and did not address penalties for specific crime types. (PEW) DECEMBER 6, 2021 Estimated Consumption In 2020 Was 534 Gallons Per Driver In
U S Americans are acutely sensitive to gasoline prices, especially when they’re on the rise. One reason, of course, is that we buy a lot of gas: an estimated 570 gallons this year for the average driver, which at current national average prices would cost close to $2,000. Also, gas prices are posted all over town on large signs – unlike, say, milk prices – and people typically buy gas on its own rather than as part of a larger shopping trip, making price changes more noticeable. And gas prices can and do swing sharply and unpredictably, in ways that can seem unconnected to the rest of the economy. (PEW) DECEMBER 9, 2021 America’s Public School Teachers Are Far Less Racially And
Ethnically Diverse Than Their Students About eight-in-ten U.S. public school teachers (79%) identified as non-Hispanic White during the 2017-18 school year, the most recent year for which NCES has published demographic data about them. Fewer than one-in-ten teachers were either Black (7%), Hispanic (9%) or Asian American (2%). And fewer than 2% of teachers were either American Indian or Alaska Native, Pacific Islander, or of two or more races. (PEW) DECEMBER 10, 2021 (Canada) A New Ipsos Poll Has Revealed That One In Three (32%)
Canadians Have Access To More Money During The Pandemic The K-shaped economic recovery of the pandemic means that many Canadians could be relying more on charity while at the same time many Canadians have extra cash in their pockets due to decreased expenses. A new Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of CanadaHelps.org has revealed that one in three (32%) Canadians have access to more money during the pandemic because they made more money or spent less, rising to 38% among Ontarians. (Ipsos Canada) 8 December 2021 AUSTRALIA Australian Unemployment Unchanged At 9.2% In November – The
First Month After The End Of The NSW And Victoria Lockdowns The latest Roy Morgan employment series data shows 1.33 million Australians were unemployed in November, up 10,000 on October (9.2% of the workforce), and 1.21 million Australians were under-employed, down 0.3% points to 8.3% of the workforce. The workforce in November was 14,517,000 (up 178,000 from October) – comprised of 13,187,000 employed Australians (up 168,000) and 1,330,000 unemployed Australians looking for work (up 10,000). It is important to understand that the workforce participation rate of Australians aged 14+ (68.6%) is 1.5% points higher now than it was prior to the pandemic in February 2020 (67.1%) with more Australians now both employed and unemployed than pre-pandemic. (Roy Morgan) December 09 2021 MULTICOUNTRY STUDIES According To A Spring Pew Research Center Survey In 16
Advanced Economies A Median Of 59% Of Adults Have Good Reviews About American
Universities American universities are generally held in high esteem around the world, according to a spring Pew Research Center survey in 16 advanced economies. A median of 59% of adults across these societies describe American universities as either the best in the world or above average relative to those in other developed nations. Fewer than 1 million foreign students enrolled for either online or in-person classes at U.S. universities in the 2020-21 school year, comprising 4.6% of total enrollment at American higher educational institutions. (PEW) DECEMBER 6, 2021 A Median Of 56% Across 17 Advanced Economies Surveyed In 2021 Say Their Political System Needs Major Changes Or
Needs To Be Completely Reformed The economic prospects for the next generation also matter. In the survey we conducted across 17 advanced economies in spring 2021, dissatisfaction with the way democracy is working was much more common among people who expect that when children in their country today grow up, they will be worse off financially than their parents. The economic pessimists are also especially likely to think their country’s political system needs major changes or needs to be completely reformed. For example, in the United Kingdom, 61% of respondents who are pessimistic about the next generation’s financial prospects think their country needs significant political reform. (PEW) DECEMBER 7, 2021 Source: https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2021/12/07/global-public-opinion-in-an-era-of-democratic-anxiety/ In Most Of The 33 Countries Surveyed, The Majority Don’t
Expect The Pandemic To End Any Time Soon A new Ipsos survey finds no national consensus in any of 33 countries on what specific event would signal the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, in almost every country surveyed, a majority of adults expect that they won’t be able to return to something like their normal pre-COVID life before at least six more months. On average across the 33 countries, 20% say it’ll be when at least 75% of the population have been vaccinated, 19% say it’ll be when transmission of the virus has completely stopped, and 17% say it is when hospitals have had normal operations without staffing or equipment shortages for at least one month. (PEW) 7 December 2021 Source: https://www.ipsos.com/en-au/covid-19-how-will-we-know-when-the-pandemic-is-ending-dec-2021 Among 8 Countries Surveyed In Europe, Nuclear Power Is Not
Unanimous In Europe, nuclear power is not unanimous. While it represents 70.6% of electricity production in France, Germany is trying to gradually abandon it. The perception of the reliability of nuclear energy is also very different in different countries. People who regard nuclear energy as dangerous are much lower in Sweden (25%) and Denmark (29%) than in other countries (46-52%). Italy is an exception, since 64% of Italians consider this technology dangerous. (YouGov France) December 9, 2021 Source: https://fr.yougov.com/news/2021/12/09/energie-nucleaire-qu-en-pensent-les-francais/ On Average Across 27 Countries Surveyed, About Three In
Four Employed Adults Agree They And People In Their Workplace Should Be Fully
Vaccinated Against Covid-19 On average across all countries surveyed, about three in four employed adults agree they and people in their workplace should be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 (78%), undergo frequent testing if they are not vaccinated (74%), and wear a mask in common areas when in proximity with other people (81%). If workers were required to get vaccinated or undergo frequent testing to keep their job, about six times as many would choose to get vaccinated over getting tested frequently (68% vs. 12%, on average globally). (Ipsos New Zealand) 9 December 2021 Source: https://www.ipsos.com/en-nz/covid-and-the-workplace-dec-2021 Research Reveals The Impact Of The Pandemic On Self-Esteem
And Self-Care In 4 Latin American Countries The survey showed that, in the last 18 months, 71% of respondents changed their habits and were more concerned about their health and well-being. While, 58% said they started to look for or looked for the first time non-surgical injectable facial cosmetic procedures. The survey data also show that the vast majority of respondents like their appearance in general, but there are days when they don't feel comfortable with it. In Brazil, for example, this number represents 61% of respondents, in Mexico it is 57%, while Argentina and Colombia account for 62% and 64%, respectively. (Ipsos Brazil) 10 December 2021 ASIA
720-43-01/Polls Entertainment Industries Shrink By Around 10% During Pandemic In JapanThe number of leisure facilities, bars and
restaurants declined by nearly 10 percent across Japan following government
requests to suspend or curtail operations to prevent novel coronavirus infections,
according to industry surveys. Although it is difficult to calculate the
precise impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, those businesses fell in number or
saw their sales drop in 2020, when novel coronavirus infections were surging,
from a year earlier, according to the surveys conducted by four industry
groups. A survey by the All-Japan Karaoke
Industrialist Association shows the number of karaoke parlors dropped by 908,
or a record high 9.7 percent, to 8,436 in fiscal 2020, while sales were
halved to 197.3 billion yen ($1.74 billion). “We were shocked at the figures,” said a
representative of the association. “Many people associated karaoke parlors
with sources of cluster infections and confined settings (that pose high
infection risks), dealing a blow to the business.” According to the Bowling Proprietors'
Association of Japan, 50 bowling alleys, a record high over the past decade,
closed for good in fiscal 2020, a 6.8 percent plunge that brought the total
number of outlets in operation to 682. An official of the association said the
pandemic hit the industry when the number of bowling alleys was already
declining because of their aging facilities. Businesses can receive financial support if
they comply with requests for temporary closures or shorter operating hours,
but the official said the amount was far from enough to cover the costs of
managing the huge spaces needed for bowling alleys. Bars and restaurants, which are deemed to
pose high infection risks, fell in number by 1.8 percent in 2020, according
to a survey by the Japan Foodservice Association, which has about 450
restaurant chains as its members. The survey also showed the number of izakaya
pubs declined by 7.3 percent, while the drop was 4.6 percent for “dinner
restaurants,” which offer relatively expensive dishes such as sushi and
sukiyaki. Both figures were the largest since 1994,
when the association began conducting the survey in the current method. The association did not disclose the actual
number of restaurants that shut down, but a representative said a dozen or so
major restaurant chains alone closed some 2,000 outlets during the pandemic. In term of percentages, live music events and
other stage performances were hit hardest by the pandemic last year. The All Japan Concert and Live Entertainment
Promoters Conference conducted a survey of its 70 or so member companies that
organize events. The number of live music events, rakugo plays
and other stage performances they hosted plummeted by 66.6 percent to 10,637
in 2020. Their sales also plunged by 78.7 percent to 78 billion yen. AGONIZING DECISION FOR
FUKUOKA BOWLING ALLEY Nishijin Palace Bowling in Fukuoka opened in
1972, but it will close for good by the end of March next year. The pandemic started right after the outlet
spent tens of millions of yen on renovations at the end of 2019. Since then, Fukuoka Prefecture has repeatedly
asked businesses, including bowling alleys, to suspend or shorten their
operations. Nishijin Palace Bowling complied with each
request. But it decided to shut down because financial
support of several hundred thousand yen was not enough to cover the declines
of millions of yen in monthly sales from pre-pandemic levels. The outlet has also served as a venue where
elderly people can interact with each other and stay active and healthy. Takashi Hirota, 76, a self-employed worker
and resident of the city, uses the bowling alley about three times a week. He
collected 1,000 signatures calling on the outlet to continue its operations. “We’ll lose our precious community,” he said. The outlet has limited the number of
customers who can use each lane to less than half the usual size. It has also
asked bowlers to strictly follow mask-wearing rules. “We’re thoroughly taking anti-virus
measures,” said Daisuke Shigaki, manager of the bowling alley. “We wanted to
continue operating, but the impact of the pandemic was too much for us.” (Asahi Shimbun) December 6, 2021 Source: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14496471 720-43-02/Polls In January-September 2021, Households In Turkey Spent 39% On FMCGHouseholds went shopping an average of 175 times in the first 9 months of 2021 and spent 45 TL on each purchase. The mass shopping behavior that started with the pandemic continued in the first 9 months of 2021. Compared to the pre-pandemic period, the average household went shopping less frequently and spent more on their cart with each purchase. Although the demand for open products decreased slightly in the first 9 months of 2020, when there were COVID-19 restrictions, open products started to grow again as of 2021. An average household spent 54 TL on branded products, 26 TL on open products and 20 TL on market branded products out of every 100 TL expenditure. Households spent more this year in Discount Markets and Independent Supermarkets, as in the previous year, compared to other channels. An average household spent 31 TL of each 100 TL of expenditure in Discount Markets and 23 TL in Independent Supermarkets. Compared to last year, Independent Supermarkets maintained their share, while National Chains, Local Chains and Discount Markets lost their share. Butcher/Deli was the channel that increased its share by growing above the average. In the first 9 months of 2021, an increase was observed in the expenditure of Meat products, Oils, Snacks and Household Cleaning Products, above the average of Turkey. Meat products spend increased 54% in January-September 2021, while Fat increased 55%, Snacks 41% and Household Cleaning products increased 40%. You can find detailed information and graphics in our FMCG Bulletin. About Ipsos Household Consumption Panel: The Ipsos Household Consumption Panel consists of approximately 14,000 households spread across 35 provinces and was chosen to represent Turkey in terms of socio-economic status, household size and regions. Weekly purchasing data is collected from a continuous sample. The collected data is projected to ~22 million households. Households record their HTU purchasing information on the "diary" every day, this diary is collected weekly and processed after necessary controls. The following information is collected in the logs: • Purchased product group • Brand (in size and variety details) • Amount purchased • Frequency of shopping • Place of purchase • Price (Ipsos Turkey) 7 December 2021 Source: https://www.ipsos.com/tr-tr/hane-tuketim-panelinden-fmcg-bulteni MENA
720-43-03/Polls About Three In Ten (30%) Consumers In UAE Stated ‘Acceptance’ As The Word To Describe Their Feeling Towards AI & AutomationYouGov’s latest technology report reveals the industries and institutions where consumers show enthusiasm for automation as well as the areas where they oppose it. The whitepaper titled International Technology Report 2021 explores sentiments and perceptions towards AI across 17 geographies and 19,000 consumers, and aims to help public and private sector organisations plan, while acknowledging and empathizing with human aspirations and concerns. The data shows beliefs about the impact of automation on society skew more towards positive feelings among UAE residents. About three in ten (30%) consumers in UAE stated ‘Acceptance’ as the word to describe their feeling towards AI & automation, and almost a similar proportion chose optimism, hope, and excitement (28% each). Comparatively, less than one in five respondents in the country feel skeptical (18%) towards AI or chose words like fear (18%), confusion (19%), and unnecessary (15%) to describe their feelings towards automation.
In UAE, almost three in ten (29%) consumers feel AI will have a “more positive than negative” impact on the society. However, this number increases to 44% among those who claim to be well informed about the technology, highlighting a positive correlation between knowledge and positive perceptions about AI. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now a part
of our everyday existence and has impacted many sectors of our lives. On a
personal level, UAE consumers are generally comfortable with automation in
most life areas except a few. They are comfortable with AI in their homes
(54%), for shopping (53%), manufacturing (51%), mobility (47%) and travel
(43%), but prefer humans-led approach in areas such as education, medical
consultation and government policies.
When asked about the industries that will be more profoundly impacted by AI, about two in five consumers in UAE think that the manufacturing industry (41%) will have the greatest impact followed by communications (39%), banking & financial services (38%), transport and mobility (36%) and education (32%). Finally, when we look at the entities that people trust with the developing ethical automated solutions, we find that consumers across the globe are more likely to put their trust in big, established companies over small ones, and the private sector more than the public sphere. Among UAE residents, even though the big
technology companies (46%) are trusted the most with this responsibility, the
trust in government is also high and is above the global average (33% vs
16%). On the other hand, trust in non-government public-serving entities and foreign governments is the least in the country (18% each). Therefore, building trust and credibility will be crucial for institutions to reinforce positive consumer sentiment. (YouGov MENA) December 7, 2021 Source: https://mena.yougov.com/en/news/2021/12/07/uae-residents-dont-mind-automation-their-homes-pre/ AFRICA
720-43-04/Polls More Than Seven In 10 (72%) South Africans Say That Domestic Violence Is A Criminal Matter Requiring The Involvement Of Law Enforcement AgenciesMost South Africans believe that gender-based violence in the country is getting worse, according to the latest Afrobarometer survey. Citizens point to alcohol and drug abuse and unemployment as primary contributing factors, although many also acknowledge the multifaceted nature of the crisis. a majority also say that gender-based violence is a criminal matter that requires the involvement of law enforcement agencies to resolve, rather than a personal affair that should be handled within the family. Survey findings show that women are more likely than men to report not feeling safe while walking in their neighbourhood or being at home. Key findings ▪ Almost three-quarters (73%) of South Africans believe that GBV increased “somewhat” or “a lot” over the past year
(Figure 1). ▪ More than seven in 10 (72%) say that domestic violence is a criminal matter requiring the involvement of law enforcement agencies, while just 26% see it as a private matter to be handled within the family
(Figure 2). ▪ Alcohol abuse (25%), drug abuse (20%), and unemployment (16%) are most widely seen as the main cause of domestic violence
in South Africa (Figure 3). ▪ Women are somewhat more likely than men to report feeling unsafe walking in their neighbourhood and fearing crime in their
home (Figure 4). (Afrobarometer) 7 December 2021 WEST
EUROPE
720-43-05/Polls Trust In The Police Drops For The Second Year In A Row From 76% To 71%The Ipsos MORI Veracity Index is the longest-running poll on trust in professions in Britain, having been asked consistently since 1983. The 24th edition records a significant decrease in public trust in the police, for the second year in a row. It also reveals that librarians are one of Britain’s most trusted professions, ranking alongside doctors and nurses.
Key headlines include:
As was the case in 2020, this year’s poll was carried out by telephone rather than face-to-face due to pandemic restrictions, which means that mode effects should be considered when comparing with waves of the survey prior to 2020, especially when changes are near the margin of error. Trust in professions varies little by gender. The largest gap in trust between men and women exists for politicians, who are trusted to tell the truth by 24% of men and just 15% of women. Women are however slightly more likely than men to say they trust trade union officials (48% versus 40%) and lawyers (63% vs 56%). There are larger gaps by education, especially between the degree-educated and those with no formal qualifications. The biggest gap exists in trust in civil servants, who are trusted by almost three quarters of degree-holders (72%), thirty percentage points ahead of trust levels among those without qualifications (42%). The next-biggest gaps exist for charity chief executives (59% versus 35%), pollsters (59% versus 38%), engineers (93% and 73%) and trade union officials (54% vs 34%). Bankers are the only profession where this relationship is reversed: 50% of those without qualifications trust bankers, compared with 35% of degree-holders. This year also explores differences between supporters of the Conservative and Labour parties. The largest gap exists on trade union officials, who are trusted by 59% of Labour supporters and 30% of Conservatives. But the next-biggest gaps are on politicians: Over a third of Conservatives trust Government Ministers to tell the truth (36%) and a slightly smaller proportion say the same for politicians more generally (32%). The scores among Labour party supporters stand at just 14% and 13% respectively. There is also a similar-sized gap on business leaders, who are trusted by 44% of Conservatives and 23% of Labour supporters. Mike Clemence, a researcher at Ipsos MORI, said: This year’s index has a new entrant very
near the top of the ranking: more than nine in ten Britons say they trust
librarians to tell the truth. It also confirms some movements we started to
see last year, most notably the drop in trust in the police, which can be
seen among both men and women. (Ipsos MORI) 7 December 2021 Source: https://www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/ipsos-mori-veracity-index-trust-police-drops-second-year-row 720-43-06/Polls A Third (33%) Of Britons Think Athletes Should Boycott The Beijing Winter Olympics Due To Concerns About China’s Human Rights RecordQuestions have been growing for a while about whether countries should take a stand against China’s human rights record, particularly around their treatment of the Uyghurs, and over political oppression in Hong Kong. These questions have intensified in recent weeks after the recent disappearance (and then partial re-appearance) of tennis player Peng Shuai, who had accused a top official of sexual assault. The United States has now announced that they will not be sending diplomats to the Beijing Winter Olympics next year due to concerns about China’s human rights record. China has reacted angrily, with a spokesman saying the proposed boycott was “based on lies and rumours” and has threatened to retaliate. But do Britons think the UK should follow America’s lead?
When it comes to a diplomatic boycott – that is, the non-attendance of royalty, ambassadors and politicians, among others – Britons are in favour by 43% to 18%, while 40% say they don’t know. Conservative voters are particularly likely to support a diplomatic boycott (by 52% to 17%), while Labour voters also support diplomats staying away (by 40% 19%).
However, when it comes to whether British athletes should boycott the event, Britons are split. While a third (33%) our think athletes should boycott the Games, 30% think they should attend – and 37% say they don’t know. Conservatives and Labour voters are at odds on athlete attendance. Tories think athletes should also participate in the boycott by 42% to 31%, while Labour voters are split 29% boycott to 32% attendance. (YouGov UK) December 07, 2021 720-43-07/Polls Six In 10 Britons Spent Christmas 2020 With A Smaller Group Of Family Because Of COVID RestrictionsThe news that Downing Street allegedly held a Christmas party last year that broke Covid rules has caused outrage among many Britons. At the time, Tier 3 restrictions were in place in London – forbidding people from meeting socially indoors with people who are not in their support bubble or household. Across the country, almost all areas were in Tier 3 or Tier 4. YouGov data reveals that 58% of Britons spent Christmas Day with a
smaller group of family than normal because they were adhering to Covid-19
restrictions. Just 29% spent Christmas with the same number of people they
usually did, with another 9% saying they spent Christmas alone but this was
normal for them. Tory and Labour voters were equally likely to have empty seats round the table last year – 61% of Conservative voters and 60% of Labour voters say they spent their Christmas Day with a smaller family group as a result of following restrictions. Of the people who scaled back their Christmas Day celebrations to
follow Covid rules, half (51%) say it was worse to spend it with a smaller
group of family than normal, with around a fifth (18%) saying it was ‘much
worse’. Just 17% say it was better to have a smaller group due to the
restrictions. For Britons who followed the rules, many had close family members missing from their Christmas Day celebrations. More than a third (35%) spent Christmas without at least one sibling,
while a third (32%) were without a parent, and 28% without a child or
children. One in 20 Britons (5%) spent Christmas without their partner
because of Covid restrictions. (YouGov UK) December 08, 2021 720-43-08/Polls Christmas: 44% of French people opt for an artificial treeWhile the 5 th wave of the epidemic Covid-19 rose sharply in Europe, the French are preparing to spend again for Christmas and New Year under the threat of coronavirus. Does the health context impact the projects of the French? More generally, how do the French perceive Christmas? What gifts do they dream of receiving this year? Discover below the results of a study RealTime conducted from 30 November to 1 st December 2021. Christmas, a generally appreciated celebration Nearly 3 in 4 French people say they enjoy the Christmas season (73%) - a figure that climbs to 81% among 18-34 year olds.
Is Christmas more of a religious or commercial event? 44% agree that it is a commercial celebration, a feeling shared by 56% of 18-24 year olds. Only 1 in 10 people consider Christmas to be a predominantly religious event (11%). What gifts would the French dream of receiving at Christmas? In 2021, the experiential side attracts the French more. Indeed, 33% of French people would like to be offered a trip, a figure which is increasing by women (38%). At the same time, 19% would like to receive a car and 14% a computer. If they do not like the gift offered to them, 41% of French people say they use it anyway. Conversely, 21% put it away in the back of a cupboard and 13% go so far as to resell it online. Donations are less frequent: 10% give to their relatives and 4% to an association. Travel plans and impact of the health crisis Nearly one in 4 French people planned to travel for Christmas (23%), a figure pulled up by 18-24 year olds (37%). Regarding the destination, 18% of respondents planned to go to France and 5% abroad. In parallel, 25% of French say that the health crisis of Covid-19 - including the 5 th wave - have changed their plans for the holidays this year. (YouGov France) December 8, 2021 Source: https://fr.yougov.com/news/2021/12/08/noel-sapin-artificiel/ 720-43-09/Polls Half (50%) Of French People Say Their Health Has Deteriorated Since The Start Of The EpidemicTo date, the health report of the French is mediocre, with an average of 6.5 / 10 in their state of health, with significant disparities. Their levels of fatigue (rated at 5.9 / 10), physical activity (rated at 5.9 / 10), the quality of their sleep (rated at 6.1 / 10), and muscle and bone problems ( evaluated at 6.4 / 10) are the most critical. More generally, the French population is divided since half (50%) of French people declare that their state of health has deteriorated since the start of the epidemic. If the French are convinced of the
importance of prevention in health, one brake remains to be lifted: use. Overall, more than two-thirds of French people say they are well informed on aspects relating to health prevention, whether it be on the rules of hygiene of life (84%) or the eating habits to adopt (85%). With the COVID-19 epidemic, while 57% of French people have made resolutions to pay more attention to their health, only 37% have managed to keep them. Several seasons explain the difficulties encountered in keeping their resolutions: the constraint imposed by these routines (42%), the need to seek the advice of a health professional (23%), or the difficulty in finding the right ones. advice (14%). They don't really know how to do it on a daily basis. One solution stands out: the use of
connected objects and applications to provide support in monitoring their
health. Indeed, the majority of the French are convinced that in the long term, digital objects and applications will develop strongly, since three quarters of them believe that this is a fundamental phenomenon (72%). Over the past 5 years, nearly 4 in 10 French people (37%) have bought a connected object related to health or well-being, and say they are 86% satisfied with this purchase. This interest in connected objects is particularly marked among those under 45. Another promising fact: the French equipped with an object keep their resolutions related to their health better (46%) than those who have not bought one (31%). They use them in particular to monitor their state of health (34%) and prevent the worsening of diseases (10%). The French also say they are ready to follow the advice offered: nearly 8 out of 10 French people who have not purchased connected objects would follow the recommendations for objects related to the vaccine (78%), symptoms (79%), examinations to be performed (78%) and the diseases for which they are at risk (74%). On the data collected by these objects, a very large majority of French people (80%) are ready to share their health data with their health professionals. They are more cautious about sharing with public health actors (47%), even hostile towards their mutual (27%) and GAFAM (14%). a very large majority of French people (80%) are ready to share their health data with their health professionals. They are more cautious about sharing with public health actors (47%), even hostile towards their mutual (27%) and GAFAM (14%). a very large majority of French people (80%) are ready to share their health data with their health professionals. They are more cautious about sharing with public health actors (47%), even hostile towards their mutual (27%) and GAFAM (14%). (Ipsos France) December 9, 2021 720-43-10/Polls 48% Of French Consider That Eric Zemmour “Really Wants To Change Things”The image that the French have of Eric Zemmour is extremely divisive, and generally bad . If he can rely on certain qualities linked to his voluntarism (48% consider that he "really wants to change things" and 45% that he is "courageous"), he is also perceived as a candidate likely to stir up the divisions of the country : only 30% of the French find it “unifying”, 58% being of the opposite opinion. His personal image is also degraded: only 30% of French people consider him "honest" and 22% "sympathetic". Its presidentiality is nevertheless the aspect on which it presents the most weaknesses. : only 21% of citizens believe that Eric Zemmour "has the makings of a President", 20% that he "gives a good image of France abroad" and 19% that he "is surrounded by competent people ”. Eric Zemmour's ideas and proposals also arouse mostly negative feelings in public opinion. We note first of all that a very large majority of French people (80%) believe that he "defends far-right ideas" , an opinion which is even clearly in the majority among LR-UDI sympathizers (75%) and RN (69%). Moreover, his proposals are not considered credible , even on his favorite subjects of immigration (38%) and insecurity (37%). On purchasing power, the economy and the environment, 25% to 21% of French people believe that the polemicist's ideas are credible, against 55% who consider that they are not. Regarding his performance during the Elysée 2022 show on December 9, 41% of viewers found him "convincing" . This level is clearly in the majority among supporters of RN (84%) and LR-UDI (62%), but the far-right candidate, on the other hand, arouses massive rejection in the center and on the left. (Ipsos France) 10 December 2021 NORTH
AMERICA
720-43-11/Polls Socialism, Capitalism Ratings In U.S. UnchangedWASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans remain much more positive toward capitalism than socialism, and their ratings of each have been largely stable over the past decade-plus.
Line graph. Americans' positive ratings of capitalism and socialism. Sixty percent of U.S. adults in 2021 have a positive image of capitalism, and 38% have a positive image of socialism. These ratings have been stable over time. These results are based on an Oct. 1-19 Gallup survey. Since 2010, Gallup has measured Americans' basic opinions of several economic or governmental terms, including capitalism and socialism. Their views of socialism have held steady, even as Sen. Bernie Sanders and progressive Democratic politicians have pursued an expanded government role in addressing healthcare, poverty and early childhood education -- policies their critics describe as moving the U.S. toward socialism. Likewise, Americans' opinions of capitalism have not varied, even with greater discussion of income inequality in the U.S. and the concentration of U.S. wealth in a small percentage of people. Socialism ties with "the federal government" as the lowest rated of the six terms included in the 2021 survey. In contrast, Americans are most positive toward small business and free enterprise, while they are slightly more negative than positive toward big business. Americans' Positive and Negative Ratings of Economic and Governmental Terms Just off the top of your head, would you say you have a positive or negative image of each of the following. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?
Ratings of Big Business Dip Gallup has assessed Americans' opinions of these terms on six occasions since 2010. Their opinions on each have not moved much, apart from a significant decline in positive ratings of the federal government over time, from as high as 51% in 2012 to 38% in both the 2019 and 2021 surveys. This year's survey did show a modest decline in positive ratings of big business, from 52% to 46%, which mirrors declines in confidence in the institution of big business and in satisfaction with the size and influence of major corporations.
Line graph. Americans' positive ratings of economic and governmental terms. Ninety-seven percent of U.S. adults have a positive image of small business and 84% have a positive image of free enterprise. Meanwhile, 46% have a positive image of big business and 38% have a positive image of the federal government. Opinions of small business and free enterprise have been stable over time, while ratings of big business and the federal government are less positive today than in past years. Just as Republicans are responsible for the overall decreases in public confidence in big business and satisfaction with corporate influence, shifting Republican views account for the less-positive perceptions of big business. Currently, 56% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, down from 72% in 2019, have a positive opinion of big business. Democrats' and Democratic leaners' views are stable, at 36%.
Line graph. Positive images of big business by political party. Fifty-six percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents have a positive opinion of big business in 2021. In most years, about 60% of Republicans have had a positive view, except for 2012, when 75% did, and 72% in 2019. Democrats and Democratic leaners have consistently been less positive toward big business than Republicans are, with the latter's percentages slightly above 40% between 2010 and 2016 and slightly below 40% since then, including 36% in the current survey. Republicans' dimmed views of big business coincide with a period when many Republican leaders and media personalities have publicly criticized large corporations for activism on social issues like racial justice, diversity and inclusion, and climate change. Many Republicans have also spoken out against large technology companies like Twitter and Facebook because they believe those companies are censoring conservative viewpoints. Even so, Republicans still view big business positively overall, and more positively than Democrats do. Republicans, Democrats Diverge on Opinions of Capitalism and Socialism Majorities of Republicans and Democrats have positive opinions of capitalism, but Republicans rate it higher. Whereas roughly seven in 10 Republicans and Republican leaners have viewed capitalism positively since 2010, about half of Democrats have done so. This year, 72% of Republicans and 52% of Democrats have a positive image of capitalism.
Line graph. In 2021, 72% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents have a positive view of capitalism and 52% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents do, generally similar to their ratings since 2010. The two partisan groups' opinions of socialism diverge even more, with 14% of Republicans and 65% of Democrats saying they have a positive image of it. Democrats' opinions of socialism have gotten slightly more positive over the years, moving from 53% in 2010 and 2012 to over 60% in the past two surveys. Republicans have become slightly less positive toward socialism than they were in the initial surveys.
Line graph. Positive ratings of socialism by political party. Sixty-five percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents in 2021 have a positive view of socialism, compared with 14% of Republicans. Since 2018, Democrats have rated socialism more positively than they have rated capitalism. Before that, they held similar views of the two economic systems. Bottom Line Americans' opinions of capitalism have generally been stable over the past decade, with around six in 10 having a positive view of capitalism and slightly fewer than four in 10 having a positive view of socialism. Democrats view both economic systems favorably, but have become more positive toward socialism than capitalism. Recent Gallup research found that Americans, particularly Democrats, are most likely to think of socialism in terms of equality and government provision of benefits and services. When Gallup polled Americans on the meaning of socialism in 1949, the largest proportion described it in the traditional sense as government ownership of the means of economic production. Thus, the meaning of the term to Americans is evolving, but most still view it negatively. (Gallup) DECEMBER 6, 2021 Source: https://news.gallup.com/poll/357755/socialism-capitalism-ratings-unchanged.aspx 720-43-12/Polls U S Public Divided Over Whether People Convicted Of Crimes Spend Too Much Or Too Little Time In PrisonAmericans are closely divided over whether people convicted of crimes spend too much, too little or about the right amount of time in prison, with especially notable differences in views by party affiliation, ideology, race and ethnicity.
Overall, 28% of U.S. adults say people convicted of crimes spend too much time in prison, while 32% say they spend too little time and 37% say they spend about the right amount of time, according to a Pew Research Center survey of 10,221 adults conducted in July 2021. The question was asked as part of a broader survey examining differences in Americans’ political attitudes and values across a range of topics. The survey asked about prison time in a general way and did not address penalties for specific crime types. Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents are much more likely to say people convicted of crimes spend too much time in prison than to say they spend too little time behind bars (41% vs. 21%). The reverse is true among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents: 44% of Republicans say people convicted of crimes spend too little time in prison, while 14% say they spend too much time behind bars. Around a third of Democrats and Democratic leaners (35%) and a slightly higher share of Republicans and GOP leaners (39%) say people convicted of crimes spend about the right amount of time in prison. Views differ by ideology within each partisan group. Liberal Democrats are more likely than conservative and moderate Democrats (54% vs. 30%) to say convicted people spend too much time in prison. Conservative Republicans are more likely than moderate and liberal Republicans (49% vs. 35%) to say people convicted of crimes spend too little time in prison. Democrats who describe their political views as very liberal and Republicans who describe their views as very conservative stand out even more. Very liberal Democrats are much more likely than Democrats who describe their views as simply liberal (70% vs. 47%) to say convicted people spend too much time in prison. And very conservative Republicans are more likely than Republicans who describe their views as simply conservative (56% vs. 47%) to say people convicted of crimes spend too little time in prison. Attitudes about many aspects of the U.S. criminal justice system differ by race and ethnicity, as previous Pew Research Center surveys have shown, and a similar pattern appears in views of time spent in prison. Black adults (40%) are more likely than White (26%), Asian (26%) and Hispanic adults (25%) to say people convicted of crimes spend too much time in prison. Conversely, White adults (36%) are more likely than Hispanic (28%) and Black adults (17%) to believe that convicted people spend too little time behind bars. Around a third of Asian adults (34%) also say convicted people do not spend enough time in prison, but their views are not statistically different from those of White and Hispanic adults. Among Democrats, similar shares of Black and White adults say prisoners spend too much time behind bars, even as Black and White Democrats express different views on some other survey questions related to criminal justice. Black Democrats, for example, are modestly more likely than White Democrats to favor increased funding for police in their area, according to a September Pew Research Center survey. The U.S. imprisonment rate has steadily declined since the mid-2000s, with an especially sharp decline among Black Americans. Still, the imprisonment rate of Black Americans remains more than five times as high as that of White Americans. The number of Black prisoners also exceeds the number of White prisoners, even though Black people account for a much smaller proportion of the nation’s adult population. Time served in prison varies widely by
crime type So how much time do people convicted of crimes in the United States actually spend in prison? Not surprisingly, the answer varies substantially by crime type, according to a study released earlier this year by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), which examined the records of people released from prison in 44 states in 2018, accounting for 97% of all people released from state prisons that year. (The study looked only at people released from prison. It did not examine time served by those who remained in prison or were ineligible for release. The study also excluded people released from federal prisons. For more details about the study’s methodology, read the “How we did this” box above.) Across all crime types, people released from state prison in 2018 spent a median of 1.3 years in prison, with longer periods of imprisonment for those convicted of violent offenses and shorter periods for those convicted of other offenses, such as property and drug crimes.
In the violent crime category, people convicted of murder spent a median of 17.5 years in prison before being released, while the median amount of time served was lower for those convicted of rape (7.2 years), non-negligent manslaughter (7.0 years), negligent manslaughter (3.7 years), other sexual assault (3.6 years), robbery (3.2 years) and assault (1.4 years). In the property crime category, the median time served was 17 months for those convicted of burglary and 11 months for larceny/theft, motor vehicle theft and fraud. Among drug crimes, those convicted of trafficking offenses served a median of 17 months, compared with 9 months for those convicted of possession. People convicted of weapons offenses – which are classified as “public order” crimes in the BJS study – served a median of 15 months before being released from prison in 2018. When considering these figures, it’s important to note that time served is not the same measure as sentence imposed. People who are convicted of crimes tend to serve less time than what they receive at sentencing, often due to credits for good behavior or participation in programs while in prison. (PEW) DECEMBER 6, 2021 720-43-13/Polls Estimated Consumption In 2020 Was 534 Gallons Per Driver In U SAmericans are acutely sensitive to gasoline prices, especially when they’re on the rise. One reason, of course, is that we buy a lot of gas: an estimated 570 gallons this year for the average driver, which at current national average prices would cost close to $2,000. Also, gas prices are posted all over town on large signs – unlike, say, milk prices – and people typically buy gas on its own rather than as part of a larger shopping trip, making price changes more noticeable. And gas prices can and do swing sharply and unpredictably, in ways that can seem unconnected to the rest of the economy. Regular gas costs, on average, 58.7% more than it did a year ago this time – $3.491 a gallon last month, versus $2.20 in November 2020, according to the federal Energy Information Administration (EIA). But looking just at the recent rise can be misleading, or at least incomplete. For one thing, a year ago the United States was battling yet another wave of COVID-19 cases, large parts of the economy were still shuttered and demand for gas was way down. Estimated consumption in 2020 was 534 gallons per driver, down 14.4% from 624 gallons in 2019. How we did this
Also, the volatility of gas prices means they can go down as sharply and as suddenly as they go up. In the spring of 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic sparked widespread lockdowns, the average gas price sank 27% between Feb. 24 and April 27. Since 1994, average gas prices have fluctuated between a low of 96.2 cents a gallon in February 1999 and a high of $4.114 in July 2008. The current average price, in fact, is almost exactly what it was in September 2014 – at least on a nominal basis. When inflation is factored in, today’s prices appear more modest. In today’s dollars, gas cost an average of $5.20 a gallon in June 2008, and more than $4 as recently as September 2014. Also, gasoline is not a single, uniform product. Besides regular, midgrade and premium gas, which differ by octane rating, there’s conventional and “reformulated” gas. The latter is required to be sold in California, along the Northeastern seaboard and in several other major urban areas to reduce smog and other air pollutants. Over the past year, reformulated gas was consistently 30 to 35 cents more expensive than conventional gas until mid-October, when the differential began to widen, according to an analysis of EIA price data – it’s now about 46 cents more expensive. Over the same period, midgrade gas has ranged from 37 cents to 46 cents more expensive than regular, while premium has been 25 to 27 cents higher than midgrade. Where you buy gas also matters. Much of the U.S. petroleum industry is concentrated along the Gulf Coast, making it perhaps unsurprising that gas tends to be cheapest there. The average price in that region was $3.072 a gallon in late November, and in Texas it was also a hairsbreadth above $3.
By contrast, California almost always has the most expensive gas in the country. The state’s average price in late November was $4.642 a gallon, and in San Francisco it was $4.816. Besides the fact that California already uses pricier reformulated gas and has relatively high gas taxes and environmental fees, it is geographically far removed from other refining centers and relatively few fuel pipelines cross the Rocky Mountains to connect California’s refineries to the rest of the country. Under normal conditions, the state’s refineries can produce enough gasoline to meet demand there, according to the California Energy Commission. But if refineries go offline due to weather, accidents or mechanical breakdowns, the state typically imports gasoline from overseas – adding to the price because of the cost of marine shipments. (PEW) DECEMBER 9, 2021 720-43-14/Polls America’s Public School Teachers Are Far Less Racially And Ethnically Diverse Than Their StudentsElementary and secondary public school teachers in the United States are considerably less racially and ethnically diverse as a group than their students – and while the share of Black, Hispanic and Asian American teachers has increased in recent decades, it has not kept pace with the rapid growth in the racial and ethnic diversity of their students, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
About eight-in-ten U.S. public school teachers (79%) identified as non-Hispanic White during the 2017-18 school year, the most recent year for which NCES has published demographic data about them. Fewer than one-in-ten teachers were either Black (7%), Hispanic (9%) or Asian American (2%). And fewer than 2% of teachers were either American Indian or Alaska Native, Pacific Islander, or of two or more races. By comparison, 47% of all public elementary and secondary school students in the U.S. were White in 2018-19, according to the most recent data available. In that period, around a quarter of public school students were Hispanic (27%), 15% were Black and 5% were Asian. Those shares have increased over time as newer generations of young people entered the classroom. About 1% or fewer were Pacific Islander or identified as American Indian or Alaska Native, while 4% were of two or more races. How we did this Not only do White teachers sharply outnumber educators of other races and ethnicities, but they also tend to work in different school environments, the NCES data shows:
Changes over time The share of White teachers has decreased about 8 percentage points since the 1987-88 school year (the earliest period with comparable data), when about 87% of teachers were White. Both the number and share of Hispanic and Asian teachers grew during that time span. While the number of Black teachers also has increased since the late ’80s, they have declined as a share of teachers overall. In the last 30 years, Hispanic teachers have overtaken Black educators as the second-largest racial or ethnic group among U.S. public school teachers. In 1987-88, there were almost three times as many Black public school teachers (191,000) as Hispanic ones (69,000). Since then, the number of Hispanic teachers increased nearly fivefold to 331,000, while the number of Black teachers increased by 25%, to 239,000. The share of Asian public school teachers has also grown steadily. Between 1987-88 and 2017-18, the number of Asian teachers more than tripled, from 21,000 to 75,000. This happened during a time span (2000 to 2019) when Asian and Hispanic populations in the U.S. were the fastest-growing racial or ethnic groups. Meanwhile, the pattern in racial and ethnic diversity among school principals is similar to that of teachers. In 2017-18, around eight-in-ten principals (78%) were White, compared with 11% who were Black, 9% who were Hispanic and 1% who were Asian American. This represents an increase since 1987-88, when Black, Hispanic and Asian or Pacific Islander principals accounted for 9%, 3% and less than 1% of principals, respectively. During the same time span, growth in racial and ethnic diversity was much faster among U.S. students than among both teachers and principals. During the 1987-88 school year, 71% of American elementary and secondary school students were White, 14% were Black, 11% were Hispanic and 3% were Asian or Pacific Islander (the two categories were grouped together that year). By the 2018-19 school year, White children made up fewer than half of students (47%). Hispanic students accounted for the second-largest share at 27%, while 15% were Black, 5% were Asian American and 4% identified as multiracial. It’s worth pointing out that U.S. public school teachers look different from students not just in terms of race and ethnicity, but also in terms of gender. The most recent data shows that roughly three-quarters of all elementary and secondary school teachers were women, while students are nearly evenly split between boys and girls. Geographic differences
The racial and ethnic makeup of teachers varies somewhat by state, but there is no state where teachers are less likely to be White than their students, according to separate NCES data for the 2017-18 school year (again, the only recent year where data for both groups was available). Nationally, state public school teachers are on average 27 percentage points more likely to be White than their students. In Nevada, 77% of public school teachers are White but only one-third of public school students are – a 45-point difference and the widest gap of any state. In all, White teachers make up 79% of the nation’s public school teachers and they account for that share or greater of educators in 37 states. (There is no 2017-18 NCES data available for Maryland or the District of Columbia.) The only state where White teachers are not the largest racial or ethnic group is Hawaii, where Asian teachers are 42% of the teaching force. White teachers account for about a quarter, and Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders comprise 10%. In New Mexico, 36% of teachers are Hispanic – the largest share in any state. And the largest share of Black teachers is in Georgia, where a quarter of the teaching force is Black. (PEW) DECEMBER 10, 2021 720-43-15/Polls A New Ipsos Poll Has Revealed That One In Three (32%) Canadians Have Access To More Money During The PandemicToronto, ON, December 8, 2021 — The K-shaped economic recovery of the pandemic means that many Canadians could be relying more on charity while at the same time many Canadians have extra cash in their pockets due to decreased expenses. A new Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of CanadaHelps.org has revealed that one in three (32%) Canadians have access to more money during the pandemic because they made more money or spent less, rising to 38% among Ontarians. Among those who do find themselves will a little extra in their pockets, many took the opportunity to take care of their own finances, such as putting that money into savings or investments (56%), paying off debt (31%), home renovations/repairs (26%), or by spending it on material goods or experiences (25%) or other things (8%). But nearly two in ten (17%) of those with a financial windfall donated some of that money to charitable organizations, deciding to share their good fortune. Also reflecting the k-shaped recovery is the divergence in experience among donors. Nearly two in ten (18%) Canadians say they have decreased how much money they donate to charities since the beginning of the pandemic, potentially reacting to an uncertain financial situation. Those in Saskatchewan and Manitoba (25%) are most likely to have adjusted their donations downward, followed by those living in British Columbia (21%), Ontario (21%), Alberta (16%), Atlantic Canada (16%) and Quebec (10%). Women (21%) are also more likely than men (14%) to say that that they’ve reined in their donations. Conversely, 12% say they have increased the amount of money they donate to charity since the start of the pandemic. Those aged 18-34 are more likely (17%) than those aged 35-54 (9%) or 55+ (12%) to have increased their charitable giving. Regionally, Ontarians (15%) lead the way, followed by British Columbians (13%), Albertans (13%), residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (10%), Quebec (9%) and Atlantic Canada (6%). Overall, 45% of Canadians say they have not adjusted their charitable giving, while one in four (25%) says they don’t give any money to charity. Nationally, one in four (24%) Canadians makes an annual plan around how much they donate to charities, while three in four (76%) do not. British Columbians (32%) and Albertans (31%) are most likely to make such a plan, followed by those living in Ontario (27%), Atlantic Canada (24%), Quebec (15%), and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (14%). Interestingly, those with a household income between $40K to <$60K (30%) and $60K to <$100K (33%) are most likely to have a plan, while those under $40K (19%) and those at $100K+ (22%) are les likely to set this type of annual donation budget. Boomers aged 55+ (31%) are most inclined to plan on an annual basis compared to those aged 35-54 (20%) or 18-34 (21%). (Ipsos Canada) 8 December 2021 Source: https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/news-polls/Many-Canadians-Windfall-Pandemic-Increase-Charitable-Giving AUSTRALIA
720-43-16/Polls Australian Unemployment Unchanged At 9.2% In November – The First Month After The End Of The NSW And Victoria LockdownsThe latest Roy Morgan employment series data shows 1.33 million Australians were unemployed in November, up 10,000 on October (9.2% of the workforce), and 1.21 million Australians were under-employed, down 0.3% points to 8.3% of the workforce.
Roy Morgan Unemployment & Under-employment (2019-2021)
Roy Morgan’s unemployment figure of 9.2% for November is 4% points higher than the current ABS estimate for October 2021 of 5.2%. However, the ABS figure for October counts as employed an additional 189,200 Australians who were working zero hours for ‘economic reasons’ and 199,700 Australians who were working zero hours for ‘other reasons’ – such as being forced out of work by mandatory lockdowns.
Compared to early March 2020, before the nation-wide lockdown was implemented, in November 2021 there were over 375,000 more Australians either unemployed or under-employed (+1.9% points) even though overall employment (13,187,000) is higher than it was pre-COVID-19 (12,872,000). Michele Levine, CEO Roy Morgan, says employment growth resumed in November, after the end of long lockdowns in NSW, Victoria, and the ACT, through remains below its level in June when the Sydney outbreak began: “The latest Roy Morgan employment estimates
for November show unemployment was unchanged at 9.2% while under-employment
fell 0.3% points to 8.3%. This means total unemployment and under-employment
of 17.5% with over 2.5 million Australians looking for work or looking for
more work. “It is important to understand there have
been several impacts of the pandemic that are still playing out in the
Australian labour market. One of the biggest impacts is the sustained
increase in the workforce participation rate which is now at 68.6% in
November 2021, up from 67.1% in February 2020. “The increase in the workforce
participation rate has been sustained throughout 2021 with the workforce
participation rate averaging 68.7% of Australians aged 14+ so far this year.
The increased participation rate underlies the increases in both employment
and unemployment compared to pre-pandemic. There are now more people employed
in both full-time and part-time work and also more people looking for work
than there was in February 2020. “The pandemic has impacted the way people
work and this has proved attractive to many people. The increased flexibility
available due to an increase in remote-working, and working-from-home, has
helped many people find suitable jobs and the departure of many backpackers
and international students has opened up many jobs for locals that weren’t
available before. “The good news in November was the increase
in employment, which was up 168,000 to 13,187,000 as NSW, Victoria and the
ACT all enjoyed a month out of lockdown for the first time since April 2021.
Full-time employment increased in both NSW and Victoria in November. “The re-opening of the Australian economy
progressed during November with the international border coming down for
those returning to NSW and Victoria, and later in the month the South
Australian border was also re-opened to all domestic travellers. “In the run-up to Christmas the Queensland
and Tasmanian borders are set to re-open to all domestic travellers next week
which will allow freedom of movement between the whole eastern seaboard for
fully vaccinated Australians. These re-openings will provide a significant
boost to the tourism industries in both States that have been hit hard by the
pandemic and associated border closures. “The latest data from Roy Morgan’s collaboration with
UberMedia shows
average 7-day movement levels in Australia’s Capital City CBDs are still
significantly below the pre-pandemic averages – although they are picking up. “The 7-day movement levels in the Adelaide
CBD, Perth CBD, Brisbane CBD and Hobart CBD are all above 70% of pre-pandemic
averages while in the Melbourne CBD (47%) and Sydney CBD (43%) they are still
at less than half the pre-pandemic level. However, since the lockdowns ended
these figures are increasing rapidly and should approach pre-pandemic levels
in the new year. “The return of people to Australia’s
largest Capital City CBDs is vital to re-invigorate the many businesses that
are based in the CBDs and can provide a further boost to employment growth
during the months ahead as Australia progresses to a ‘COVID-normal’ 2022.” Roy Morgan Unemployed and ‘Under-employed’* Estimates
*Workforce includes those employed and those looking for work – the unemployed. This Roy Morgan survey on Australia’s unemployment and ‘under-employed’* is based on weekly interviews of 797,592 Australians aged 14 and over between January 2007 and November 2021 and includes 6,032 telephone and online interviews in November 2021. *The ‘under-employed’ are those people who are in part-time work or freelancers who are looking for more work. Roy Morgan Research cf. ABS Unemployment Estimates
Source: Roy Morgan Single Source October 2006 – November
2021. Average monthly interviews 4,000. Roy Morgan Research cf. ABS Unemployment Estimates
Source: Roy Morgan Single Source January 2000 – November
2021. Average monthly interviews 4,000.
Source: Roy Morgan Single Source April 1995 – November
2021. Average monthly interviews 4,000. (Roy Morgan) December 09 2021 Source: https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/8874-australian-unemployment-estimates-november-2021-202112090627 MULTICOUNTRY
STUDIES
720-43-17/Polls According To A Spring Pew Research Center Survey In 16 Advanced Economies A Median Of 59% Of Adults Have Good Reviews About American UniversitiesAmerican universities are generally held in high esteem around the world, according to a spring Pew Research Center survey in 16 advanced economies. A median of 59% of adults across these societies describe American universities as either the best in the world or above average relative to those in other developed nations. Even so, the number of foreign students studying in the United States fell sharply during the 2020-21 academic year according to recently released data from the Institute of International Education, likely reflecting the ongoing effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Fewer than 1 million foreign students enrolled for either online or in-person classes at U.S. universities in the 2020-21 school year, comprising 4.6% of total enrollment at American higher educational institutions. That not only marks a 15% year-over-year decrease from the 2019-20 school year, but also marks the first time since 2014-15 that fewer than a million international students have enrolled at U.S. institutions. China remained the leading place of origin for international students, with 35% of all international students in the 2020-21 school year hailing from the country. The second most common place of origin was India (18%), followed by South Korea (4%) and Canada (3%). Some of these countries also experienced the largest year-over-year decreases in the number of students who enrolled at U.S. institutions. The largest such percentage decreases occurred in South Korea (-21%), China (-15%) and India (-13%). The overall decrease in the number of foreign students in the U.S. in 2020-21 was driven by sizable reductions in first-time students coming from abroad – in many cases due to border closings, flight cancellations or other challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Even before pandemic, increase in Chinese
students had slowed
While the number of Chinese students studying in the U.S. fell sharply in the 2020-21 school year, their growth rate had slowed dramatically even before the pandemic. The slowdown followed years of sharp growth. Though the exact reasons for the slowdown in Chinese students are unclear, some may find the U.S. a less desirable place to study abroad. Some observers, including the president of Columbia University, have raised concerns that tense bilateral relations between the U.S. and China are damaging American universities’ ability to attract top academic talent, particularly from China. Still others have pointed to policies put in place during the Trump administration to restrict Chinese students studying in certain fields or even revoke their visas.
Chinese students paid an estimated $15 billion in tuition at U.S. colleges in the 2018-19 year. Still, the American public is open to limiting their presence in U.S. academia. A majority of Americans (55%) support limiting Chinese students studying in the U.S., even as a broad majority (80%) say it’s good for U.S. colleges and universities to accept international students in general, according to a February Pew Research Center survey. Only around a third (31%) of Americans under the age of 30 support limiting Chinese students in the U.S., but the share rises to around half (49%) among those ages 30 to 49 and to around seven-in-ten (69%) of those 50 and older. There are also differences in views by Americans’ educational attainment. A 59% majority of those without a college degree support limiting Chinese students, while those with a college degree are about evenly split: 47% favor limiting Chinese students in the U.S. and 52% oppose the idea. Partisan differences are pronounced, too. A majority of Republicans and independents who lean toward the Republican Party (69%) support limiting Chinese students while 56% of Democrats and Democratic leaners are opposed. (PEW) DECEMBER 6, 2021 720-43-18/Polls A Median Of 56%
Across 17 Advanced Economies Surveyed In 2021 Say
Their Political System Needs Major Changes Or Needs To Be Completely Reformed
As democratic nations have wrestled with economic, social and geopolitical upheaval in recent years, the future of liberal democracy has come into question. In countries across the globe, democratic norms and civil liberties have deteriorated, while populists have enjoyed surprising success at the ballot box. Newly democratic nations have struggled, while more-established, once self-assured democracies have stumbled, exposing long-simmering weaknesses in their social fabrics and institutional designs. These trends have been well-documented by organizations such as the Economist Intelligence Unit, Freedom House, International IDEA and the Varieties of Democracy project (V-Dem), which measure and track the quality of democracy around the world. Public opinion researchers have also focused on these issues by examining how citizens think about democracy and its alternatives. At Pew Research Center, we’ve applied a comparative, cross-national lens to explore global trends in attitudes toward political representation and individual rights. For many, democracy is not delivering In part, the current moment of anxiety about liberal democracy is linked to frustration with how democratic societies are functioning. Pew Research Center surveys have consistently found large shares of the public in many countries saying they are dissatisfied with the way their democracy is working. And for many, this dissatisfaction is leading to a desire for political change. A median of 56% across 17 advanced economies surveyed in 2021 say their political system needs major changes or needs to be completely reformed. Roughly two-thirds or more express this opinion in Italy, Spain, the U.S., South Korea, Greece, France, Belgium and Japan.
Even where the demand for significant political reform is relatively low, substantial minorities want at least minor changes. In all of the publics surveyed, fewer than three-in-ten say the political system should not be changed at all. However, there is widespread skepticism about the prospect for change. In eight of the 17 publics, roughly half or more of those polled say the political system needs major changes or a complete overhaul and say they have little or no confidence the system can be changed effectively. This discontent and disillusionment with the political status quo is tied to many factors, including economic performance, governmental competence and the overall fairness of the political and economic system. Our research over time has shown that when people think their countries are performing poorly on these dimensions, confidence in democracy often slips. Over the past decade and a half, people around the world have experienced a global financial crisis and more recently a pandemic-driven global downturn. Many have grown pessimistic about the long-term economic future, and our data has illustrated how economic pessimism feeds dissatisfaction with the way democracy is working and weakens commitment to democratic values. In 2019, we analyzed data from 27 countries to better understand what was driving dissatisfaction with the way democracy is working. We found that the strongest predictor of being dissatisfied was being unhappy with the current state of the national economy. Another significant predictor was how someone feels about economic opportunity. People who said the statement “most people have a good chance to improve their standard of living” did not describe their country well were more likely to be dissatisfied with the way democracy is functioning.
The economic prospects for the next generation also matter. In the survey we conducted across 17 advanced economies in spring 2021, dissatisfaction with the way democracy is working was much more common among people who expect that when children in their country today grow up, they will be worse off financially than their parents. The economic pessimists are also especially likely to think their country’s political system needs major changes or needs to be completely reformed. For example, in the United Kingdom, 61% of respondents who are pessimistic about the next generation’s financial prospects think their country needs significant political reform, compared with just 34% among those who are optimistic that the next generation will do better financially than their parents. The same survey highlighted the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on attitudes toward democracy. People who believe their country is doing a poor job of dealing with the pandemic are consistently more likely to say they are dissatisfied with the way their democracy is working and that they want significant changes to the political system. For instance, 73% of Germans who feel their country is handling the crisis poorly say they believe their political system needs major changes or should be completely overhauled, while just 32% of those who think the country is handling it well express this view. Beyond the state of economy and public health, opinions about whether countries are living up to basic principles of fairness and justice affect how people feel about the political system. Are political elites, for example, able to manipulate the system to their own advantage? In many countries, large shares of the public say yes. Across 27 nations we polled in 2018, a median of 54% said that most politicians in their country are corrupt. This sentiment was especially high in Greece (89%) and Russia (82%). When we asked Americans a similar question in the fall of 2020, two-thirds said most politicians are corrupt. Perceptions of fairness, or unfairness, in the judicial system also shape how people feel about their democracy. In our 2018 survey, for example, 68% of Hungarians who felt the court system in their country did not treat everyone fairly were dissatisfied with democracy. Only 32% of those who said they had a fair judiciary were similarly dissatisfied. Just as people want their individual rights respected within the judicial system, they want their fundamental rights respected in the arena of public debate. In our 2018 international survey, people mostly said they had freedom of speech in their country; however, those who said they did not have it were significantly more likely to be unhappy with the way their democracy is working. Mixed assessments three decades after the
fall of the Berlin Wall To mark the 30th anniversary of the collapse of communism and the fall of the Berlin Wall, Pew Research Center conducted a survey that highlighted the gap between what citizens want from democracy and what they actually see happening in their countries. It found that democracy is popular today in Central and Eastern European nations that for decades had to endure its main competitor throughout the Cold War, Soviet-style communism. But citizens in these nations nonetheless had strong criticisms and deep disappointments about the post-communist era. When we asked people in nine former Eastern Bloc nations whether they approve of the shift their countries made to multiparty democracy, they largely said yes, although significant minorities said no, including more than one-third in Bulgaria and Ukraine. Majorities of Bulgarians and Ukrainians said the economic situation for most people was actually better under communism. And even in countries with much more positive assessments of the transition to democracy and capitalism, there are concerns about certain impacts of this transition. Roughly four-in-ten or more across these nations say the changes since the fall of communism have had a negative influence on health care, law and order, and family values. Many also thought politicians and business people benefited more than ordinary people when their countries moved to a multiparty system and a market economy. A median of 89% said politicians benefited a great deal or a fair amount from the changes in their country, 80% said the same of business people, but only 41% believed ordinary people benefited from these changes.
People like democracy, but their commitment
to it is often not very strong Broadly speaking, democracy is a popular idea. When asked about it, people generally say it’s a good way to govern. However, enthusiasm for it as a political system, and for specific democratic rights and institutions, is often tepid. This lack of commitment, which is driven in part by the frustration many feel about the functioning of democracy, may be one reason some would-be autocrats and political entrepreneurs have been able to bend the rules and norms of liberal democracy with relatively few consequences. As a 2017 Pew Research Center survey demonstrates, people in regions around the world broadly embrace representative democracy. A median of 78% across the 38 nations polled said that “a democratic system where representatives elected by citizens decide what becomes law” is a very or somewhat good way to govern their country. More than half expressed this view in every country polled. However, even at this broad level, enthusiasm for representative democracy was somewhat subdued – a median of only 33% said it is a very good approach to governing. In addition to representative democracy, the survey found considerable support for direct democracy. Across the 38 countries polled, a median of 66% said “a democratic system where citizens, not elected officials, vote directly on major national issues to decide what becomes law” is a very or somewhat good way to govern their country. As we’ll discuss below, the appeal of direct democracy speaks to the demand many citizens express for more public involvement in politics.
However, the same survey found substantial support for nondemocratic approaches to governing. For example, a median of 49% believed a system in which “experts, not elected officials, make decisions according to what they think is best for the country” would be very or somewhat good. And while autocracy was less popular, it was embraced by a remarkably large share of the public in many nations. A median of 26% considered “a system in which a strong leader can make decisions without interference from parliament or the courts” a very or somewhat good way to govern. Even military rule had its supporters. A median of 24% said “a system in which the military rules the country” would be a very or somewhat good system. In five countries – Vietnam, Indonesia, India, South Africa and Nigeria – roughly half or more expressed this opinion, as did at least 40% in another six nations. And higher-income nations weren’t completely immune: 17% in the United States, Italy and France believed military rule could be a good way to run the country. The fact that so many citizens in “consolidated” democracies seemed willing to embrace military rule may seem a striking finding, but it’s largely consistent with what other survey research projects, such as the World Values Survey and the Voter Research Group, have found over time.
In many countries, people who place themselves on the right of the political spectrum and those with less formal education are more likely to support alternatives to democratic governance. For example, 27% of Americans who identified as conservative thought autocracy would be a good way to govern, compared with 14% who identified as liberal. And 20% of conservatives supported military rule, compared with 12% of liberals. People with lower levels of educational attainment were more likely to consider military rule a good way to govern in 23 countries. Beyond democracy as a system of government, there is also limited commitment to some specific democratic principles. In a 2019 Pew Research Center survey, most people said nine democratic rights and institutions tested were important. But again, these views varied widely across regions and countries, and in some places, relatively few said it is very important to have them in their country.
A median of more than 67% across 34 countries rated a fair judicial system, gender equality and freedom of religion as very important. But there was less support for holding regular competitive elections, freedom of speech and press freedom. A median of roughly six-in-ten or fewer said it was very important to have free expression on the internet or to allow human rights groups and opposition parties to operate freely. Attitudes toward free expression illustrate the challenges of living up to and interpreting democratic principles, even in countries where democratic values are widely endorsed. In a 2015 Pew Research Center survey, a median of 80% across 38 countries believed people should be able to publicly make statements that criticize their government’s policies, but only 35% said the same about statements that are offensive to minority groups or are religiously offensive. And only around a quarter said people should be able to publicly make statements that are sexually explicit. Political and social divisions are
amplifying the challenges of contemporary democracy
Most modern democracies are increasingly diverse, with globalization, economic restructuring, immigration and urbanization all contributing to social and cultural change. Recent trends from Pew Research Center surveys indicate that in many advanced economies, a growing share of the public views diversity as a strength of their society. In Greece, for example, the share who say having people of many different racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds makes their country a better place to live more than doubled between 2017 and 2021. Over the same period, favorable views of diversity increased by about 10 percentage points or more in Japan, the Netherlands, the UK and Spain. Slightly smaller increases can be seen in Germany, South Korea, Australia and Sweden. Despite more people welcoming diversity, many continue to see racial and ethnic discrimination as a serious challenge. A median of 67% across the same 17 publics say racial or ethnic discrimination is a problem where they live. Roughly three-in-ten or more in Germany, Spain, the UK, Greece, France, the U.S. and Italy say it is a very serious problem in their country. Younger adults and those on the ideological left are often more convinced on this point. In the U.S., about two-thirds of Americans on the left say racial and ethnic discrimination is a very serious problem in their country, compared with only 19% of Americans on the political right. U.S. democracy no longer a model While many people acknowledge racial and ethnic discrimination as a problem in their own country, they often see it as a larger issue in the U.S. A median of 89% across the advanced economies we polled in 2021 – not including the U.S. – say discrimination against groups based on their race or ethnicity is a serious problem in the U.S. This sentiment is strongest in Spain and New Zealand, where roughly two-thirds believe discrimination in the U.S. is a very important issue. Overall, international publics see major challenges for American politics and society, even at a time when attitudes toward the U.S. have significantly improved following Joe Biden’s victory over Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Across the 16 advanced economies surveyed, a median of just 17% consider American democracy a good model for other countries to follow. A median of 57% think it used to be a good example but has not been in recent years. And around a quarter say the U.S. has never been a good example. The belief that democracy in the U.S. has never been a good model for other nations is especially common among young adults.
Ideological and partisan differences are also a concern in some advanced economies. This is especially true in the U.S., where 90% say there are strong conflicts between people who support different political parties (the U.S. is tied with South Korea for the highest percentage on the survey). Whether cleavages are based on race, ethnicity or ideology, citizens who worry about these fault lines are often less satisfied with the way democracy is working and more likely to want significant reforms to their political systems. The global pandemic has, if anything, intensified perceived political and social divisions. Across the 17 advanced economies we surveyed in 2021, a median of 61% say their country is more divided than before the outbreak. Moreover, the share of the public that feels this way has risen substantially as the pandemic has worn on. In the spring of 2020, only months into the crisis, just 29% of Canadians believed they were more divided, but a year later 61% express this view. We also found that people who think their country is more divided today are particularly likely to be dissatisfied with the state of democracy and to want political reform. COVID-19 may have provided a unifying threat in its early days, but the sense of unity has dissipated.
People want a stronger public voice in
politics and policymaking As our surveys have shown, citizens have no shortage of criticisms about the current state of democracy. But they also show that people haven’t given up on democracy – in fact, instead of turning away from it, many want more democracy and a stronger voice in the political system. Clearly, many are frustrated with the way political representation is working, and they are more than a little frustrated with elected representatives. In a 34-nation Pew Research Center survey in 2019, a median of 64% disagreed with the statement “most elected officials care what people like me think.” While most feel politicians are not listening to them, many also see government working for the few rather than the many. A median of 50% disagreed with the statement “the state is run for the benefit of all the people,” while 49% agreed. And troublingly, in several countries where long-term trends are available, the belief that the state is run for the benefit of everyone in society has decreased significantly over time. For example, 88% of Italians in 2002 said their government was run for the benefit of all, but only 30% held this view in 2019. Over the same nearly two-decade period, the share who feel their state is run for the benefit of everyone also dropped significantly in Germany, Poland, the UK, the U.S., Bulgaria, Turkey, Russia, South Africa, Ukraine and Kenya.
However, all of this frustration has not necessarily led to apathy or helplessness. Despite the disconnect with political elites, many still think they have some agency over what happens in politics. Across 34 nations polled in 2019, a median of 67% agreed that voting gives ordinary people some say about how the government runs things. But beyond voting, there is also considerable interest in reforms and democratic innovations that could provide citizens with a more active voice in decision-making. As noted above, the idea of direct democracy – where citizens vote directly on what does or does not become law – is popular around the globe. And a fall 2020 survey of France, Germany, the UK and the U.S. found that citizen assemblies, or forums where citizens chosen at random debate issues of national importance and make recommendations about what should be done, were overwhelmingly popular. Around three-quarters or more in each country said it is very or somewhat important for the national government to create citizen assemblies. About four-in-ten considered it very important. As a recent report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) highlights, these efforts at deliberative democracy have become increasingly common in nations around the world in recent years. Regardless of what one thinks about direct or deliberative democracy, the fact that so many people seem interested in these ideas speaks to the widespread desire for a more active voice in the political system. A new analysis of the ways in which people understand and value democracy also highlights the importance of voice. We recently asked people in Australia and the UK to describe what democracy means to them in their own words, and many spoke of the need for citizens to have a voice in government. Many used language describing democracy as a system in which elected officials listen to the public and citizens have a strong influence on decisions. One woman from the UK said that to her, democracy means that “everyone in their country of residence, including myself, deserves our views to be listened to and acted upon.” Reversing the well-documented negative trends regarding the health of democracy around the world will be difficult and complicated, but our research suggests ordinary citizens want a voice in this discussion, and they believe a healthy democratic system will include a stronger role for them in making decisions about the important issues that shape their lives. (PEW) DECEMBER 7, 2021 Source: https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2021/12/07/global-public-opinion-in-an-era-of-democratic-anxiety/ 720-43-19/Polls In Most Of The 33 Countries Surveyed, The Majority Don’t Expect The Pandemic To End Any Time SoonA new Ipsos survey finds no national consensus in any of 33 countries on what specific event would signal the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, in almost every country surveyed, a majority of adults expect that they won’t be able to return to something like their normal pre-COVID life before at least six more months. The survey of more than 22,000 adults conducted in October and November, before the discovery of the omicron variant, on Ipsos’ Global Advisor online platform finds the public divided on what would be the best indicator that the pandemic is ending and that major restrictions can be lifted in their country. On average across the 33 countries, 20% say it’ll be when at least
75% of the population have been vaccinated, 19% say it’ll be when
transmission of the virus has completely stopped, and 17% say it is when
hospitals have had normal operations without staffing or equipment shortages
for at least one month. In addition, 12% say it’ll be when there are fewer
than 10 new cases for every million people per day and 7% say it’ll be when
there are fewer than two deaths for every million people per week. And tellingly,
14% say they just don’t know. Meanwhile, 8% say the pandemic has already come
to an end. Opinions on what would mark the end of the pandemic also differ widely within each of the 33 countries. None of the proposed signals is selected as the best indicator by a majority of those surveyed (or even 40%) in any country. However, certain views are more prevalent in some countries than in others and among certain demographic groups. This is the case of:
The diversity of opinions and the prevalence of some of them underline the varying levels of success different countries have had in containing the virus and in rolling out vaccines. They also reflect differing attitudes toward the virus and vaccine seen within and across countries. Most believe that a full return to normal is still elusive On average, two-thirds of the public across the 33 countries surveyed expect that a return to something like their normal pre-COVID life is still more than six months away – if it ever happens. Only 14% say their life has already returned to normal while 20% expect it will be the case within the next six months. While there is a wide range of expectations about when life will return to pre-COVID normal within most countries, prevailing attitudes differ greatly across countries, reflecting differences in experience dealing with the virus and in governmental policy. People living in Brazil, Denmark, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and Sweden are significantly more likely than others to say that their life has already returned to normal (between one quarter and one-third of them do vs. one in seven on average globally). At the other end of the spectrum, pessimism is especially prevalent
in people in Hungary and Russia where 30% and 24%, respectively, believe
their life will never return to a pre-COVID normal (vs. a global country
average of 14%). These are the results of a 33-country survey conducted by Ipsos on its Global Advisor online platform. Ipsos interviewed a total of 22,023 adults aged 18-74 in the United States, Canada, Malaysia, South Africa, and Turkey, and 16-74 in 27 other markets between Friday, October 22 and Friday, November 5, 2021. (PEW) 7 December 2021 Source: https://www.ipsos.com/en-au/covid-19-how-will-we-know-when-the-pandemic-is-ending-dec-2021 720-43-20/Polls Among 8 Countries Surveyed In Europe, Nuclear Power Is Not UnanimousIn Europe, nuclear power is not unanimous. While it represents 70.6% of electricity production in France, Germany is trying to gradually abandon it. A new European study, also carried out in the United States, shows that there is obvious confusion about the cleanliness of nuclear power. A majority of Spaniards believe that this energy produces moderate or
high levels of carbon emissions. 4 out
of 10 French people (40%) are also convinced of this. These misconceptions that nuclear energy emits considerable levels of carbon emissions could be the source of opposition to the nuclear industry among some people. Data shows that, in most countries, the less citizens want nuclear energy to play a role in the national energy mix, the more likely they are to think that it produces moderate or high levels of carbon. Do citizens think nuclear energy is harmless? The perception of the reliability of nuclear energy is also very
different in different countries. People who regard nuclear energy as
dangerous are much lower in Sweden (25%) and Denmark (29%) than in other
countries (46-52%). Italy is an exception, since 64% of Italians
consider this technology dangerous. Note:
in a referendum in 1987, the Italians voted in favor of the phasing out of
nuclear energy, which ended in 1990. The fact that many people view nuclear power as dangerous is not surprising, given high-profile disasters like Chernobyl (which prompted Italy's phase-out of nuclear power), Three Mile Island and, more recently, Fukushima in Japan (which prompted Germany to give up nuclear power). Is nuclear energy necessary to fight climate change? Despite security concerns, most of the countries questioned are in favor of integrating nuclear power into their energy mix. With the exception of Denmark, where citizens are very divided (40% for and 37% against), a majority considers that nuclear has a role to play. The French are the most enthusiastic: 75% of them believe that nuclear power is important, against only 9% who do not want nuclear production. Even in Germany, which is in the process of dismantling its nuclear power plants, 53% of those questioned want nuclear energy to be part of the energy resources, against 28% who want to eliminate it.
When it comes to knowing if nuclear energy is a necessity for the ecological transition, opinions are more divided. Italians and Danes are much more inclined to believe that they can reduce their carbon emissions without using this energy. Other countries tend to believe that nuclear will be a necessity. In France, 53% of people questioned think that nuclear will be necessary to meet energy needs if the country gives up fossil fuels, against 35% who do not agree.
(YouGov France) December 9, 2021 Source: https://fr.yougov.com/news/2021/12/09/energie-nucleaire-qu-en-pensent-les-francais/ 720-43-21/Polls On Average Across 27 Countries Surveyed, About Three In Four Employed Adults Agree They And People In Their Workplace Should Be Fully Vaccinated Against Covid-19Most workers across the world support vaccine and mask mandates and would feel uncomfortable going to work if these protections were not put in place, according to a 33-country Ipsos survey for the World Economic Forum. On average across all countries surveyed, about three in four employed adults agree they and people in their workplace should be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 (78%), undergo frequent testing if they are not vaccinated (74%), and wear a mask in common areas when in proximity with other people (81%). If workers were required to get vaccinated or undergo frequent testing to keep their job, about six times as many would choose to get vaccinated over getting tested frequently (68% vs. 12%, on average globally). Another 9% say they would seek to find a way around these requirements, but still keep their job, and 5% say they would quit their job or find another one. In the absence of a vaccination, testing, or masking mandate at their workplace, only a minority of workers in most countries (averaging 38% globally) would be comfortable going to work there. If employees were allowed to work without wearing a mask, undergoing frequent COVID testing, or being vaccinated against COVID, a global country average of 31% say they would be uncomfortable, but go anyway, 25% say they would work remotely instead, and 6% say they would quit their job. While, on average, 77% of adults who are currently employed say they always or mostly worked away from their home before the pandemic, only 66% say this is the case now – a difference of 11 percentage points. However, this is 5 points higher than six months ago when only 61% said they always or mostly worked away from their home at the time. These are the key findings of a survey conducted by Ipsos on its Global Advisor online platform among 14,401 employed adults across 33 countries between October 22 and November 5, 2021 – a few weeks before the emergence of Covid-19’s omicron variant. The survey brings to light wide differences in COVID and workplace-related behavior and attitudes across countries. Read the World Economic Forum article. Detailed Findings Widespread support for workplace
COVID-control mandate Vast majorities of employed adults in most of the 33 countries
surveyed agree they and people in their workplace should be fully vaccinated
against Covid-19, undergo frequent testing if they are not vaccinated, and
wear a mask in common areas when in proximity with other people. However,
support for protective mandates varies widely across countries. It is
generally highest in Eastern and Southern Asia, Saudi Arabia, and Latin
America, and lowest in Central and Eastern Europe, Northern Europe, and the
United States. Different responses to vaccine or testing
requirements Unsurprisingly, the countries where workers are most supportive of a vaccination mandate in the workplace are also those where workers are most likely to say they would choose to get vaccinated if required to do so or to undergo frequent testing to keep their job. While on average globally about two-thirds (68%) say that’s what they would get vaccinated, it is the case of about four in five in China, Singapore, and South Korea vs. only about half in Russia, Poland, Romania, and Hungary. On average globally, 12% of workers would choose frequent testing instead. This would be the preferred option for at least 20% in Brazil, Chile, and Peru. In Russia, Turkey, and the Netherlands the proportion of workers who would seek to evade getting vaccinated or tested, while still keeping their jobs is about double the global average of 9%. In Romania, Hungary, and the U.S., more than twice as many say they would quit their job or find another one than on average globally (5%). At a global level, older workers and highly-educated workers are more
likely to say they would get vaccinated than their peers who are younger or
ended their formal education earlier. Discomfort in the absence of workplace
mandates prevails but is not universal Only seven of the countries surveyed show a majority of workers who would be comfortable going to work if employees at their workplace were allowed to work without wearing a mask, undergoing frequent COVID testing, or being vaccinated against COVID: Russia, Poland, Denmark, Hungary, Sweden, Switzerland, and the U.S. In China, where only 12% of workers would be comfortable in the absence of COVID-control restrictions in the workplace, two-thirds say would quit their job (18%) or work remotely instead (48%). Countries, where at least 40% say they would either resign or switch to remote-working, include Malaysia, Spain, South Korea, Japan, and Peru. Uneven pace of return to the traditional
workplace In general, fewer employed adults are currently going to an office or another location away from home than were before the pandemic (66% vs. 77% on average globally). However, this trend is significantly more pronounced in certain countries and certain demographic groups. Countries that show a drop off in the prevalence of out-of-home work from before the pandemic of more than 20 percentage points include Peru, Singapore, Great Britain, Chile, South Africa, Argentina, and Mexico. On the other hand, several countries report a level that is close, if not higher, to what it was pre-COVID: China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Poland, Hungary, Denmark, and South Korea. Of note, five countries show an increase in out-of-home work (presumably a return to the traditional workplace) of more than 10 points since June of this year: Argentina, Chile, India, France, and Sweden. However, this survey was conducted before the discovery of the omicron variant in South Africa, which may have implications for workplace restrictions and in-person work habits, as countries respond to the potential threat. (Ipsos New Zealand) 9 December 2021 Source: https://www.ipsos.com/en-nz/covid-and-the-workplace-dec-2021 720-43-22/Polls Research Reveals The Impact Of The Pandemic On Self-Esteem And Self-Care In 4 Latin American CountriesThe pandemic has left a large part of the world's population at home. For just over a year and a half, meetings and work meetings have been taking place through videoconferencing applications on computers, tablets and cell phones. The excessive use of cameras ended up impacting the self-esteem of many people. The desire to improve self-image had an impact on the search for aesthetic procedures, as shown by research carried out in Latin American countries under the commission of Merz Aesthetics, an aesthetic medicine company part of the Merz Group. The online survey, which sought to better understand the behavior in relation to the beauty habits of Latin Americans, was carried out by Ipsos in July and August 2021 and heard 4,019 men and women, over 25 years old, who have undergone procedures injectable non-surgical facial cosmetics in the past 18 months or are interested in having non-surgical injectable facial cosmetic procedures in the future in Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and Mexico. The study's margin of error is 1.5 percentage points. The survey showed that, in the last 18 months, 71% of respondents changed their habits and were more concerned about their health and well-being. While, 58% said they started to look for or looked for the first time non-surgical injectable facial cosmetic procedures. For Gonzalo Mibeli, President of Merz Aesthetics for Latin America, the company decided to study consumer behavior, as, unlike many industry segments, aesthetic medicine remained stable and even grew in some markets during the pandemic . “The research proved what we already knew empirically. People today are craving natural, individual and unique beauty. To rescue these determining factors for self-care and self-confidence, most of the Latin Americans interviewed in the survey sought facial aesthetic procedures”, says Mibeli. In the last 18 months, within the sample of 4019 people described above, 17% of Brazilians confirmed having undergone some type of non-surgical injectable treatment. Then come the Mexicans, with 12% of positive responses, Colombia, with 10% and Argentina, with 5%. The reasons for the increased interest in this type of procedure vary
widely: of respondents who sought more, or for the first time, non-surgical
injectable facial cosmetic procedures, around 47% said they became more
concerned about their appearance during the pandemic; another 39%
started noticing details that bothered them because they spent more time on
the screens; 28% started using social media more, which facilitated
access to more content about the procedures, and 21% said they had more
access to content in general about aesthetic procedures**. self-esteem injection The survey data also show that the vast majority of respondents like their appearance in general, but there are days when they don't feel comfortable with it. In Brazil, for example, this number represents 61% of respondents, in Mexico it is 57%, while Argentina and Colombia account for 62% and 64%, respectively. It is important to highlight that women and young people aged between 25 and 34 years old identified more with this response. Although men tend to feel more comfortable on a constant basis, the survey found that 80% of respondents changed their behavior and started to take care of themselves more, in addition to being concerned about their health and well-being. This behavior was also noticed in the group of people interviewed between 25 and 34 years old. In general, the Latin Americans interviewed believe that non-surgical injectable facial cosmetic procedures can have an impact on their perception of themselves. In the analysis of the four countries, 75% of people said that this can totally change confidence and self-esteem. "In addition to benefits for the health and appearance of the skin, aesthetic procedures have a very positive effect on self-confidence, are able to minimize minor discomforts and, consequently, enhance natural and individual beauty", reinforces dermatologist Mariana Muniz, medical director a Merz Aesthetics. But, what prompts a person to consider having non-surgical injectable facial cosmetic procedures? Regarding the respondents who underwent non-surgical injectable facial cosmetic procedures in the last 18 months, 51% stated that the decision takes place when they notice some sign of aging, such as wrinkles or expression lines; 37% say the first step is when a doctor recommends the procedure; 30% prefer starting to improve self-esteem, while 27% feel some dissatisfaction; 26% opt for the procedure as a preventive form for the appearance of wrinkles and expression lines; 17% make the decision when a friend recommends it; finally, 16% of respondents decide when they see any promotion in the procedure***. Rejuvenation, cited by 53% of respondents who underwent non-surgical injectable facial cosmetic procedures in the past 18 months, and improvement in self-esteem (48%) are the main results sought by men and women in performing non-surgical injectable facial cosmetic procedures. The vast majority say that the first concern is with the quality of the product used, followed by brand knowledge and product safety***. In the last 18 months, 14% of respondents said they had used
botulinum toxin type A on their face; 11% used lasers or
technologies; 12% applied hyaluronic acid fillers; 9% used
biostimulators. And almost all, 95%*** of men and women who had
non-surgical injectable facial cosmetic procedures in the past 18 months said
they were satisfied with the procedure they performed. (Ipsos Brazil) 10 December 2021 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
