|
BUSINESS & POLITICS IN THE WORLD GLOBAL OPINION REPORT NO. 721-722 Week:
December 13 –December 26, 2021 Presentation:
December 31, 2021 Most
Citizens (81%) In Eswatini Say They Are Free To Vote As They Please YouGov
Friendship Study Part Two: Friendship Circles And Types Of Friends Britons
Have UK
Public’s Predictions For 2022 Three
In Ten Britons Are Stressed About Christmas 2021 Only
A Third Of Britons (35%) Say They Think They Know What Cancel Culture Means Online
Harassment Is A Very Serious Problem According To 68% Of French People For
Almost Every Second German Woman, Women's Rights Do Not Go Far Enough Christmas,
DIY Wins Again: 1 Italian Out Of 2 Will Give Something Made With Their Own
Hands Charity
At Christmas: Better In December, But Those Who Donate More Don't Forget The
Other Months Increased
Avoidance Of Care, Drugs Due To Cost Amid Pandemic Racial
And Ethnic Differences Stand Out In The U S Gig Workforce 43%
Approve Of The Way President Joe Biden Is Handling His Job Many
U S Workers Are Seeing Bigger Paychecks In Pandemic Era, But Gains Aren’t
Spread Evenly Majority
(56%) Of Canadians Support Another Lockdown To Stop The Spread Of Omicron Eight
In Ten Australians Expect A Better Year In 2022 Only
37% Of Australians Expect 2022 Will Be ‘Better’ Than 2021 – Down 22% Points
On A Year Ago The
Obamas Remain World’s Most Admired Public Figures, A Study In 38 Countries Positive
Attitudes Towards China In Arab World, A Study In 12 MENA Countries Striking
Findings From 2021, 16 Countries How
Many People Have Been Hit By The Global Supply Chain Crisis In 7 European
Countries And The U S INTRODUCTORY NOTE
721-722-43-41/Commentary:
Positive
Attitudes Towards China In Arab World, A Study In 12 MENA Countries
In recent
years, China’s engagement in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has been
rapidly increasing. At least 17 MENA countries have signed agreements
as part of its Belt
and Road Initiative (BRI). Meanwhile, in response
to the COVID pandemic, Chinese vaccines have been secured by a
number of countries across the region while China has
promised aid to help address the challenges caused by the pandemic. In
short, China has taken several steps to try to win the hearts and minds of
ordinary citizens across the region. Before the
start of the pandemic, views of China were relatively positive across much of
the region. Public opinion surveys conducted by Arab Barometer, a
non-partisan research network seeking to understand the views of ordinary
citizens in the region, show that many citizens favor stronger economic
relations with China. In nationally representative face-to-face surveys
conducted in 2018-9, about half or more said they wanted their country
to increase their economic ties with China in nine of twelve countries. A
stronger economic relationship with China was most favored by Jordanians (70
percent), Libyans (63 percent) and Sudanese (62 percent). Among the countries
surveyed, only in Algeria (36 percent) and Egypt (30 percent) did fewer than
four-in-ten citizens favor strengthening economic ties with China.
Support for
stronger relations with China tends to be higher among elites. Those who have
a university degree or above are at least ten percentage points more likely
to favor strong ties with China in Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq, and
Egypt, for example. However, there is no consistent difference by
generation, with views of China being similar among those who are younger and
older in most countries. Beyond
closer economic relations, citizens across MENA were also largely supportive
of foreign aid from China in 2018-9. In the eleven countries and territories
where this question was asked, half or more favored assistance from China in
nine cases, including at least six-in-ten in Jordan, Sudan, Yemen, and
Palestine. The key exceptions are Libya and Algeria, where fewer than half
favor Chinese foreign assistance.
Following
the onset of COVID, Arab Barometer conducted its sixth wave by phone given
health concerns related to in-person interviews. Surveys were conducted
from summer 2020 to spring 2021 in seven countries every few months. Views of
China remained relatively high by spring 2021 in most of the countries
surveyed, with majorities saying they had a favorable view in seven of the
countries surveyed: Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, and Iraq. Only in
Lebanon (38 percent) and Jordan (34 percent) did fewer than half say they
viewed China very or somewhat favorably. In Lebanon, these relatively low
views are more likely the result of political than economic considerations.
Following the financial crisis, Hezbollah sided with a bailout from China as
opposed to other political parties that favored working with the IMF.
Despite
China’s efforts at vaccine diplomacy and promises of foreign assistance to
the region, views did not change dramatically during the survey period. For
example, in Tunisia, China’s favorability was 55 percent in summer 2020
compared with 59 percent in spring 2021 while in Jordan there was a similar
difference of four points over a similar period of time. Despite
China’s overtures to the region and provision of vaccines to many countries,
popular attitudes appear relatively unaffected. Although
popular views of China are relatively positive across MENA, evidence from
Arab Barometer suggests they are not particularly deeply held. As part
of the sixth wave, Arab Barometer included a question about the degree to
which China’s developing economic power represents a critical threat to MENA.
In none of the six countries where the survey was asked does more than about
a quarter see China’s economic power as a critical threat. Lebanese (26
percent) are the most concerned, but only 15 percent in Jordan and Morocco
and 13 percent in Algeria hold this view. Given the influx of largely
cheap goods from China, this result may be counterintuitive, especially given
that the U.S. is viewed as an equal or more substantial economic threat in
all countries surveyed.
Even though
relatively few citizens view China as a threat, there is also not a
preference for Chinese economic engagement in MENA. In the sixth wave,
Arab Barometer asked citizens what foreign country of origin they would
prefer for a company who was contracted to construct an infrastructure
project in their country. In all seven countries surveyed, a company
based in Germany was seen as the most likely to build a project of the
highest quality, including by as many as half in Algeria and Libya. In
contrast, in no country did more than one-in-five say that China would build
the best quality project. Meanwhile, when asked about the company that
would pay the best salaries to the local workforce, citizens were split
between picking the U.S. (four countries) and Germany (three countries) as
the most preferred country of origin. In all countries except Iraq,
one-in-ten or fewer say a Chinese company would pay the best salaries. Finally,
when asked the country of origin for the company they would most prefer to
get the contract, in no country is a Chinese company most preferred. In four
countries, a German company is most preferred, with an American company
preferred in two (including a tie with Turkey in Jordan), and France
preferred in one. Meanwhile, only in Iraq (22 percent) is a Chinese company
preferred by more than 15 percent of citizens. In other words, support
for “China, Inc.” appears to be relatively limited in MENA.
Overall,
these results imply that the future of China in MENA is still to be written.
As a non-colonial power in the region, there appears to be an openness of
those living in MENA toward China. In a region with many citizens looking for
a rapid model for economic development, China could also represent hope given
the dramatic transformation the country has undergone since the 1980s.
Many MENA citizens hope for a similar transition in their own countries. Yet, the
results also suggest that, at least to date, there is little more than hope
and projection being placed on China. In 2019, Arab Barometer asked citizens
in Kuwait whether they thought Chinese were good people. Fully 42
percent said they didn’t know. Notably, Kuwait is the first country in
the Arab Gulf region to establish relations with Beijing, the first to sign
up to its Belt and Road Initiative, it has a joint strategic partnership with
China, and has more than US$14 billion annually in bilateral trade with
China. Despite these links, the survey results reveal that nearly half
of Kuwaitis have no clear image of Chinese citizens. Although this question did
not appear in other countries, given their weaker linkages, it is unlikely
that their populations would have a substantially clearer view of Chinese
citizens. In short,
China has an opportunity in the region but also faces risks to its popularity
in the years ahead. As citizens in MENA come into more direct contact with
China and its policies in the future, their views are likely to become more
entrenched. Elsewhere, support from China has alienated publics, such as in
countries like Sri Lanka and Malaysia, where foreign aid projects have not
always been viewed as benefiting the local populations. China’s
continuing popularity will depend in large part on its ability to convince
MENA publics that its foreign policy and assistance is working for their benefit.
If not, then it is likely that popular support for China will begin to fade
in the years to come. (Arabbarometer) December 15,
2021 Source: https://www.arabbarometer.org/2021/12/fragile-popularity-arab-attitudes-towards-china/ ASIA (Turkey) The Tendency To Cook At Home
Increased By Approximately 40%, And Has Not Been Regressed Much Even After
Normalization According to
the consumption behavior data compiled from the Ipsos Household Consumption
Panel; Despite the rising prices, food and beverage purchases for the home
increased compared to the pre-pandemic period. Consumers have become
accustomed to cooking the food they consume at the restaurant at home during
the quarantine period. Realizing that a meal out might cost 2-3 times more
than at home, they began to devote more of their shopping budget to some of
the higher-priced items at the grocery store. Because at the end of the day,
they can still save money by cooking and eating that meal at home. (Ipsos
Turkey) 13 December
2021 In January-October 2021,
Households In Turkey Spent 38% On FMCG Compared To The Same Period Of The
Previous Year Households
went shopping an average of 194 times in the first 10 months of 2021 and
spent 45 TL on each purchase. 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. (Ipsos
Turkey) 14 December 2021 MENA (Libya) Libya Country Report, 2021 COVID-19,
related challenges, and vaccine hesitancy While most countries were focusing
all their resources on the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, Libya was
facing another challenge that significantly threatened the livelihood of its
people: the civil war. It was, therefore, unsurprising, that in October 2020,
internal instability and foreign interference were seen as the two most
important challenges facing the country (30 percent and 26 percent,
respectively) followed by the economic situation (20 percent), while only 12
percent named COVID-19. (Arabbarometer) December 14,
2021 AFRICA (Eswatini) Only About A Quarter (27%)
Of Emaswati Say Their Country Is A Full Democracy Or A Democracy With Minor
Problems Only about a
quarter (27%) of Emaswati say their country is “a full democracy” or “a
democracy with minor problems”. The share who describe the country as “not a
democracy” or “a democracy with major problems” has increased by 6 percentage
points since 2013.Fewer than two in 10 citizens (16%) say they are “fairly
satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the way their democracy is working. (Afrobarometer) 13 December
2021 Most Citizens (81%) In Eswatini Say They Are Free To Vote As They
Please More than
three-fourths (78%) of Emaswait say people “often” or “always” have to be
careful about what they say about politics, up by 14 percentage points
compared to 2018. Only about one-third (35%) of respondents believe that the
media in Eswatini is “somewhat” or “completely” free from government
interference. (Afrobarometer) 20 December
2021 WEST EUROPE (UK) YouGov Friendship Study Part
Two: Friendship Circles And Types Of Friends Britons Have More than a
third of Britons (37%) report having friends they don’t really bother to see,
with this being more the case for men (41%) than women (34%). Younger Britons
are the most likely to report having friends which they don’t bother seeing -
43-46% of 16-39-year-olds. Nearly one in ten Britons (9%) has a friend they
don’t really like. This is mostly the case with 16-24-year-olds, where 18%
have friends they’re not very fond of. (YouGov UK) December 16,
2021 At Least 2 In 3 Britons
Think Government Doing A Bad Job On Managing Immigration, The NHS And
Levelling-Up When asked
whether Boris Johnson’s government has done a good job or bad job across 10
key areas, clear majorities think the government is doing a bad job across a
range of issues. These include managing immigration (73%), improving the NHS
(70%), reducing regional inequalities (or “levelling-up”) (66%), crime (59%),
tax and spending (58%), handling Brexit (57%) and improving the education
system (55%). (Ipsos MORI) 16 December
2021 New YouGov Research For The
Times Reveals That Over Half Of Britons Are Taking Regular Lateral Flow Tests
(57%) New YouGov
research for The Times reveals that over half of Britons are taking regular
lateral flow tests (57%). This includes one in six (18%) who are using
lateral flows regularly, irrespective of what plans they have. One in eight
(12%) say they are regularly using lateral flow tests if they have come into
contact with someone who may have Covid. A further 9% say they take a lateral
flow test if they’re going into work, although this may be lower because of
recent work-from-home guidance,
while 8% say they use rapid testing if they’re going to socialise with
friends or family and 5% test if they’re going somewhere busy. (YouGov UK) December 17,
2021 Three In 10 (29%) Britons Say They Will Only Use Recyclable Wrapping
Paper This Year, To Help The Environment To help the
environment, Britons are most likely to avoid buying plastic presents this
year, 36% say they will buy fewer while a third (33%) will buy fewer presents
in general. Three in 10 (29%) say they will only use recyclable wrapping
paper this year and 2 in 10 (21%) will avoid wrapping altogether by gifting
experiences rather than physical presents. Forty-three per cent say they
have less money to spend on Christmas presents this year compared to previous
years while only 23% agree they will buy whatever they want irrespective of
cost. (Ipsos MORI) 17 December
2021 UK Public’s Predictions For 2022 Given recent
events, it may come as little surprise that a majority of UK adults think it
likely that Boris Johnson will not be Prime Minister by the end of 2022. Six
in ten (62%) predict this compared with a quarter (25%) who think it
unlikely. Even 58% of 2019 Conservative voters think he will have left (31%
believe it unlikely). In comparison, opinions are split when it comes to Keir
Starmer’s position as Leader of the Labour Party. Thirty-eight per cent think
he will not hold the position by the end of the year while 36% disagree.
(Ipsos MORI) 20 December
2021 Many Britons Self-Policing To
Save Their Christmas From Covid As Just Over 4 In 10 Say Current Measures
Aren’t Strict Enough As the
Omicron variant continues to spread throughout the country, it seems as
though most Britons are taking matters into their own hands and self-policing
in order to avoid catching COVID before the festive weekend. Nine in 10 (89%)
say they have already or plan to wear their face mask more while the same
proportion are already or will start sanitising/washing their hands more
regularly. (Ipsos MORI) 21 December
2021 Three In Ten Britons Are
Stressed About Christmas 2021 Three in 10
Britons (31%) say they’re currently feeling stressed about Christmas,
including 6% who say they’re “very” stressed. Parents of young children, 25
to 44-year-olds and women are feeling most stressed about Christmas this
year. Two in five (41%) parents with children aged between 5 and 11 years old
say they’re feeling stressed about Christmas, compared with a quarter (25%)
of parents of children over 18 and a third (32%) of non-parents. (YouGov UK) December 22,
2021 Only A Third Of Britons (35%) Say They Think They Know What Cancel
Culture Means As we found
with our earlier study on another American political import – being
‘woke’ – Britons don’t know what the
political elite are on about when they bring up cancel culture. Only a third
of Britons (35%) say they think they know what cancel culture means. Almost
two thirds don’t know what it means (65%), including close to four in ten
who’ve never heard the expression in the first place (38%). Young people are
more familiar with cancel culture, with 45% of 18-24 year olds saying they
know what it is, compared to 40% of 25-49 year olds, 31% of 50-64 year olds,
and 26% of those aged 65 and above. (YouGov UK) December 22,
2021 Latest Findings Show Cases Of Omicron Rising Fast, While Highlighting
Success Of Booster And Teenage Vaccination Programmes The latest
findings from Imperial College London and Ipsos MORI, covering 23 November –
14 December 2021 (round 16 of the Study), detected 11 cases of the Omicron
variant for data sequenced up to and including 11 December, with further
sequencing underway for the remaining samples.All other positive cases where
a lineage was determined have been confirmed as the Delta variant or
sub-lineages of Delta, but the proportion of Omicron cases in the results was
increasing rapidly at the time reporting was stopped. (Ipsos MORI) 23 December
2021 (France) Online Harassment Is A Very
Serious Problem According To 68% Of French People Cyberbullying
is considered a serious problem (97%) (including very serious for 68%) and
which will increase in the coming years (76%). Its seriousness should be
taken seriously as well as other forms of harassment for 93% of French
people, who believe that the consequences of online harassment for victims
can be just as serious as in “real life” harassment situations”. Moreover,
half of French people are afraid of cyberstalking for their relatives (50%)
and 3 in 10 are worried about being directly victims. (Ipsos
France) December
13, 2021 48% Of Civil Servants
Believe That The Lack Of Equipment Is An Obstacle To The Practice Of
Teleworking The shift
from the public service to remote work is slower than in the private
sector . Public officials are two times less likely (8%) than
private sector employees (16%) to telework more than two days a week - even
though they have an inter-union agreement which allows them to request
it. A large majority of public sector workers (69%) also feel that the
public service is lagging behind the private sector in terms of teleworking. (Ipsos
France) December 21,
2021 (Germany) For Almost Every Second
German Woman, Women's Rights Do Not Go Far Enough Almost half
of all respondents (48 percent) say that women's rights in Germany have not
yet gone far enough; 57 percent of women say that. A third of Germans
say that women's rights in Germany have gone as far as they should go (34
percent); men say this more often than women (42 percent vs. 25 percent of
women). Seven out of ten Germans find it unacceptable for a man to whistle
after a woman he doesn't know on the street (70 percent). The
distinction between men and women is rather small (71 percent of women vs. 68
percent of men). (YouGov
Germany) December 27,
2021 (Italy) Christmas, DIY Wins Again: 1
Italian Out Of 2 Will Give Something Made With Their Own Hands The
Christmas holidays are fast approaching, but the Italians seem to have prepared
themselves: 88% are in fact ready to enjoy the Christmas holidays, a figure
even more true for the younger segment of the population (92% between 18-34
years) who seems to feel the spirit of the holidays even closer. In
fact, it is no coincidence that it is the youngest who try their hand at
hand-made gifts personally (52% of 18-34 vs 42% of 55+). In any case,
this trend extends to almost half of Italians, who declare that they
want to prepare handmade gifts personally (47%), especially among women
(51% women vs 43% men). (YouGov
Italy) December 16,
2021 Charity At Christmas: Better
In December, But Those Who Donate More Don't Forget The Other Months The conventional
wisdom has it that at Christmas it is more good . By virtue of this
tradition, for associations Onlus Christmas time it is often an
important opportunity for raising funds , often through ad-hoc
initiatives and proposals for "gift ideas" during the
Holidays. YouGov explored how Italians respond to this idea of
Christmas generosity . Donations for charitable causes to
non-profit organizations (Onlus) of any kind involve almost half of the
Italian adult population: 44% declare that they have donated a sum of
money to charity during the calendar year 2021 . (YouGov
Italy) December 24,
2021 NORTH AMERICA (USA) Increased Avoidance Of Care,
Drugs Due To Cost Amid Pandemic Amid sharply
rising inflation, the percentage of U.S. adults who report forgoing treatment
for a health problem in the prior three months due to the cost of care has
increased to 30%, according to a major new study by West
Health and Gallup. Reports of being unable
to pay for prescribed medicine in the prior three months, in turn, have risen
to 14% during the same time span. Amid substantial levels of worry about
costs brought on by the pandemic, nearly half of Americans (48%) report that
COVID-19 has worsened their view of the U.S. healthcare system, while 7% say
COVID-19 has improved it. (Gallup) DECEMBER 14,
2021 Racial And Ethnic
Differences Stand Out In The U S Gig Workforce From
delivering groceries to driving others where they need to go, some Americans
are turning to gig jobs to earn money. In fact, 16% of U.S. adults have
ever earned money through
an online gig platform, including 9% who have done so in the past year, according
to a Pew
Research Center survey conducted
in August 2021. But there are racial and ethnic differences when it comes to
who takes on these jobs and the negative experiences some gig platform
workers say they face. (PEW) DECEMBER 15,
2021 Overall, About Half (52%) Of
Americans Say The U S Is One Of The Greatest Countries, Along With Some
Others Young people
in the United States express far more skeptical views of America’s global
standing than older adults. They are also more likely to say it would be
acceptable if another country became as militarily powerful as the U.S.,
according to a Pew
Research Center survey of
U.S. adults conducted in July. Overall, about half (52%) of Americans say the
U.S. is “one of the greatest countries, along with some others.” Nearly a
quarter say instead that the U.S. “stands above all other countries” (23%),
while an identical share (23%) says “there are other countries that are
better than the U.S.” (PEW) DECEMBER 16,
2021 About Four-In-Ten
Republicans And Republican-Leaning Independents (42%) Say Reagan Has Done The
Best Job As President Over The Past 40 Years Around
six-in-ten Democrats and Democratic leaners (59%) say Obama has done the best
job as president of any president of the past 40 years. Far fewer name Bill
Clinton (19%) or Joe Biden (5%), who will complete his first year in office
next month. Seven presidents have served in the last 40 years, four
Republicans and three Democrats. Among U.S. adults overall, 35% say Obama has
done the best job over this period, followed by Reagan (23%), Trump (17%) and
Clinton (12%). (PEW) DECEMBER 20,
2021 43% Approve Of The Way
President Joe Biden Is Handling His Job President
Joe Biden's job approval remains entrenched in the low 40s, having registered
42% or 43% in four separate Gallup polls since September, including 43% in a
new December survey. Biden began his term with relatively strong approval in
the high 50s and stayed
above the 50% mark through June.
In July, when U.S. coronavirus cases surged, his
approval fell to 50% and
stayed at
about that level in August.
Then, after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, it dropped
to the low 40s, where it has remained since. (Gallup) DECEMBER 21,
2021 Overall, About Half Of U S
Adults (48%) Say That Most Things In Society Can Be Clearly Divided Into Good
And Evil Overall,
about half of U.S. adults (48%) say that most things in society can be
clearly divided into good and evil, while the other half (50%) say that most
things in society are too complicated to be categorized this way. However,
there are stark differences in opinion based on respondents’ religious
affiliation and how religious they are. By comparison, only around half of
U.S. Catholics (49%) and White Protestants who do not identify as evangelical
(47%) say that most things in society can be clearly divided into good and
evil. (PEW) DECEMBER 21,
2021 Many U S Workers Are Seeing
Bigger Paychecks In Pandemic Era, But Gains Aren’t Spread Evenly Almost
two-thirds of U.S. private sector payroll workers (63.6%) work in industries
where the average weekly wage in the second quarter of 2021 was at least 5%
higher than it was in the second quarter of 2020, according to the most
recently available data from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, a
product of the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. The two sectors with the
next biggest wage gains were information (which includes, among other
industries, software publishing and “internet publishing and web search
portals”) and company management. These are also the highest-paying sectors
overall. (PEW) DECEMBER 22,
2021 (Canada) Majority (56%) Of Canadians
Support Another Lockdown To Stop The Spread Of Omicron With the
Omicron variant of COVID-19 spreading quickly and stoking worries of a sharp
rise in case counts and hospitalizations, a new Ipsos poll conducted on
behalf of Global News reveals that a majority (56%) of Canadians agree (20%
strongly/36% somewhat) that we should have another lockdown to help stop the
spread of the Omicron variant. Conversely, 44% oppose (18% strongly/26%
somewhat) another round of lockdowns. Support is highest in Quebec (62%),
British Columbia (61%), Atlantic Canada (60%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba
(59%) and lower in Ontario (53%) and, especially, Alberta (44%). (Ipsos
Canada) 17 December
2021 Only Half (50%) Of Canadians
Currently Working From Home Say They Expect To Return To The Office Regularly
In 2022 As the end
of the year approaches, the future of the workplace remains uncertain heading
into 2022 as only one half (50%) of Canadians currently working from home
envision themselves returning to the office with any regularity in 2022, according
to a new Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of Global News. The poll also asked
working Canadians about their experiences in 2021 and what their expectations
and feelings are about 2022, given the ever-changing contextual situation in
Canada. (Ipsos Canada) 26 December
2021 AUSTRALIA Eight In Ten Australians
Expect A Better Year In 2022 Of the nine
questions where Ipsos has trend data since 2020, four show significant change
in attitudes among respondents, indicating a more optimistic view of what
2022 will bring. Nonetheless, concerns about the environment and rising
prices persist. And while most expect greater COVID vaccination rates around
the world, half (47%) expect a new deadly strain of the virus to appear. (Ipsos
Australia) 19 December
2021 Only 37% Of Australians
Expect 2022 Will Be ‘Better’ Than 2021 – Down 22% Points On A Year Ago A special
Roy Morgan web survey taken in late November shows only 37% of Australians
think 2022 will be ‘better’ than 2021, down a large 22% points from when the
same question was asked a year ago in late 2020. However, fewer than a
quarter of Australians, 23%, think 2022 will be ‘worse’ than 2021, although
this is up 13% points on a year ago. Nearly a third of Australians are
hedging their bets on next year with 31% (up 14% points on a year ago) who
say 2022 will be ‘the same’ and 9% (down 5% points) don’t know. (Roy Morgan) December 20
2021 Over A Third Of Australians,
37%, Say 2022 Will Be A Year Of Economic Difficulty While 19% Expect Economic
Prosperity A special
Roy Morgan web survey taken in late November shows over a third of
Australians, 37%, think next year will be a year of ‘Economic difficulty’,
although this is down 11% points on a year ago when nearly half of
Australians, 48%, predicted ‘Economic difficulty’ for 2021. For the second
straight year there are only 19% of Australians who think next year will be a
year of ‘Economic prosperity’. Nearly half of all Australians think next year
will either ‘Remain the same’ (37%) or don’t know 7% how the economy will
perform. (Roy Morgan) December 21
2021 MULTICOUNTRY STUDIES A New YouGov Euro Track
Survey, Conducted In 7 European Countries And USA, Shows There Is Clear
Confusion About How Clean Nuclear Energy Is Nuclear is
embraced very differently by governments across Europe. In France, nuclear
accounts for 70.6% of the country’s electricity generation. Next door,
Germany is trying to phase out nuclear entirely. The EU itself is split on
how to treat nuclear energy, with debate in Brussels about whether to
classify it alongside renewable sources of power as an "environmentally
sustainable economic activity”. Doing so would be seen as a direct
recommendation to financial markets to invest in nuclear plants, according
to German newspaper Die Welt. (YouGov UK) December 13,
2021 A Survey Carried Out In 28
Nations Shows That 82% Of Global Average Believes That World Is More
Dangerous More than
eight out of ten Brazilians think that the world is more dangerous compared
to the previous year, according to the World Affairs survey, by
Ipsos. In this survey, citizens of 28 countries assessed the global
relations of their nations and what they considered to be the greatest
threats to the planet. Colombians top the list of people who believe they
live in a more dangerous world, with a rate of 91%. Next are Peru (90%),
South Korea (88%) and the United States (85%). At the other end is
China, with 68% of affirmative responses, followed by Germany, Malaysia and
Italy – all with 77%. (Ipsos
Brazil) 14 December
2021 Source: https://www.ipsos.com/pt-br/83-dos-brasileiros-acreditam-que-mundo-esta-mais-perigoso In 30-Country Survey,
Two-Thirds Say They Now Pay More For Transportation, Food And Drink, And
Utilities Than They Did Six Months Ago A new Ipsos
survey finds about two-thirds of consumers across 30 countries saying the
prices they are now paying for transportation, food and drink, and utilities
seem higher than they were six months ago. About half report a rise in the
cost of clothing and shoes, housing, medical and health care, and
entertainment. On average globally, as many consumers expect their household
spending will increase in the next three months (42%) as expect it will stay
the same (41%). Increased spending expectations are closely correlated with
perceptions of paying higher prices. (Ipsos MORI) 14 December
2021 Source: https://www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/inflation-consumer-perceptions-30-countries-december-2021 The Obamas Remain World’s
Most Admired Public Figures, A Study In 38 Countries Former First
Lady of the United States Michelle Obama remains Singapore’s most admired
woman for the fourth year running. Other world leaders also feature
prominently in the top ten. Queen Elizabeth II remains in second, as does
Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern in fourth. Burmese politician
Aung San Suu Kyi and the first female Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel
move up the list to third and seventh, respectively. (YouGov
Singapore) Source: https://sg.yougov.com/en-sg/news/2021/12/15/obamas-remain-singaporeans-most-admired-public-fig/ Positive Attitudes Towards
China In Arab World, A Study In 12 MENA Countries In recent
years, China’s engagement in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has been
rapidly increasing. At least 17 MENA countries have signed agreements
as part of its Belt
and Road Initiative (BRI).
In nationally representative face-to-face surveys conducted in 2018-9,
about half or more said they wanted their country to increase their economic
ties with China in nine of twelve countries. A stronger economic relationship
with China was most favored by Jordanians (70 percent), Libyans (63 percent)
and Sudanese (62 percent). Among the countries surveyed, only in Algeria (36
percent) and Egypt (30 percent) did fewer than four-in-ten citizens favor
strengthening economic ties with China. (Arabbarometer) December 15,
2021 Source: https://www.arabbarometer.org/2021/12/fragile-popularity-arab-attitudes-towards-china/ Striking Findings From 2021,
16 Countries A growing
share of childless Americans say it is unlikely they will ever have
children, an
October survey found. Some 44% of non-parents ages
18 to 49 say it is not too or not at all likely that they will have children
someday, an increase from the 37% who said the same in 2018. Meanwhile, 74%
of adults younger than 50 who are already parents say they are unlikely to
have more kids, virtually unchanged since 2018. (PEW) DECEMBER 17,
2021 Source: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/12/17/striking-findings-from-2021/ 32% Say That Coronavirus Is
One Of The Biggest Issues Facing Their Country Today, A Survey In 28
Countries Tells 32% on average say that Coronavirus is one of the biggest issues facing their
country today (+4 vs. last month) – making it once again the
world’s number one worry. The largest month-on-month increases in concern
about Covid-19 are seen in Germany (+23 points), the Netherlands (+19) and
Belgium (+16). Poverty & Social
Inequality is the second top issue this month, just behind
Covid-19 with 31%. Inflation sees record-high levels of concern, ranking 7th
out of 18 possible issues with 19%. (Ipsos
Canada) 21 December
2021 Source: https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/news-polls/what-worries-world-december-2021 Globally, 59% Of The
Population, On Average, Consider The Cost Of Living To Be Higher Now Than It
Was Six Months Ago, Among 30 Countries Analyzed The upward
trend of inflation in recent months, due to the increase in the price of
goods necessary for the consumption of families such as electricity, fuel or
food, is beginning to be noticed in the pockets of consumers around the
world. This is confirmed by the data from the latest survey conducted
from the Ipsos
Global Advisor online platform. On average, 59%
of the world's population believes that the cost of living has increased in
the last half year. (Ipsos
Spain) December 22,
2021 How Many People Have Been
Hit By The Global Supply Chain Crisis In 7 European Countries And The U S In all
countries surveyed, most people are aware that a global supply chain crisis
is taking place. In most nations, between 83% and 95% have heard at least
something about the problems facing the international supply network. The
exception is Italy, where only 57% say they have. By contrast, people in the
UK are noticeably more likely to have experienced key supply problems. A
majority of Britons (56%) say they have personally experienced food shortages
in shops, a figure slightly higher than in the US (49%) but substantially
higher than all the continental European nations surveyed (6-18%). (YouGov UK) December 22,
2021 ASIA
721-722-43-01/Polls The Tendency
To Cook At Home Increased By Approximately 40%, And Has Not Been Regressed
Much Even After Normalization
According to the consumption behavior data
compiled from the Ipsos Household Consumption Panel; Despite the rising
prices, food and beverage purchases for the home increased compared to the
pre-pandemic period. Meat & Meat Products is one of the
categories with the highest increase in domestic consumption. Despite the
significant price increases that have continued for years, consumers are
increasing their consumption of both red and white meat. On the other hand,
the growth in the categories of oils and general food (especially frozen
food, bouillon, pasta, but excluding legumes) gives clues to the change in
household consumption. The increase in household expenditures was
due not only to more frequent consumption at home, but also to budgetary
issues. Consumers have become accustomed to cooking
the food they consume at the restaurant at home during the quarantine period.
Realizing that a meal out might cost 2-3 times more than at home, they began
to devote more of their shopping budget to some of the higher-priced items at
the grocery store. Because at the end of the day, they can still save money
by cooking and eating that meal at home. Current conditions enable
consumers to make more rational decisions in their purchases… Faced with very high prices for
all their basic needs, consumers make their purchasing decisions more
rationally. Consumers are trying to establish the price-benefit balance much
more carefully than before, not only because of their budget limits, but also
to make the healthiest/logical decisions for their families. While meat
dishes find more place in the tables, the opposite situation is observed in
legumes dishes where the price increase is higher. Consumers have learned to prepare both better
quality and cost-effective meals with different recipes during the pandemic
period. While the unit price of meat may be higher
than legumes, depending on the cooking method and the applied recipes, people
can get more value for the money they pay. Consumers, who cook more at home, make more
rational decisions, and buy different products to prepare the meals they
consume outside at home, create new opportunities for the food industry. It
has become more critical for a brand to be present at home and inspire the
consumer to make rational purchasing decisions. RESEARCH IDENTIFICATION 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) 13 December 2021 Source: https://www.ipsos.com/tr-tr/yeni-normal-evde-yemek 721-722-43-02/Polls In
January-October 2021, Households In Turkey Spent 38% On FMCG Compared To The
Same Period Of The Previous Year
Households went shopping an average of 194
times in the first 10 months of 2021 and spent 45 TL on each purchase. The mass shopping behavior that started
with the pandemic continued in the first 10 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 10 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 10 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-October 2021, while Fat increased 54%, Snacks 39%, and
Household Cleaning products 39%. You can find detailed information and
graphics in our FMCG October Newsletter. 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) 14 December 2021 Source: https://www.ipsos.com/tr-tr/hane-tuketim-paneli-fmcg-bulteni-ekim-2021-degerlendirmesi MENA
721-722-43-03/Polls Libya
Country Report, 2021
COVID-19, related challenges, and vaccine
hesitancy While most countries were focusing all their resources on the fight
against the Covid-19 pandemic, Libya was facing another challenge that
significantly threatened the livelihood of its people: the civil war. It was,
therefore, unsurprising, that in October 2020, internal instability and
foreign interference were seen as the two most important challenges facing
the country (30 percent and 26 percent, respectively) followed by the
economic situation (20 percent), while only 12 percent named COVID-19.
However, by March-April 2021, perceptions about the greatest challenges
reversed as peace agreements largely held and direct confrontations had
stopped for a few months, as a result of the August 2020 ceasefire. Instead,
Libyans shifted their attention and concern towards more routine issues
relating to daily life. Concern over the economic situation and COVID-19 rose
to 25 percent and 24 percent, respectively. At the same time, lack of
internal stability and foreign interference declined to 14 percent and 17
percent, respectively. Corruption remained fifth on the list of greatest
challenges for Libyans, rising from seven percent in October 2020 to 12
percent in spring 2021.
Libya has one of the lowest
vaccine hesitancy rates in the region among countries surveyed. A clear
majority of Libyans (70 percent) say they are very or somewhat likely to get
the vaccine if it is made available to them. Libyans prefer US-made vaccines
(26 percent) over vaccines made in other countries like Russia (17 percent),
the UK (15 percent), and China (12 percent). Notably, around the time of the
survey, only Sputnik (Russian) and AstraZeneca (British) vaccines were widely
available for the public. Most Libyans were lucky enough not to
experience significant interruptions in their employment status due to
COVID-19. Only two percent reported a permanent job loss, while fewer than a
third of Libyans (29 percent) cited temporary job interruption, a tenth said
they had to work from home, and 59 percent experienced no impact on
employment at all. Nonetheless, the pandemic had brought on some major
challenges for Libyan families. As the country lacked a resilient, up-to-date
infrastructure, most institutions were forced to shut down in the first
phases of the pandemic. School closures led to the disruption of kids’
education, as most schools lacked the resources to switch to online learning.
More than half of Libyans say that this disruption is one of the two biggest
challenges they faced because of COVID-19 (51 percent). Nearly half of
Libyans point to inflation as the other biggest challenge (49 percent).
Evaluation of Public Services The conflict
has further damaged most public services in the country, especially the
healthcare and education systems. The concern over the spread of COVID19 in
Libya is, in part, the result of a wide perception that the healthcare system
is incapable of dealing with the pandemic. Only 26 percent of Libyans
expressed satisfaction when asked about the healthcare system in October
2020. The percentage remained effectively unchanged, increasing by only two
points to 28 percent between March and April 2021. With the current health
challenges, it is no surprise that 44 percent choose the healthcaresystem as
their preferred top priority for government spending in the upcoming year.
The education system fared even more poorly in the eyes of citizens. In
October 2020, only 24 percent said they are completely satisfied or satisfied
with the education system; and 26 percent chose it as top priority for
government spending in the upcoming years. As schools reopen their doors for
students, more people are expressing their satisfaction with the education
system between March and April 2021 (34 percent). This rise may also be
attributed to the general sense of optimism and hopefulness regarding the
government at the beginning of 2021.
Government trust and performance In
February 2021, the UN-facilitated national dialogue process ended with the
formation of a new, unified executive authority termed the Government of
National Unity (GNU). The formation of the GNU followed years of division in
state institutions that weakened the government, causing it to lose the trust
of most Libyans. The GNU fared better than its predecessor, the Government of
National Accord (GNA), with 44 percent for GNU compared to 35 percent for
GNA. In October, the House of Representatives scored similarly to the GNA (35
percent).
In terms of performance, Libyans seem to be
willing to give the GNU a chance. A few weeks after its formation, more than
half say they are completely satisfied or satisfied with the GNU performance
(53 percent), which may be more based on hope than on the GNU’s actions to
date. The survey results suggest that two main fields have contributed
significantly to this level of satisfaction with the government. The first is
the response to COVID-19. The GNU Prime Minister emphasized repeatedly that
combating COVID-19 was one of his government’s priorities. The government
received and began administering vaccines around the period the survey was
fielded. Although the GNU had been recently formed at the time of the survey,
Libyans rate its performance in responding to the pandemic more highly (53
percent) than that of the GNA (34 percent).
The other field contributing to the
positive evaluation of the GNU performance is security. Libyans appear to
associate the current state of calmness and relative stability with the work
of the government itself. The majority say that the GNU performance in
providing security and order is very good or good (58 percent). This
evaluation, however, differs across regions. While 61 percent in the central
region say the performance is very good or good, only 42 percent in the south
say the same. Additionally, Libyans are more satisfied with the GNU
performance in keeping prices down (36 percent) than with the GNA performance
(20 percent).
Economy The Libyan economy has suffered the
consequences of conflict and instability which led to the shutdown of oil
production, the main source of income for the state. It is, thus, no surprise
that fewer than a quarter of Libyans said the economic situation is very good
or good in October 2020 (22 percent). The halting of hostilities and new
political agreement earlier this year has resulted in a steady oil production
and a stable currency exchange rate, which translated immediately to
improvements to the overall economy. In spring of 2021, nearly half (45
percent) of Libyans said the economic situation was very good or good.
However, this evaluation, too, varies between regions. While more than half
in the West say the situation is very good or good (51 percent), only 29
percent evaluate the situation as such in the south, along with 39 percent in
the East and 47 percent in the central region. Notably, Libyans still express
optimism in their prediction of the economic situation in the upcoming years.
In spring 2021, the majority said that the situation will be much better or
somewhat better in the next 2 – 3 years (78 percent). Critically, those
living in the different regions are about equally optimistic about Libya’s
economic future.
Corruption Similar to many countries in the
region, Libya has a deep-rooted problem with corruption. The overwhelming
majority of Libyans say that corruption is prevalent to a large or medium
extent in state institutions and national agencies (86 percent in March and
April 2021). Over half of the population, however, believes the GNU is
working to combat corruption.
Views on democracy Ten years after the
uprising that toppled the Gaddafi regime, Libyans continue to strongly
support democracy. There is widespread agreement among Libyans that free
elections, equal rights, and provision of basic services are important
characteristics of any democratic system. The last general elections held in
Libya took place in June 2014 for the House of Representatives. As the
country fell into civil war shortly after that election, Libyans were not
given a chance to vote again at the national level. Earlier this year, the
National Dialogue Forum reached an agreement to host general elections in
December 2021. While disagreements regarding procedural matters arose, the
public’s desire to see elections held in the country remains unchallenged.
The majority of Libyans say that free elections are an absolutely or somewhat
essential part of democracy (71 percent). While Libya is almost homogenous
religiously, with at least 95 percent of the population being Sunni Muslims,
the country is home to multiple ethnic groups. There is a strong belief that
democracy should be inclusive of all these groups, with more than
seven-in-ten Libyans saying it is absolutely or somewhat essential that under
a democratic government all people have the same rights regardless of
religion or ethnicity. Meanwhile, a strong but somewhat lower percentage (68
percent) say that the provision of basic necessities for all is absolutely or
somewhat essential part of democracy.
Nearly two thirds (64 percent) say that a
democratic government is always preferable. While around a quarter (27
percent) say that a nondemocratic one might be preferable under certain
circumstances. Although democracy is preferred, the ongoing crisis has
possibly pushed more Libyans to prioritize efficiency and stability over
democracy, at least in the short term. Almost two-thirds (65 percent) of the
population say that whether a government is democratic or not does not matter
as long as it can provide order and stability in the country. Roughly the
same percentage say that Libya needs a leader who can bend the rules if
necessary to get things done. That, however, does not necessarily mean that
people are looking for a populist leader. Only half of Libyans (49 percent)
say it is very or somewhat important to have a popular leader who appeals to
the people, regardless of qualifications. Although Libyans are eager for
democracy, their definition of the system might not match that of a liberal
democracy.
One governance question that has been
present in the Libyan political discourse since 2011 concerns the
implementation of quotas, including gender and geographic quotas. The
majority of Libyans believe that a gender quota should be implemented to
allow for more women to hold elected positions (82 percent). Women,
unsurprisingly however, are more supportive of a gender quota than men (93
percent for women versus 70 percent for men). Geographic quotas are often
proposed as a solution to issues of marginalization and centralization. They
are, however, significantly less popular than gender quotas. Not quite half
say that a geographic quota would be an ideal solution to the governance
problem in Libya (47 percent). More than four-in-ten Libyans say that
geographic quotas should not be implemented (43 percent). People in the
eastern and southern regions of the country are somewhat more likely to
support geographical quotas than their counterparts in the central and western
regions.
Gender Women continue to face barriers to
their participation in various aspects of public life in Libya, including in
politics and in the labor force. Between August and September 2020, more than
six-in-ten Libyans say they strongly agree or agree with the idea that a man
is better at political leadership than a woman (61 percent). Despite that,
three quarters say that a woman can become president or prime minister in a
Muslim-majority country. At home, almost half of the population say that
taking care of children is a woman’s primary responsibility (51 percent) and
that a man should have the final say in all familyrelated decisions (46
percent) in the spring of 2021. In the labor market, the barriers to women’s
employment appear to be more structural than cultural in nature. Nearly two
thirds of Libyans say that low wages (68 percent), lack of childcare
facilities (67 percent), and lack of means of transportation (63 percent)
pose a significant barrier to women’s entry into the workforce. Cultural
barriers, such as working alongside men or men being given priority in the
job market, are seen as smaller barriers to entry.
International Relations The past 12 months
witnessed a significant change in attitudes towards global and regional powers
in the country, especially toward the United States. In October 2020, only 14
percent of Libyans said they have a favorable view of the U.S. Just
one-in-ten Libyans rated the policies of former president Donald Trump as
very good or good while more than three-quarters said that the former
President’s policies were very bad or bad. President Trump’s unpopularity in
Libya should not be a surprise, given his rhetoric against Muslims, and more
importantly, his travel ban which targeted Libya among other Muslim-majority
countries. In addition, Libyans were largely unconvinced that the U.S.
foreign aid is helping their country. Nearly half said that the aid is
neither strengthening civil society nor advancing women’s rights (46
percent). Notably, Libyans prefer foreign aid to focus on building
infrastructure and improving the educational system in the country.
The recent change in the White House,
following the 2020 elections, brought some positive changes in attitudes
towards the U.S. among the population in Libya. Two months after President
Biden assumed office, half of Libyans said they have a very favorable or
somewhat favorable view of the U.S. Nearly half as well said President
Biden’s foreign policies were very good or good (47 percent). Six-in-ten said
they expect a great or medium change in U.S. foreign policy under Biden from
that under Trump.
The other global superpower, China, is
viewed more favorably in Libya. Around 60 percent of Libyans say they have a
favorable view of China. Fewer than half, however, say that President Xi’s
policies are very good or good (44 percent). The difference could be
attributed to President Xi’s less prominent presence as the face of China’s
foreign policy in the region, and in Libya in particular. Nearly a quarter of
Libyans say they do not know Xi’s policies or refuse to answer the question
(24 percent). Despite the high level of favorability China is getting in
Libya, Chinese companies are not as popular as their Western counterparts.
Only 11 percent of Libyans say they want Chinese firms to work on
infrastructure projects in Libya, compared to 33 percent and 23 percent for
German and American companies, respectively.
Unlike global powers, no regional power
seems to enjoy widespread popularity among Libyans except for Saudi Arabia. A
large portion of Libyans say they have a very favorable or somewhat favorable
view of Saudi Arabia (58 percent). The policies of the Kingdom’s Crown
Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, are seen as very good or good by 45 percent of
the population. Interestingly, the Kingdom enjoys significantly more support
in eastern Libya (70 percent) than it does in central Libya (45 percent). One
possible explanation is the impact of Madkhali Salafists who exercise
noticeable control over religious institutes and security services as part of
their alliance with the Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF), the de facto ruler
of the eastern region. That is in addition to the Kingdom’s perceived support
for the LAAF. Saudi Arabia’s main regional rival, Iran, is not as popular,
however. Fewer than a quarter say they have a favorable view of the Islamic
Republic (23 percent) and even less percentage say the policies of its
Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, are very good or good (19 percent).
Several foreign actors have been heavily
meddling in Libya over the course of the last decade. The foreign
interference intensified during the April 2019 attack on Tripoli by the
Libyan Arab Armed Forces, supported by Russia, against the Government of
National Accord, supported by Turkey. This direct interference has damaged
the popularity of the two countries in various parts of Libya. While 27
percent express favorable views of Turkey, a slightly smaller percentage (26
percent) say they have very or somewhat favorable views of Russia. Only
two-in-ten Libyans say the policies of Russian president, Vladimir Putin, are
very good or good. Though slightly more popular, Erdogan enjoys the approval
of less than a quarter of the population (23 percent). Unsurprisingly, Turkey
is two times more favored in the central and western regions - where most
supporters of the GNA reside - than it is in the eastern region - where the
LAAF is headquartered. Russia is least favorable in the central region.
As for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict,
Libyans are overwhelmingly opposed to any normalization of relations between
Arab countries and Israel. In October 2020, almost nine-in-ten Libyans said
they strongly oppose or oppose the Abraham Accords. Only one percent said
they strongly favor the accords. Although slightly fewer Libyans opposed the
normalization between Morocco and Israel, the vast majority said in spring
2021 they strongly oppose or oppose the agreement between the two countries
(78 percent). About onein-ten (9 percent) said they strongly favor or favor
it.
(Arabbarometer) December 14, 2021 Source: https://www.arabbarometer.org/wp-content/uploads/Public-Opinion-Libya-Country-Report-2021-En.pdf AFRICA
721-722-43-04/Polls Only About A
Quarter (27%) Of Emaswati Say Their Country Is A Full Democracy Or A
Democracy With Minor Problems
Citizens are more dissatisfied with the
workings of Eswatini’s democracy than at any time since Afrobarometer began its national
surveys in the country in 2013. The latest Afrobarometer survey shows
declines in public perceptions of Eswatini as a functioning democracy as well as in popular
satisfaction with the way their democracy is working. In recent months, citizen dissatisfaction
has found expression in protests across different parts of the country. In November, President Cyril Ramaphosa of
South Africa visited Eswatini in his capacity as chairperson of the Southern African
Development Community’s Organ of Defence, Politics and Security Cooperation to discuss the
country’s political and security issues with King Mswati III. After the meeting, the
government announced that a national dialogue forum will facilitate talks between pro-democracy
groups and the government to manage political tensions in the Kingdom. Key findings Only about a quarter (27%) of
Emaswati say their country is “a full democracy” or “a democracy with minor problems” (Figure 1). “not a democracy” or “a democracy with
major problems” has increased by 6 percentage points since 2013. Fewer than two in 10 citizens
(16%) say they are “fairly satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the way their democracy is working (Figure
2). than half since 2013, when 35% expressed
satisfaction. Citizens with no formal education
(58%) or primary schooling (62%) are less likely to express dissatisfaction with the country’s
democracy than their more educated counterparts (72%) (Figure 3). Dissatisfaction is less pronounced
among older citizens (61% of those aged 56 or older) than among the younger population
(70%-72%) (Figure 3). (Afrobarometer) 13 December 2021 721-722-43-05/Polls Most
Citizens (81%) In Eswatini Say They Are Free To Vote As They Please
Most Emaswati feel free to choose whom to
vote into office but not free to say what they think, the latest Afrobarometer survey
shows. A majority of citizens say they have to be
careful when discussing politics. Likewise, only a minority of citizens think
the country’s media is free to report and comment on current affairs without censorship or
interference by the government. Key findings More than three-fourths (78%) of
Emaswait say people “often” or “always” have to be careful about what they say about politics,
up by 14 percentage points compared to 2018 (Figure 1). While most citizens (81%) say they
are free to vote as they please, fewer than half as many (36%) feel free to say what they think
(Figure 2). Only about one-third (35%) of
respondents believe that the media in Eswatini is “somewhat” or “completely” free from
government interference (Figure 3). (Afrobarometer) 20 December 2021 WEST
EUROPE
721-722-43-06/Polls YouGov Friendship Study Part Two: Friendship Circles And Types Of Friends
Britons Have
More than a third of Britons (37%) report having friends they don’t
really bother to see, with this being more the case for men (41%) than women
(34%). Younger Britons are the most likely to report having friends which
they don’t bother seeing - 43-46% of 16-39-year-olds. Nearly one in ten Britons (9%) has a friend they don’t really like.
This is mostly the case with 16-24-year-olds, where 18% have friends they’re
not very fond of. One in five Britons (18%) say they have friends out of habit rather
than choice, with this being the case more for 16-24-year-olds (26%) compared
to other age groups. A fifth of Britons (22%) have friends out of convenience
(for reasons such as doing the same leisure activities or working in the same
place), with more men (25%) than women (19%) having these kinds of
friendships. Results also show that 4% of Britons have ‘pity friends’ - people
they don’t really want to hang out with but feel sorry for. How many friends do people have who hold
different political beliefs from theirs? The contentious topic of the 2016 Brexit referendum and the political
disputes which arose in recent years caused heated debates and tension
between Britons, as earlier YouGov research has found. The YouGov Friendship Study finds that 22% of Britons report
having ‘hardly any’ (17%) or no (5%) friends with different political
beliefs. A plurality of Britons (35%) say that some of their friends have
differing views, while 13% say they have a ‘fair amount’ and 6% say ‘most’ of
their friends have different political views. Labour voters (35%) are most likely to say they have no or hardly any
friends with different political views, followed by one in four (25%) Lib Dem
voters and just 14% of Conservative voters. A fifth (22%) of Conservative
voters note that most or a large number of their friends have opposing
political views, while this drops to 17% among Lib Dem voters and 15% among
those who voted for the Labour party. Do Britons have friends that are ten years
older or younger than them? More than half of Britons (53%) report having a friend with whom they
have a 10 year age gap, with this being more the case among women (57%) than
men (48%) – 42% of Britons say they do not. Extroverted Britons (62%) are more likely than introverted Britons
(46%) to have friends who are at least a decade older or younger than
them. (YouGov UK) December 16, 2021 721-722-43-07/Polls At Least 2 In 3 Britons Think Government Doing A Bad Job On Managing
Immigration, The NHS And Levelling-Up
Government performance
Economic optimism The poll also found that 52 per cent expect the economy to get worse
over the next 12 months, double the 25 per cent who think it will improve,
giving an Economic Optimism Index score of -27, unchanged on the -26 of last
month. Gideon Skinner, Head of political research
at Ipsos MORI, says of the findings: It’s not just stories of Christmas parties
that should give the Conservatives concern, but also perceptions of delivery
on substantive policy areas, as our latest public scorecard on Government
performance shows. Britons still give the Government credit for the
vaccines programme, but are more critical of delivery elsewhere – in
particular immigration (where Conservative voters are also most unhappy), the
NHS, and reducing regional inequalities. The direction of travel is
also getting worse for many of these since the summer, especially on managing
the economy, where optimism shows little sign of returning. (Ipsos MORI) 16 December 2021 721-722-43-08/Polls New YouGov Research For The Times Reveals That Over Half Of Britons
Are Taking Regular Lateral Flow Tests (57%)
With the rise of the new Omicron variant of Covid-19, the government
has encouraged anyone who comes into contact with someone testing positive to
take a daily
lateral flow test for seven days, and to take a test before visiting
friends and family. As a result, demand for lateral flows has skyrocketed, and the
official website often runs
out of tests. New YouGov research for The Times reveals that over half of Britons
are taking regular lateral flow tests (57%). This includes one in six (18%)
who are using lateral flows regularly, irrespective of what plans they have. One in eight (12%) say they are regularly using lateral flow tests if
they have come into contact with someone who may have Covid. A further 9% say they take a lateral flow test if they’re going into
work, although this may be lower because of recent work-from-home guidance,
while 8% say they use rapid testing if they’re going to socialise with
friends or family and 5% test if they’re going somewhere busy. Two in five (38%) Britons are not regularly using lateral flow tests
for any reason, however. While 30% of women say they’re not testing regularly, some two in
five men (45%) say the same. Similarly, the old are more likely to not be
testing than the young, including around half (52%) of those aged over 65,
compared to 22% of 18 to 24-year-olds. Around half (48%) of working class British people say they are not
regularly using lateral flow tests, compared to 29% of those from middle
class households. Conservative voters are more likely than Labour voters to say they
aren’t using lateral flows, by 44% to 29%. (YouGov UK) December 17, 2021 721-722-43-09/Polls Three In 10 (29%) Britons Say They Will Only Use Recyclable Wrapping
Paper This Year, To Help The Environment
To help the environment, Britons are most likely to avoid buying
plastic presents this year, 36% say they will buy fewer while a third (33%)
will buy fewer presents in general. Three in 10 (29%) say they will only use
recyclable wrapping paper this year and 2 in 10 (21%) will avoid wrapping
altogether by gifting experiences rather than physical presents.
To cut down on carbon emissions from travel, 21% of Britons say they
will give locally made presents and 14% will re-gift a gift they have
previously received. The same proportion say they will send homemade
Christmas cards rather than buying them. One in 10 (10%) Britons will move away
from the traditional turkey dinner and enjoy a meat-free Christmas
meal. Half of Britons disagree that Christmas is a time to splash out and
not worry about the environmental. One in four (25%) agree they will buy more
environmentally friendly presents, even if they cost more.
Along with the environment, Britons appear to be feeling cautious
about spending too much money this Christmas. Forty-three per cent say they
have less money to spend on Christmas presents this year compared to previous
years while only 23% agree they will buy whatever they want irrespective of
cost. When considering how time will be spent this Christmas compared to
last year, opinion is split as to how much time will be spent socialising
with others. Around 3 in 10 expect to spend more time socialising at their
own home with family over (32%), outside their home visiting family (31%) or
outside their home visiting friends (28%) than last year. One in four (23%)
expect to spend less time socialising outside their home visiting friends
compared to last year while 20% say the same about socialising outside
visiting family and 17% socialising at home with family.
Pippa Bailey, Head of Innovation at Ipsos
MORI, said: Very few people have been able to ignore
the impact that climate change has had on our planet over the past year, with
extreme weather conditions experienced globally and also closer to home with
flooding and storms. So it is good to see that the very real concern
that these events have raised have translated into intentions for citizens to
gift in a more sustainable way this Christmas. (Ipsos MORI) 17 December 2021 721-722-43-10/Polls UK Public’s Predictions For 2022
Politics Given recent events, it may come as little surprise that a majority
of UK adults think it likely that Boris Johnson will not be Prime Minister by
the end of 2022. Six in ten (62%) predict this compared with a quarter (25%)
who think it unlikely. Even 58% of 2019 Conservative voters think he will have
left (31% believe it unlikely). In comparison, opinions are split when it
comes to Keir Starmer’s position as Leader of the Labour Party. Thirty-eight
per cent think he will not hold the position by the end of the year while 36%
disagree. 2019 Labour supporters are also split – 39% think he will
have left, but exactly the same proportion say it is unlikely. However, while half (52%) expect there to be a General Election next
year, this is well down on the 72% in 2018 who (correctly) predicted there
would be a General Election in 2019. Labour voters are most likely to
forecast an election next year (59%), but half (48%) of Conservatives think
it unlikely. Over the pond, hopes are higher for Joe Biden in his position as
President of the United States Half (51%) think it is unlikely that he will
lose his job before the year is done while 3 in 10 say he’ll be out of the
Oval office by 2023. In Europe, half of Britons expect another European country to hold a
vote on leaving the EU, 52% say this is likely (down from 58% in 2018’s
predictions for 2019) while 3 in 10 (31%) disagree. Another half (49%) think
it’s probable that Russia will invade Ukraine in 2022, only 1 in 5 (22%)
think it unlikely. COVID-19 Britons are still not confident that we will have got over the
pandemic in 2022. Almost two-thirds (65%) think another national lockdown is
likely next year while a similar proportion expect to see a new variant which
is completely resistant to vaccines (62%). Only a quarter (24%) think we’ll
see all Covid restrictions lifted permanently while 7 in 10 (69%)
disagree. Economy and business Nor do people think the coronavirus’ impact on the economy is over.
Opinion is split as to whether employees are likely to go back to work
in offices full time. Four in 10 (40%) believe office workers will be back in
their place of work full time while half (49%) do not. Overall, only a third (36%) of the UK public expect to see their
personal financial situation improve over the course of 2022 while half (50%)
think it unlikely. Younger people are most hopeful, 51% of under 35s think
their situations are likely to improve compared with 28% of 35-75s.
Furthermore, opinions are split as to whether they will be food
shortages in the UK in 2022, half (48%) think this is likely to happen while
40% disagree. When considering house prices, only 1 in 5 (20%) think they are
likely to fall in their area while 63% disagree. Those in Greater London are
most likely to expect this to happen, 3 in 10 (30%) in the capital think
prices are likely to fall. Overall, this is more optimistic than
predictions for 2019, when 41% expected average house prices to fall. Society While many countries made pledges to help the environment in 2021,
few expect differences to be seen in 2022. Half expect to see the hottest
summer on record (51% - almost exactly the same as predictions for 2019),
next year while only 3 in 10 disagree (29%, down from 37%). Many Britons will be eagerly awaiting the announcement of the new
James Bond actor after Daniel Craig made his final appearance in No Time to Die, but who will it be? Half
(53%) expect to see an actor who is not a white male step into 007’s shoes
while a quarter (26%) say this is unlikely. White Britons are more likely to
expect this, 55% say this is likely compared with 46% of those from ethnic
minority groups, 34% of whom believe it is unlikely. Despite England’s strong showing in the Euros this year, only 22%
expect them to go one better and win the football World Cup in 2022 (61%
believe it is unlikely). Younger people are the most optimistic, 35% of
under 35s forecast an England victory, against just 16% of 35-75s. The Royal Family Most UK adults expect to see Queen Elizabeth continue in her role
during 2022: only a quarter (25%) think it’s likely that she will abdicate
while 62% say it is unlikely. However, it is seen as slightly more
likely than 2018’s predictions for 2019, when 17% thought it might happen. Considering her grandson across the Atlantic, few expect to see
Prince Harry return to the UK. Sixteen per cent say he and his family are
likely to move back to the UK while almost three-quarters disagree
(72%). Gideon Skinner, Head of Political Research
at Ipsos MORI, said of the findings: It has been a hard few weeks for Boris
Johnson and the Conservatives in terms of public opinion, and this is
reflected in the numbers expecting a new occupant in Downing Street sometime
next year, even among Conservative supporters (although it should be noted
that expectations of a new general election are not as high as they were for
2019). Of course, people’s (and pollsters’) predictions can be wrong,
but it’s also worth looking at the fundamentals: few think we will have cast
off the impact of the pandemic next year and many think we will see another
lockdown and more resistant variants, and only a minority think their
personal financial situation will get better. (Ipsos MORI) 20 December 2021 721-722-43-11/Polls Many Britons Self-Policing To Save Their Christmas From Covid As Just
Over 4 In 10 Say Current Measures Aren’t Strict Enough
As the Omicron variant continues to spread throughout the country, it
seems as though most Britons are taking matters into their own hands and
self-policing in order to avoid catching COVID before the festive weekend.
Nine in 10 (89%) say they have already or plan to wear their face mask more
while the same proportion are already or will start sanitising/washing their
hands more regularly.
Eight in 10 (81%) are keeping or plan to keep their distance while
socialising (such as not hugging or shaking hands with people), and a similar
proportion have already or plan to have their booster jab (80%). Two-thirds say they have/will test themselves with lateral flow tests
more regularly (67%) while the same proportion are shopping online rather
than in store in order to avoid catching the virus. A majority of Britons are also taking matters into their own hands by
avoiding public transport (58% have done so or plan to), not attending social
gatherings in friends or family’s houses and not going to pubs or restaurants
(both 57%). Just under half, 45%, of workers say they are or are going to
work from home instead of the office, while 47% that they have not/plan not
to attend their work Christmas party. When asked to consider the restrictions currently in place to limit
the spread of the coronavirus, just over four in ten say they are not strict
enough (44%) while 36% say they are about right and another 16% that they are
too strict.
Half (52%) of older people aged 45-75 believe the restrictions are
not strict enough, compared with 34% of under 35s. There is little
difference by 2019 vote: 44% of Conservatives and 48% of Labour voters
believe the current measures are not strict enough. A third of Britons (34%) think we will have to wait until July 2022
or after for life to return to “normal” while a further fifth (22%) think it
will be never. Only 13% think life will be back to normal in three months’
time (March 2022), and another 18% that we will be by June 2022. Gideon Skinner, Head of Political Research
at Ipsos MORI, said: As the debate continues on the best
approach to deal with the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, Britons
themselves say they are taking steps to avoid a COVID Christmas, such as
wearing masks, washing hands and keeping their distance when socialising –
and many are planning to get a booster jab if they haven’t already got one.
Around four in ten say they have avoided social gatherings at others'
houses or going to pubs and restaurants, and another one in six say they plan
to do so. (Ipsos MORI) 21 December 2021 721-722-43-12/Polls Three In Ten Britons Are Stressed About Christmas 2021
Christmas can be stressful for some even in non-pandemic times, and
Christmas 2021 comes with the rising threat of the Omicron
variant of Covid-19 and uncertainty about post-Christmas
restrictions. Three in 10 Britons (31%) say they’re currently feeling stressed
about Christmas, including 6% who say they’re “very” stressed.
Who is feeling the festive strain the most? Parents of young children, 25 to 44-year-olds and women are feeling
most stressed about Christmas this year. Two in five (41%) parents with children aged between 5 and 11 years
old say they’re feeling stressed about Christmas, compared with a quarter
(25%) of parents of children over 18 and a third (32%) of non-parents.
Festive stress appears to affect 25 to 44-year-olds most (37%) and
the over-55s least (24%), and women are more likely to say they’re feeling
stressed about Christmas (36%) than men (25%).
How has stress changed in the run up to
Christmas? Our stress tracker shows there has been a slight increase in the
proportion of Britons saying they’re feeling stressed about Christmas. On 3-5 December, a quarter (26%) of Britons said they were feeling
stressed about Christmas, compared to 31% now. (YouGov UK) December 22, 2021 721-722-43-13/Polls Only A Third Of Britons (35%) Say They Think They Know What Cancel
Culture Means
One of the new political catchphrases of recent years has been
“cancel culture”. As with so many Westminster Bubble terms, it is an import
from the United States, and refers to a desire or attempts to ostracise (or
‘cancel’) people or organisations with certain viewpoints, generally those
that are considered un-progressive. As we found with our earlier study on another American political
import – being
‘woke’ – Britons don’t know what the political elite are on about
when they bring up cancel culture. Only a third of Britons (35%) say they think they know what cancel
culture means. Almost two thirds don’t know what it means (65%), including
close to four in ten who’ve never heard the expression in the first place
(38%). Young people are more familiar with cancel culture, with 45% of 18-24
year olds saying they know what it is, compared to 40% of 25-49 year olds,
31% of 50-64 year olds, and 26% of those aged 65 and above. In fact, approaching half of 65+ year olds have never heard the term
used in the first place (45%), twice as many as 18-24 year olds (23%). Most Britons say that at least sometimes
they feel unable to express their political or social views for fear of
judgement or negative responses While most Britons aren’t familiar with ‘cancel culture’ as a phrase,
that’s not to say Britons don’t feel 'cancelled' from time to time. A majority of Britons (57%) say they have, at least sometimes, found
themselves stopping themselves from expressing their political or social
views for fear of judgement or negative responses from others. Conservative voters are more likely to say so than Labour voters (68%
vs 53%), although notably most people in both groups feel this way. Women are
also more likely to have held their tongue than men (62% vs 52%).
Only a quarter of Britons (27%) say they always express their
political or social views if they want to do so, regardless of potential
judgement. When have people kept quiet about their
views? This is not to suggest that any example of someone holding back is an
example of cancel culture. Asked in what circumstances people have kept their
lips zipped, Britons are most likely to do so with people they’ve only just
met (49%), perhaps an understandable occasion on which to avoid a potential
argument. Likewise, four in ten Britons (40%) have done so at work, while one
in three (34%) have avoided speaking their mind on social media, 31% have
done so among friends, and 21% while with their family. What views are Britons reluctant to
express? What views do people feel like they can’t express? To test this, we
asked Britons a series of wedge questions on several divisive topics to see
what side of an argument they came down on. Then we asked how often they find
themselves hiding their views on those topics for fear of negativity. In most cases, those holding what might be considered the
‘un-progressive’ view more frequently omit their opinions on that topic. For example, those who believe immigration has generally been a bad
thing for the UK are more likely to say they always or mostly have to hide
their views on the subject of immigration levels to the UK (33%) than those
who think immigration has been a good thing for the UK (10%). This is the
topic on which people are most likely to say they feel they have to keep
quiet. Other top views people are more reluctant to express are the
belief that ethnic minorities in Britain have things as good as white
Britons, with 31% who hold this view feel they can’t ever or mostly can’t say
so, and transgender issues, which 29% of those who disagree with the
statement “a transgender woman is a woman” feel they have to frequently keep
bottled up. The exceptions to this trend are views on the British Empire and
obesity, where both sides of the argument reported similar levels of
reluctance to express themselves. When it came to views on the Conservative
party, although there is not much difference at the always/mostly level,
those with pro-Tory views are more likely to say they sometimes or rarely
have to hide that fact than those with a negative opinion of the party. Across all nine scenarios, only about 10-14% of those who sit on the
more progressive side of the argument say they feel they always/sometimes
have to keep their opinion to themselves. “I used to be with ‘it’, but then they
changed what ‘it’ was. Now what I’m with isn’t ‘it’ anymore and what’s ‘it’
seems weird and scary. It’ll happen to you!” Comedian Ricky Gervais, who has been an outspoken critic of cancel
culture, predicted recently
that the views that young people hold today will in turn come to be seen as
backward by future generations "I wanna live long enough to see the
younger generation not be woke enough for the next generation. It's going to
happen. Don't they realise that, it's like, they're next. That's what's
funny.” It seems that, indeed, young people do not expect to become the bad
guys. Only one in three 18-24 year olds (36%) think that some of their
current views will come to be seen as unacceptable by future generations of
young people during their own lifetime. An equal number (35%) anticipate
their own future cancellation, however, while 29% are unsure.
By contrast, almost half of the oldest Britons (47% of those aged 65
and above) expect some of their views to be seen as bad by future youngsters.
One in three nevertheless are sure they’ll hold acceptable views until they
die (35%). What should we prioritise more: protecting
free speech or stopping offensive and hateful speech? Underpinning the whole cancel culture argument is the dilemma of how
far societies should go to preserve free speech when that right is often
exercised in ways ranging from the hurtful to the malicious. Asked which should be the priority, 38% of Britons say the focus
should be on protecting free speech, while 43% say protecting people from
offensive or hateful speech should be the priority. Men are much more concerned about protecting free speech and women
are more concerned about blocking offensive/hateful speech. Likewise, Tories
and Labour voters come down on opposite sides. Younger people are also much
more concerned about protecting against offensive/hateful speech than
protecting free speech, while older Britons are split between the two. (YouGov UK) December 22, 2021 721-722-43-14/Polls Latest Findings Show Cases Of Omicron Rising Fast, While Highlighting
Success Of Booster And Teenage Vaccination Programmes
Over 97,000 volunteers in England took part in the study to examine
the levels of COVID-19 in the general population between 23 November and 14
December.
Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of the UK
Health Security Agency, said: I’d like to say a really big thank you to
the members of the public who continue to take part in the REACT study. It
provides vital insight into the prevalence of COVID-19 and, crucially, is
helping us understand more about the Omicron variant. The main findings from the report are as follows:
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid
Javid said: The latest REACT-1 data is yet more
evidence that boosters are vital in protecting us from the Omicron variant. Professor Paul Elliott, director of the
REACT programme from Imperial’s School of Public Health, said: The results reported in this round of REACT
show that Omicron is spreading rapidly in England and especially in London,
which now has the highest prevalence of COVID-19 in the country. Compared to
the Delta variant, the proportion of Omicron cases is increasingly rapidly. Kelly Beaver, Chief Executive at Ipsos MORI,
said: The latest REACT round finds an R number
above 1 and high prevalence of COVID-19 in England, so it remains critical
that people get vaccinated and boosted. We have found a number of cases of the
Omicron variant, demonstrating the speed at which it is becoming the dominant
variant and highlighting why we must all exercise caution over the festive
period to ensure that prevalence does not continue to rise even further in
the new year. (Ipsos MORI) 23 December 2021 721-722-43-15/Polls Online Harassment Is A Very Serious Problem According To 68% Of
French People
Cyberbullying, a problem that worries the
French and against which the actions taken are considered insufficient Cyberbullying is considered a serious problem (97%) (including very
serious for 68%) and which will increase in the coming years (76%). Its
seriousness should be taken seriously as well as other forms of harassment
for 93% of French people, who believe that the consequences of online
harassment for victims can be just as serious as in “real life” harassment
situations. ". Moreover, half of French people are afraid of cyberstalking for their
relatives (50%) and 3 in 10 are worried about being directly
victims. Even more alarming, 83% of parents of children under 18 say
they are worried about their children (51% are very worried). Nevertheless, despite this very worrying situation, the speeches and
actions against cyberbullying remain for many perceived as insufficient: 1 in
2 French people believe that it is not talked about enough, and nearly 8 in
10 that the actions implemented to prevent and fight against are not enough. The difficulties of the French in clearly
identifying what is cyberbullying contributes to maintaining many received
ideas on the profile of harassers and victims. The majority of French people (60%) find it easy to identify what is
cyberbullying and what does not. However, when presented with a list of
16 acts of online harassment (according to official definitions), only 39%
identify them all as such. For example, 1/3 of them (32%) consider that
sending or posting unsolicited photos or images of a sexual nature does not
constitute online harassment. Even more worrying, nearly a quarter of French people do not identify
any of the 16 behaviors tested as constituting harassment. It should be noted that people who have never experienced online
harassment better identify what is relevant (48% identify all the acts) than
those who have been victims of several forms of harassment (20%). This
is a sign that victims tend to minimize or even normalize harassment by being
confronted with it. As a result, the French absorb many received ideas on the profile of
stalkers and harassed:
Finally, this weak awareness of what cyberbullying really is has even
led almost half of French people (and more the youngest, who grew up with the
Internet) to have already had a behavior that could relate to it.
The majority of the adult population has
experienced cyberstalking in the past 59% of French people have already been victims of online harassment
(16 behaviors relating to online harassment were tested), whether for example
receiving repeated and insistent messages and friend requests from someone
they did not know (32% had already experienced it), to receive abusive
comments (19%) or even photos or images of a sexual nature when they had not
requested them (21%).
At the same time, nearly one in two French people (48%) has already
witnessed it: a figure lower than the number of victims, which clearly shows
that these situations are not always public but often insidious. The main platforms on which harassment occurs are social networks
(42% of social network users have already been the victim of harassment on
these platforms). They are followed by communication applications (16%
of users), at the same level as dating applications (16%: 22% of users
against 12% of users). Faced with the risk of being harassed
online on a dating site or application, users believe that platforms are
increasingly taking steps to avoid it. Users recognize that the risk of being harassed varies greatly from
one dating site or application to another (73%), in particular because some
platforms make more efforts than others to protect their users from
harassment (76%). ). Faced with the harassment situation experienced on a dating application,
the victims would have liked, first of all, to be able to ask the application
that the profile of the harasser be deleted (45%). As a second choice,
the victims would have liked the application to spot harassment messages
directly (37%) or, in fourth place, for the application to send messages to
the stalker to explain to him that his behavior is problematic (30%). Nevertheless, the majority of current users of dating sites or
applications (61%) perceive that they are already implementing more and more
means to prevent and fight against harassment on their platforms. Finally, the vast majority of French people (90%) believe that the
creation of tools to detect potential harassers on dating applications, by
identifying them for example when many messages are sent in succession while
they remain without answer, is a good approach (a very good approach for
35%). (Ipsos
France) December
13, 2021 Source: https://www.ipsos.com/fr-fr/le-harcelement-en-ligne-est-un-probleme-tres-grave-selon-68-des-francais 721-722-43-16/Polls 48% Of Civil Servants Believe That The Lack Of Equipment Is An
Obstacle To The Practice Of Teleworking
NB The workers questioned are workers in
the public and private sectors who work every day or several days a week in
an office. The public service is converting to
telework ... but less quickly than the private sector Teleworking in the public service is not simply a cyclical phenomenon
imposed by health constraints: there
will indeed be a “before” and an “after” COVID crisis in this area . A number of public officials have taken note of these long-term changes and have already
made significant life changes. The practice of teleworking has led to:
On the other hand, agents feel that the public service still lags behind the private sector :
69% of agents feel that the public service is lagging behind the private
sector in terms of teleworking. Confidence, access to information, clear
distribution of tasks ... The robot portrait of the regular teleworker Those who regularly telework (more than two days a week) are also
those whose organizations are more open: teamwork encouraged, autonomy in
decision-making, trust given to employees by the hierarchy, well-distributed
tasks, access to remote documents.
Obstacles specific to the public service
for the implementation of teleworking Teleworking is an unprecedented managerial revolution in the public
service, which today seems less well equipped than the private sector for its
deployment. Several types of brakes appear very clearly. Cultural obstacles remain strong Despite a year of teleworking, nearly 7 in 10 agents continue to
believe that in their organization, people
stay in the office to show that they are working . More
than half of the agents think that their management views teleworking in a negative light (58%),
and that those who work remotely are considered
to be in hiding (57%). Asked about the main elements
that make the development of telework difficult, public officials cite above
all the lack of confidence of managers (48%) the lack of equipment (48%) and
the cultural problem (42%)
Nearly one in two agents judge that the lack of adequate tools to practice telework is an obstacle to its
deployment, nearly four in ten underline the lack of organization for the implementation of
teleworking and two in ten point to finger the lack of
financial means. Findings systematically more widespread than in the
private sector. Three aspects of the public service, three
measures of teleworking The study reveals very marked differences between the three sides of
the civil service: State civil service (FPE), territorial civil service
(FPT), hospital public service (FPH).
When asked about the tools and resources available to work
remotely, 62% of hospital civil
servants believe that their organization has not deployed the right tools (against
28% in the FPE and 42% in the FPT). 63% of hospital civil servants do
not have easy access to all the documents they need when they are not in the
office (vs. 33% in the FPE and 38% in the FPT). The agreement for teleworking in the public
service, acclaimed but unknown by one in two agents While almost all public officials approve of the fact that they can request to telework up to three days
a week (80%), only 8% of them work remotely more than two
days a week (vs. 16 % in the private). (Ipsos France) December 21, 2021 721-722-43-17/Polls For Almost Every Second German Woman, Women's Rights Do Not Go Far
Enough
YouGov-Cambridge Globalism Project survey
on feminism and women's rights The topics of feminism, equal rights for women and women's rights
have made waves in recent years, including through #MeToo. Currently, 15
percent of Germans say they call themselves feminists. As expected,
women say this more often than men (22 percent vs. 8 percent of men).
Every fifth woman in Germany accepts
whistles from strange men on the street Almost half of all respondents (48 percent) say that women's rights
in Germany have not yet gone far enough; 57 percent of women say that. A
third of Germans say that women's rights in Germany have gone as far as they
should go (34 percent); men say this more often than women (42 percent vs. 25
percent of women).
Seven out of ten Germans find it unacceptable for a man to whistle
after a woman he doesn't know on the street (70 percent). The distinction
between men and women is rather small (71 percent of women vs. 68 percent of
men). 22 percent of all respondents say that they find it acceptable, 19
percent of women still make this statement, and one in four men says this (24
percent). These are the results of the YouGov-Cambridge Globalism Project 2021
for which a total of 1,009 people in Germany were surveyed from August 19 to
September 13, 2021 using standardized online interviews. The results are
weighted and representative for the German population aged 18 and over. (YouGov Germany) December 27, 2021 Source: https://yougov.de/news/2021/12/27/fur-knapp-jeden-zweiten-gehen-frauenrechte-nicht-w/ 721-722-43-18/Polls Christmas, DIY Wins Again: 1 Italian Out Of 2 Will Give Something
Made With Their Own Hands
YouGov recently conducted a survey for ManoMano.it , the
e-commerce specialist in home furnishings, do-it-yourself and gardening, to
understand if the tradition of do-it-yourself is still consolidated among
Italians during the holidays of Christmas. The Christmas holidays are fast approaching, but the Italians seem to
have prepared themselves: 88% are in fact ready to enjoy the Christmas
holidays, a figure even more true for the younger segment of the population
(92% between 18-34 years) who seems to feel the spirit of the holidays even
closer. In fact, it is no coincidence that it is the youngest who try their hand at hand-made gifts personally (52%
of 18-34 vs 42% of 55+). Among the most popular gifts this year in the field of do-it-yourself,
we find, in addition to the classic homemade sweets and preserves,
handcrafted household items, such as candles and infusions for the
environment, cited by 48%, followed from handmade clothing (sweaters,
t-shirts, hats and scarves ...) mentioned by 41%. Turning instead to the Christmas gifts that will be bought,
people intend to spend an average of €
300 (a figure that rises among the more adult groups of the
population: around € 200 in the 18-34 range, around € 350 in the range from
35 upwards. ). But not just gifts: 74% of the
interviewees said they made decorations and / or handmade Christmas
decorations , a tradition more deeply rooted in the Center,
South and Islands than in Northern Italy (76% Center, 80% South and 79%
Islands vs 67% of the North West). The DIY tradition is not only linked to the area of
gifts or Christmas decorations , but also extends to the area of meals . Again,
for Christmas dinners and lunches rather than going to a restaurant or
ordering takeaway / delivery, Italians prefer to cook for themselves or for
their family (68%) or go to the homes of relatives and friends (41%) ). Speaking of habits, 90% of Italians believe that at Christmas it is
better to prepare lunches and dinners at
home all together with loved ones rather than spending the
Christmas Eve dinner or Christmas lunch at a restaurant, just as 75% are
convinced that preparing Christmas decorations and handmade decorations can
make Christmas even more magical. About half of those who celebrate
Christmas will still be able to carve out time to prepare even the most
demanding hand-made gifts from the point of view of time and energy. (YouGov Italy) December 16, 2021 Source: https://it.yougov.com/news/2021/12/16/natale-il-fai-da-te-vince-ancora-1-italiano-su-2-r/ 721-722-43-19/Polls Charity At Christmas: Better In December, But Those Who Donate More
Don't Forget The Other Months
The conventional wisdom has it
that at Christmas it is more good . By virtue of this
tradition, for associations Onlus Christmas
time it is often an important opportunity for raising funds , often through ad-hoc initiatives
and proposals for "gift ideas" during the Holidays. YouGov explored how Italians respond to this idea of
Christmas generosity . Donations for charitable causes to non-profit organizations (Onlus)
of any kind involve almost half of the
Italian adult population: 44% declare that they have donated a
sum of money to charity during the
calendar year 2021 . Within this sample, the average annual donation was around € 160 , (€ 159, to be
exact), with figures that tend to grow as the respondents age, with 55+ donating on average 205 € throughout
the year.
But how much does the month of
December weigh on the total? Respondents on average
estimate to pay 24% of annual
donations in December . A certainly high percentage
for a single month, to demonstrate that, indeed, at Christmas we try to be
better. However, as important as it is, few are limited to December alone:
only 16% of Italian donors donate it only during this month,
compared to 26% who do so both in December and during the other months, and
even 47% who instead chooses to do so in the other eleven months rather than
Christmas. Furthermore, the more
"generous" tend to limit themselves even less to the Christmas
period . In fact, among
those who donated more than € 100 during the calendar year, the percentage of
those who say they donate only in December collapses to 7% . In
short, if the average donor concentrates 24% of donations in this month, the
donors of more substantial amounts are actually trying to distribute their
benefit payments more. The data may not surprise: very often, in fact, the non-profit
organizations themselves try to exploit the last month of the year as an
opportunity to encourage the start of ongoing donations that continue in the
following months, thus ensuring better management and predictability of
incoming flows. (YouGov Italy) December 24, 2021 Source: https://it.yougov.com/news/2021/12/24/italiani-e-beneficenza-natale-piu-buoni-dicembre-m/ NORTH
AMERICA
721-722-43-20/Polls Increased Avoidance Of Care, Drugs Due To Cost Amid Pandemic
Amid sharply rising inflation, the percentage of U.S. adults who
report forgoing treatment for a health problem in the prior three months due
to the cost of care has increased to 30%, according to a major new study
by West
Health and Gallup. Reports of being unable to pay for prescribed
medicine in the prior three months, in turn, have risen to 14% during the
same time span. Forgoing Care and Medicine in Past Three Months Due to Cost Has there been a time in the last three months when you or a member
of your household: (1) had a health problem, but you did not seek treatment
due to the cost of care; (2) has been unable to pay for medicine or drugs
that a doctor had prescribed for you because you did not have enough money to
pay for them?
These surveys were conducted by web March 15-21, June 14-20, and over
successive field periods of Sept. 27-30 and Oct. 18-21, 2021, with adults
aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia
via the Gallup
Panel, a probability-based, non-opt-in panel of about 120,000 adults
nationwide. The September/October results were obtained on a West Health
survey solely asking about healthcare issues, whereas the March and June
measurements were asked toward the end of Gallup's ongoing coronavirus
pandemic tracking survey. Full results of the new study can be found in the West Health-Gallup 2021 Healthcare in America
Report, which provides a comprehensive look at Americans'
changing attitudes, behaviors and trends related to healthcare during the
second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report highlights the outsized
effect the ongoing pandemic appears to have had on public attitudes toward
healthcare. COVID-19 Worsens Views of U.S. Healthcare
System Americans say the COVID-19 pandemic has increased their worry about
the cost of healthcare services, and to a lesser extent, the cost of
prescription drugs. About six in 10 U.S. adults (59%) report that they are
more worried about the cost of healthcare services due to the pandemic, and another
45% say they are more worried about the cost of prescriptions. Less than 5%
are now less worried about each because of COVID-19. Changing Worries About Cost of Care, Medicine Due to COVID-19 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, are you now more worried or less
worried about the cost of: (1) healthcare services in America; (2)
prescription drugs in America?
Amid substantial levels of worry about costs brought on by the
pandemic, nearly half of Americans (48%) report that COVID-19 has worsened
their view of the U.S. healthcare system, while 7% say COVID-19 has improved
it. These deteriorating opinions hold true across age groups but are
particularly acute among adults younger than 40. COVID-19 Pandemic Worsens Views of U.S. Healthcare System, by Age Has COVID-19 changed your view of the U.S. healthcare system?
The pandemic has also exposed perceived inequities in the healthcare
system. Six in 10 Americans (60%) say that due to COVID-19, they are more
concerned that some Americans have unequal access to quality care. This level
of concern rises to 74% among Black Americans and to 68% among Hispanic
Americans. Six percent of Americans say they are less concerned about inequities
because of COVID-19. COVID-19 Pandemic Elevates Concerns of Inequities in U.S. Healthcare,
by Subgroup Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, are you now more concerned or less
concerned that some Americans have unequal access to quality healthcare
services?
Healthcare in America: Key Report Findings The major new report from West Health and Gallup is based on the
findings from a nationally representative sample of more than 6,600 American
adults and is among the largest surveys measuring the state of healthcare in
America during the second year of the pandemic. Additional key findings
include:
Implications Several major indicators of Americans' wellbeing have worsened in
recent months. An increasing percentage of adults are citing economic
issues, including inflation, as the most important problem facing the
nation. Gallup's Economic Confidence Index, in turn, fell from
+2 in April to -25 in October, its lowest mark since April 2020. And
satisfaction with the way things are going in the United States has slid from
34% to 23% during the same period. Dovetailing with these general attitudes,
the worsening trends in Americans' ability to afford healthcare underscore
the urgency of addressing the cost of care in the U.S. today and the dire
projections for the coming years. Many factors likely contribute to the recent changes, most of them
pandemic-related. The cost of COVID-19 care for which consumers are
responsible is rising, Kaiser Family Foundation recently reported, as 72% of
major health insurers have moved to require members to pay more for COVID-19
treatment. That, coupled with the major summer surge in hospitalizations, has
resulted in much more money paid out of pocket for affected Americans and
much less money available for other household expenses. Reports also suggest that deferred elective care from 2020 is now
occurring in 2021, driving up healthcare utilization generally and increasing
costs. And amid these issues is a worsening nurse shortage nationally that
predated the pandemic but has significantly worsened because of it, forcing
health systems in 2021 to increase salaries and hiring bonuses as a means of
attracting and retaining nurses -- practices that can also result in greater
costs for consumers. The pandemic has likely played a significant role in the cost crisis
in other ways, including disruptions in the global supply chain that have
sharply increased inflation. The personal consumption expenditures (PCE)
price index -- a key measure of inflation -- hit a 30-year high in August,
according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, and has substantially
outpaced more slowly rising American incomes. As consumers are spending more
on basic food items, utilities and gasoline -- causing
hardship for 45% of households -- the effects of simultaneously
rising costs of care are likely exacerbating their ability to afford it.
Medical devices and medical technology that are dependent on chips and
semiconductors to power devices are increasing in price as well due to
pandemic-driven global supply-chain shortages in 2021. Money to spend on healthcare has also dwindled in recent months. According
to a study by NPR/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Harvard T.H. Chan School of
Public Health, 38% of U.S. households have suffered serious financial
problems in the past few months. Taken together, 2021 will likely be seen as a year when addressing the
cost of care in the U.S. took on a new urgency and importance, setting the
stage for policy leaders to choose between legislating real change or
maintaining the status quo -- potentially further eroding the ability of
Americans to afford both needed medicine and care. (Gallup) DECEMBER 14, 2021 Source: https://news.gallup.com/poll/357980/increased-avoidance-care-drugs-due-cost-amid-pandemic.aspx 721-722-43-21/Polls Racial And Ethnic Differences Stand Out In The U S Gig Workforce
From delivering groceries to driving others where they need to go,
some Americans are turning to gig jobs to earn money. In fact, 16% of U.S.
adults have
ever earned money through an online gig platform, including 9% who
have done so in the past year, according to a Pew
Research Center survey conducted in August 2021. But there are
racial and ethnic differences when it comes to who takes on these jobs and
the negative experiences some gig platform workers say they face. Hispanic adults are more likely than other racial or ethnic groups to
have done gig work: 30% of this group have ever earned money through an
online gig platform, compared with 20% of Black adults, 19% of Asian adults
and even smaller shares of White adults (12%).
Taking on gig jobs also varies substantially by age, with adults
under age 50 about twice as likely as those ages 50 and older to have ever
done this type of work (22% vs. 10%). And while younger generations tend to
be more racially
and ethnically diverse compared with older ones, age alone does not
fully account for the racial and ethnic gaps present within this workforce.
Even among adults under the age of 50, Hispanic (34%) or Black Americans
(27%) are more likely than those who are White (16%) to have earned money via
an online gig platform. While racial and ethnic gaps are present in each type of gig job
measured in this survey, there are some tasks where these differences are
more pronounced. For example, 16% of Hispanic adults say they have ever made
deliveries from a restaurant or store for a delivery app, compared with
one-in-ten Black adults, 7% of Asian adults and 4% of White adults. Hispanic
adults are also more likely to report they have ever performed household
tasks or run errands through gig work platforms than are Black, White or
Asian adults. There are also differences when it comes to earning money through two
or more types of gig jobs. Gig platform workers who do not identify as White
are more likely than those who are White to have earned money via multiple
types of gig jobs (48% vs. 30%). The findings on earning money via any gig platform work are mostly in
line with the Center’s 2016
survey that found Hispanic or Black adults were more likely than
White adults to have earned money through an online gig platform in the past
year. (Due to sample size limitations, figures for Asian Americans could not
be reported separately in 2016.) While the current figures are not directly
comparable to the earlier study due to changes in question wording, it is
clear that earning money through gig jobs continues to be more common for
those who are not White than for those who are. The rise of the gig economy has touched off wide-ranging debates
about its impact on workers. While some credit
these platforms with providing greater freedom and flexibility,
others have raised concerns about perceived racial biases in customer rating
systems as well as the lack of legal
protections available to a workforce that Hispanic, Black or Asian
adults are particularly likely to participate in.
The current survey finds majorities of White (76%) and non-White
(81%) gig platform workers say their experience with taking on these jobs has
been positive. However, those who are not White are more likely to report
troubling encounters, specifically feeling unsafe or experiencing unwanted
sexual advances, while on the job. (The NET non-White category for gig
platform workers includes those who identify as Black, Asian, Hispanic, some
other race or multiple races.) Indeed, 41% of non-White gig workers say they have at least sometimes
felt unsafe while completing jobs, compared with 28% of those who are White. Non-White
gig workers are also about twice as likely as their White counterparts to say
they have often felt
unsafe while working (15% vs. 8%). Additionally, gig workers who do not identify as White are more
likely than those who do identify in this way to say they have often or
sometimes experienced an unwanted sexual advance on the job (24% vs. 13%).
(There are no statistically significant differences between White and
non-White gig workers in reporting being treated rudely while completing jobs
at least sometimes.)
Some gig jobs may require contact with the public, thereby
potentially increasing workers’ risk of exposure
to COVID-19. Some 51% of gig workers who have earned money through these
platforms over the past year say they have been at least somewhat concerned
about getting the coronavirus while on the job in that time frame, according
to the August survey. Health concerns related to the pandemic are especially prevalent
among non-White gig workers. Among those who have worked gig platform jobs in
the past year, 59% of those who are non-White say they have been at least
somewhat concerned over the past 12 months about getting the coronavirus while
working these jobs, compared with 38% of those who are White. These racial
and ethnic differences in gig workers’ on-the-job concerns largely
mirror concerns about COVID-19 across racial and ethnic groups more
generally. (PEW) DECEMBER 15, 2021 721-722-43-22/Polls Overall, About Half (52%) Of Americans Say The U S Is One Of The
Greatest Countries, Along With Some Others
Young people in the United States express far more skeptical views of
America’s global standing than older adults. They are also more likely to say
it would be acceptable if another country became as militarily powerful as
the U.S., according to a Pew
Research Center survey of U.S. adults conducted in July.
Overall, about half (52%) of Americans say the U.S. is “one of the
greatest countries, along with some others.” Nearly a quarter say instead
that the U.S. “stands above all other countries” (23%), while an identical
share (23%) says “there are other countries that are better than the U.S.” Opinions about the nation’s global standing have changed little since
2019. However, the share of adults saying there are other countries that are
better than the U.S. is higher than it was a decade ago, with most of the
increase coming among Democrats. There continue to be wide age differences in views of how America
compares with other countries. Roughly four-in-ten adults ages 18 to 29 (42%)
say there are other countries that are better than the U.S. – the highest
share of any age group. Age differences in these views are evident within both partisan
coalitions. A majority (55%) of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents
under age 30 say there are other countries that are better than the U.S., as
do 38% of those 30 to 49. By comparison, just 20% of Democrats ages 50 and
older say this. Among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, 18% of adults
under 30 say there are other countries that are superior to the U.S.,
compared with just 6% of Republicans 50 and older who take this view. But
younger Republicans are considerably less likely than older Republicans to
say the U.S. is the greatest nation: 19% of those ages 18 to 29 say this,
compared with 31% of those 30 to 49, 41% of those 50 to 64 and 54% of those
65 and older. Over the past two years, Republicans under age 30 have grown
less likely to say that the U.S. stands above all other countries in the
world: 19% express this view today, down from 34% in 2019. A far larger share
now say that the U.S. is one of the greatest nations, along with some others
(47% in 2019 vs. 62% today). Views of how the U.S. compares with other countries have long been
divided along partisan lines – and the partisan gap in views of the United
States’ standing today remains large. Today, about a third of Democrats say
there are other countries that are better than the U.S.; just 11% of
Republicans say the same. And while 38% of Republicans say the U.S. stands
above all other countries, just 12% of Democrats say this. These shares are
roughly on par with partisans’ views of the U.S. in 2019.
Differences in views of the country’s global standing extend beyond
partisanship. Pew Research Center’s 2021
political typology revealed stark differences among typology groups
in views of the U.S., even within partisan coalitions. For example, Faith and
Flag Conservatives are the only group in which a majority (69%) says the U.S.
stands above all other countries; clear majorities of those in three other
GOP-oriented typology groups overwhelmingly say instead that the U.S. is
among the greatest nations in the world, along with some others. Conversely,
Progressive Left (75%) and Outsider Left (63%) are the only typology groups
in which majorities say there are other countries better than the U.S. Most of those
in other Democratic-oriented groups take the position that the U.S. is among
a small number of greatest countries in the world. When it comes to views of America’s status as a military superpower,
a majority of adults (60%) say that U.S. policies should try to maintain the
country’s position as the only military superpower, while 36% say it would be
acceptable if another country were to become as militarily powerful.
Mirroring age divides in attitudes about the United States’ global
standing, younger adults are more likely than older adults to say it would be
acceptable if another country became as militarily powerful as the U.S. A majority (57%) of Democrats under age 30 say it would be acceptable
if other nations became as militarily powerful as the U.S., while Democrats
ages 30 to 49 are more divided on this question. Democrats 50 and older are
more likely to say policies should try to keep it so the U.S. remains
militarily superior than to say it would be acceptable for another country to
gain similar military strength (58% vs. 37%). Though a majority of Republicans across age groups say that U.S.
policies should try to keep it so America is the only military superpower,
35% of Republicans under 30 say it would be acceptable if another country
became as militarily powerful as the U.S., compared with smaller shares among
older Republicans. (PEW) DECEMBER 16, 2021 721-722-43-23/Polls About Four-In-Ten Republicans And Republican-Leaning Independents
(42%) Say Reagan Has Done The Best Job As President Over The Past 40 Years
When asked to name the president who has done the best job over the
past 40 years, a majority of Democrats name Barack Obama. Republicans, by
contrast, are divided between a president who served in the 1980s – Ronald
Reagan – and the one who left office this year, Donald Trump.
About four-in-ten Republicans and Republican-leaning independents
(42%) say Reagan has done the best job as president over the past 40 years,
while slightly fewer (37%) say Trump has done the best job. Around six-in-ten Democrats and Democratic leaners (59%) say Obama
has done the best job as president of any president of the past 40 years. Far
fewer name Bill Clinton (19%) or Joe Biden (5%), who will complete his first
year in office next month. Seven presidents have served in the last 40 years, four Republicans
and three Democrats. Among U.S. adults overall, 35% say Obama has done the
best job over this period, followed by Reagan (23%), Trump (17%) and Clinton
(12%). Relatively small shares among both the general public and among
Republicans name either George W. Bush or George H.W. Bush, according to the
survey, conducted in September on Pew Research Center’s American Trends
Panel. Among Republicans, views on who has done the best job as president
over the past four decades vary by race and ethnicity, age and other
demographics.
Comparable shares of White and Hispanic Republicans say Trump has
done the best job as president (38% and 33%, respectively). But White
Republicans are more likely than Hispanic Republicans to name Reagan (45% vs.
28%), while a quarter of Hispanic Republicans (27%) say a Democratic
president did the best job over the past 40 years. Black and Asian
Republicans make up much smaller shares of the public; as a result, sample
size limitations mean it is not possible to analyze their views. Half of
Republicans ages 50 and older say Reagan has done the best job of any recent
president, compared with 32% of those under age 50. There are smaller age
differences in the shares of Republicans who name Trump. And while relatively
small shares of Republicans in all age groups name Democratic presidents,
those under 50 are more likely than those 50 and older to do so (19% vs. 3%). Among Republicans who have not completed college, comparable shares
name Trump and Reagan as the top recent presidents (40% and 38%,
respectively). Among Republican college graduates, more say Reagan than Trump
by a wide margin (51% vs. 29%). Among Republicans who name Reagan or Trump as the best recent
president, there are sizable differences in choices for the second-best president. Among
Republicans who say Trump, about three-quarters (73%) say Reagan is the
second-best president of the past 40 years. However, among those who point to
Reagan, views of the second-best president are more varied: 54% say Trump,
while 34% name other Republican presidents and 11% name Democratic
presidents.
Among Democrats, majorities across demographic groups view Obama as
the best recent president. Still, younger Democrats are especially likely to
say this, and Black Democrats are somewhat more likely than White and
Hispanic Democrats to hold this view. Nearly three-quarters of Democrats ages 18 to 29 (74%) say Obama has
been the best president over the past 40 years, by far the highest share of
any age group. And while 69% of Black Democrats name Obama, smaller
majorities do so among Hispanic and White Democrats (56% each). Among Asian
American Democrats, 64% name Obama. (PEW) DECEMBER 20, 2021 721-722-43-24/Polls 43% Approve Of The Way President Joe Biden Is Handling His Job
President Joe Biden's job approval remains entrenched in the low 40s,
having registered 42% or 43% in four separate Gallup polls since September,
including 43% in a new December survey.
Line graph. Trend in President Joe Biden's job approval rating. In
December 2021, 43% of U.S. adults approve of the job Biden is doing as
president, similar to the past three months but lower than in readings taken
in January through August. Biden began his term with relatively strong approval in the high 50s
and stayed
above the 50% mark through June. In July, when U.S. coronavirus cases
surged, his
approval fell to 50% and stayed at
about that level in August. Then, after the U.S. withdrawal from
Afghanistan, it dropped
to the low 40s, where it has remained since. The new Dec. 1-16 poll was conducted as the U.S. was facing a renewed
increase in coronavirus infections of both the delta and omicron variants of
the virus. Inflation in the U.S. has reached levels not seen in decades,
likely overshadowing positive economic indicators such as declining
unemployment, solid economic growth and historically high stock values. Though Biden's overall approval number is steady, his ratings by
political subgroup have shown some movement, most notably among Democrats.
Their 78% approval is significantly lower than in prior Gallup surveys, when
it registered 90% or higher. It is unclear at this point if the current
reading among Democrats represents an actual decline in approval among his
party base or a one-time statistical outlier. Some other polls have recently
shown declining Biden approval among Democrats. While the current Gallup survey measured lower-than-usual Biden job
approval among Democrats, his rating from independents, 40%, is slightly
higher than it has been. In the September to November surveys, between 34%
and 37% of independents approved of the way Biden was handling his job. The president's 5% approval among Republicans is similar to recent
measures among this group. At the same time that Biden's rating fell among Democrats, the poll
found a slightly greater proportion of poll respondents identifying
politically as Democrats (30%) than has been the case recently. Gallup has
not found this high a proportion of Americans identifying as Democrats since
June. Thus, even if Democrats are slightly less positive toward Biden, if
more Americans are identifying as Democrats, it could explain why his overall
job approval rating is steady in the latest survey, even as his approval
among Democrats is lower. Congress' Job Approval at 23% As is typically the case, Congress has a lower job approval rating --
23% -- than the president does. In the past three months, Congress' approval
rating has slumped after being in the mid-20s to mid-30s earlier this year.
This included a 36%
reading in March, which was the highest Gallup has measured for the
institution since 2009.
Line graph. Job approval of Congress in 2021. From February through
May 2021, more than 30% of Americans approved of the job Congress was doing.
Between June and September, approval was slightly lower, ranging between 26%
and 28%. Since October, approval has dipped to between 20% and 23%. The retreat in congressional approval ratings is being led by
Democrats. Earlier this year, as many as 61% of Democrats approved of
Congress, including 55% in September. During the past three months, Congress'
approval among Democrats has been in the 30% range, including 36%
this month. Though Congress last month passed the bipartisan infrastructure bill
after lengthy negotiations in the House, the "Build Back Better"
legislation that focuses on climate change and social spending programs has
stalled in the Senate after the House passed a version of the bill in November.
Passage of that latter bill appears to be in jeopardy, with Sen. Joe Manchin,
the swing vote in the Senate, announcing this week that he would not vote for
it. Twenty-two percent of independents and 7% of Republicans currently
approve of the way Congress is handling its job. Bottom Line After Americans were generally positive about Biden's performance at
the start of his presidency, they have been much more critical since
September. His approval ratings in the low 40s are similar to those
registered by former Presidents Donald
Trump and Barack
Obama for long stretches of their presidencies. The three most
recent presidents have governed in an era
of heightened partisanship, in which supporters of the opposition party
are loath to express positive opinions of the Oval Office occupant, making it
difficult for these presidents to register high overall approval ratings.
Much of the movement that does occur in job ratings occurs among political
independents. The group can be hard to win back once things go in a negative
direction, as occurred for Biden in the late summer and early fall. (Gallup) DECEMBER 21, 2021 Source: https://news.gallup.com/poll/358343/joe-biden-job-approval-rating-steady-december.aspx 721-722-43-25/Polls Overall, About Half Of U S Adults (48%) Say That Most Things In
Society Can Be Clearly Divided Into Good And Evil
Many major religions have clear teachings about good and evil in the
world. For example, the Abrahamic traditions – Judaism, Christianity and
Islam – use concepts such as God and the devil or heaven and hell to
illustrate this dichotomy.
It may be somewhat unsurprising, then, that highly religious
Americans are much more likely to see society in those terms, while
nonreligious people tend to see more ambiguity, according to a recent Pew
Research Center survey. Overall, about half of U.S. adults (48%) say that most things in
society can be clearly divided into good and evil, while the other half (50%)
say that most things in society are too complicated to be categorized this way.
However, there are stark differences in opinion based on respondents’
religious affiliation and how religious they are. For example, U.S. Christians are much more likely than religiously
unaffiliated Americans to say that most things in society can be clearly
divided into good and evil (54% vs. 37%). Nearly two-thirds of White
evangelical Protestants (64%) say this, as do 57% of Black Protestants.
Members of these two groups also attend
religious services and pray at higher rates than other U.S. adults. By comparison, only around half of U.S. Catholics (49%) and White
Protestants who do not identify as evangelical (47%) say that most things in
society can be clearly divided into good and evil. Among those who identify their religion as “nothing in particular,”
43% say that most things in society can be clearly divided into good and
evil. But far fewer atheists (22%) and agnostics (29%) say the same.
Combined, these three groups make up the nation’s religiously unaffiliated
population, also known as religious “nones”; overall, a majority of these
unaffiliated Americans (62%) say most things in society are too complicated
to be divided into good and evil. Due to sample size limitations, this analysis does not include some
smaller religious groups who were asked this question, such as Jewish and
Muslim Americans. Differences over whether most things in society can be divided into
good and evil also are apparent when looking at various measures of religious
observance. Highly religious Americans – regardless of their religious
affiliation – are more likely to see society in terms of good and evil. For
instance, U.S. adults who say they attend religious services at least once a
week are more likely than those who seldom or never attend services to give
this response (59% vs. 42%). And there are similar patterns when it comes to
the self-professed importance of religion in people’s lives and their prayer
habits. Previous Pew Research Center surveys have found that many highly
religious people look to God as a marker of good and evil and say that it
is necessary
to believe in God in order to be a moral person. Even within religious groups, Democrats and
Republicans have different attitudes about good and evil Views about good and evil also vary by political party. Roughly
six-in-ten Republicans and independents who lean toward the Republican Party
(59%) say that most things in society can be clearly divided into good and
evil, compared with 38% of Democrats and Democratic leaners.
Religious groups differ
from one another in their political makeup. For example, White
evangelical Protestants are more likely to be Republicans, while atheists and
agnostics tend to align with the Democratic Party. Still, party
identification does not fully explain the religious differences described in
this analysis; within both parties, there are large differences across
religious groups. For instance, Republican Christians are more likely than Republican
“nones” to say that most things in society can be clearly divided into good
and evil (63% vs. 48%). Similarly, Democratic Christians are more likely than
Democratic “nones” to give that response (43% vs. 31%). The reverse pattern is also true: Religious differences do not
entirely account for the political gaps in views of good and evil. This is
evidenced by the fact that Catholic Republicans are more likely than Catholic
Democrats to see clear distinctions between good and evil (57% vs. 43%), a
pattern that also holds true among Protestants. (PEW) DECEMBER 21, 2021 721-722-43-26/Polls Many U S Workers Are Seeing Bigger Paychecks In Pandemic Era, But
Gains Aren’t Spread Evenly
The COVID-19
pandemic is reshaping the U.S. labor market more than any single
event since at least the Great
Recession of 2007-09 and the financial
panic that accompanied it. Employers shed nearly 20 million jobs
between March and April 2020, according to government data, and payroll
employment has yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels. Workers are quitting
their jobs at a record pace, particularly in lower-paid sectors such as
retail and food service, and many employers are scrambling to lure
replacements with raises and bonuses. At least, that’s the broad picture. But those wage gains have been
distributed unevenly throughout the workforce, with workers in some sectors
and industries seeing far smaller gains than those in others. And workers’
real purchasing power has been eroded by sharply
higher inflation. (This analysis focuses on average weekly wages and
employment levels in the private sector, where around 85% of Americans work.) Almost two-thirds of U.S. private sector payroll workers (63.6%) work
in industries where the average weekly wage in the second quarter of 2021 was
at least 5% higher than it was in the second quarter of 2020, according to
the most recently available data from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages,
a product of the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The “accommodation and food services” sector – including restaurants,
bars, hotels and the like – had the biggest increase in average weekly wages
since the second quarter of 2020, when much of the sector was either shut
down or sharply curtailed because of the pandemic. The average wage for
workers in this sector rose 18.4%, to $482 a week, after dropping 4.9%
between the second quarter of 2019 and the same period in 2020. (Over that
same period, average employment in the sector plummeted 38%.) But despite the
recent wage increases, this was still the lowest-paying sector. The two sectors with the next biggest wage gains were information
(which includes, among other industries, software publishing and “internet
publishing and web search portals”) and company management. These are also
the highest-paying sectors overall. Average weekly wages in the information sector rose 12.3%, to $2,740,
between the second quarter of 2020 and the second quarter of 2021 – almost as
much as they rose in the corresponding 2019-20 period. Management pay rose an
average 12%, to $2,513 a week, between mid-2020 and mid-2021, after staying
nearly flat in the year-earlier period. Pandemic-related job losses in the information and management sectors
weren’t just considerably smaller than in accommodation and food services –
perhaps because many more information and management workers could work
from home – but by this year’s second quarter, those two high-paying
sectors had regained most of the workers they lost. By contrast, employment
in accommodation and food services was still 15% below its level in the
second quarter of 2019. To get a more detailed view of pay patterns, we drilled down from
broad sectors and looked at detailed industries that employed more than
100,000 people. (Small industries are more prone to dramatic fluctuations in
both pay and workforce: The industry with the biggest average wage gain
between the second quarters of 2020 and 2021, “other traveler accommodation,”
employs only around 30,000-35,000 people in bed-and-breakfasts, youth hostels
and other non-hotel types of lodging.) Also, it’s important to note that,
especially at the industry level, reported wage changes can be affected
by changes
in the composition of that specific workforce. Of that subgroup of industries, which accounts for 106.6 million
jobs, the wage growth leader was financial transaction processing and
clearing. Average pay for the 126,000 or so people in that industry more than
doubled between the second quarter of 2020 and the second quarter of 2021,
from $2,110 to $4,247. Other leading industries included local messengers and
delivery people (up 92.6%), new car dealers (up 40.4%) and dentists’ offices
(up 27.6%).
Many of the industries in this subgroup that notched the biggest wage
gains between the second quarter of 2020 and the second quarter of 2021 had
experienced wage declines during the early months of the pandemic. In 2020’s
second quarter, for example, average wages for dental workers were 13.3%
below their level a year earlier. For that reason, we also decided to compare wages in the second
quarter of 2021 against the same quarter in 2019, to see where the biggest
overall gains have been. The wage winners this time were local messengers and
delivery people, whose average weekly wage more than doubled over the period
in question – from $680 to $1,437. Financial transaction processing and
clearing was close behind, with a two-year gain of 96.6%. Further back were
computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing (up 40.1%), new car dealers
(38.5%) and a nonbank lending category dominated by mortgage lenders (up
almost 35%). (PEW) DECEMBER 22, 2021 721-722-43-27/Polls Majority (56%) Of Canadians Support Another Lockdown To Stop The
Spread Of Omicron
With the Omicron variant of COVID-19 spreading quickly and stoking
worries of a sharp rise in case counts and hospitalizations, a new Ipsos poll
conducted on behalf of Global News reveals that a majority (56%) of Canadians
agree (20% strongly/36% somewhat) that we should have another lockdown to
help stop the spread of the Omicron variant. Conversely, 44% oppose (18%
strongly/26% somewhat) another round of lockdowns. Support is highest in
Quebec (62%), British Columbia (61%), Atlantic Canada (60%) and Saskatchewan
and Manitoba (59%) and lower in Ontario (53%) and, especially, Alberta (44%). Although a majority still support lockdown measures, support is
dropping. In July of 2021, 69% said they would support more lockdown measures
if a fourth wave of the pandemic arose, which dropped to 63% in September, and
is now just 56% now that the Omicron wave is upon us. Canadians believe that Omicron will further delay to the return to
normal, particularly when it comes to the ability to travel:
Canadians have begun rolling up their sleeves yet again to get their
COVID booster shots, and the Prime Minister has encouraged the premiers to
expedite their delivery of the vaccine within their provinces. But many
appear to be willing to wait for their 3rd shot if it means
that Canada could share its vaccine supply with low-income countries. Indeed,
seven in ten (69%) agree (25% strongly/44% somewhat) that they would be
willing to wait, while three in ten (31%) disagree (11% strongly/21%
somewhat) with postponing. Those in Atlantic Canada (78%) and Quebec (75%)
are most likely to say they’d be fine giving their immediate booster shots to
lower-income countries, while those in Ontario (69%), Saskatchewan and
Manitoba (64%), Alberta (62%) and British Columbia (59%) are less inclined.
Those aged 18-34 (75%) are also more likely than those aged 35-54 (70%) or
55+ (62%) to hold this position. Canadians Say Public Health Officials
Outperforming Political Leaders in Response to COVID-19 Reflecting on the performance of key figures over the past year in
their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the poll reveals that some public
health officials have outperformed their political masters in the eyes of
Canadians. Dr. Theresa Tam has received a higher approval rating than the
collective efforts of Canada’s provincial premiers and the Prime Minister,
while Canadians’ assessment of Dr. Anthony Fauci surpasses that of President
Joe Biden. Also interesting is that Canadians’ assessment of President
Biden’s handling of the pandemic is more positive than Prime Minister
Trudeau’s. Approval of Handling of the COVID-19 Crisis
Compared to May of 2021, the Prime Minister’s COVID-specific approval
rating is down by 5 points to 49%, while collectively the premiers’ approval
rating is down just 2 points. The Premier of Quebec (75%, -1) receives the
highest approval ratings among his first minister colleagues, followed by the
Premiers of British Columbia (63%, -13), Atlantic Canada (61%, -7), Ontario
(52%, +2), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (37%, -7) and Alberta (33%, +2). (Ipsos Canada) 17 December 2021 Source: https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/news-polls/majority-support-another-lockdown-stop-omnicron 721-722-43-28/Polls Only Half (50%) Of Canadians Currently Working From Home Say They
Expect To Return To The Office Regularly In 2022
As the end of the year approaches, the future of the workplace
remains uncertain heading into 2022 as only one half (50%) of Canadians
currently working from home envision themselves returning to the office with
any regularity in 2022, according to a new Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of
Global News. The poll also asked working Canadians about their experiences in 2021
and what their expectations and feelings are about 2022, given the
ever-changing contextual situation in Canada. Overall, 64% of working
Canadians agree (15% strongly/49% somewhat) that they achieved a better
work-life balance in 2021, led by Quebecers (77%) and followed by those
living in Atlantic Canada (69%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (68%), British
Columbia (60%), Ontario (60%) and Alberta (49%). However, it appears that many are still struggling to achieve that
balance, since four in ten (39%) workers agree that they would be fine
earning 20% less money if it meant they could work 20% fewer hours than they
do now. Workers aged 18-34 (49%) are most likely to hold this position,
followed by those aged 35-54 (35%) and 55+ (34%). The nature of work continued to evolve in 2021, with 9% saying they
started working remotely/from home, 7% returning to the office, and 15%
continuing to work from home for an extended period of time. Moreover, among
the 11% who started a new job, 72% agree that it was their choice to do so,
while 28% disagree that it was their own decision, suggesting that they were
laid off, fired, or needed to start a second job to make ends meet. Overall,
6% said they lost their job and 4% said they had to find a second or third
job. Those working from home appear to have enjoyed the flexibility and
want to continue the option to work from home on a regular basis, even if
they have missed their colleagues:
Work Experiences in 2021
(Ipsos Canada) 26 December 2021 Source: https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/news-polls/only-half-of-Canadians-say-they-expect-to-return-to-office AUSTRALIA
721-722-43-29/Polls Eight In Ten Australians Expect A Better Year In 2022
People around the world are optimistic that 2022 will be a better
year following a challenging 2021 and in Australia 82% expect a better year,
according to a new Ipsos' Global Advisor survey in 33 countries. Of the nine questions where Ipsos has trend data since 2020, four
show significant change in attitudes among respondents, indicating a more
optimistic view of what 2022 will bring. Nonetheless, concerns about the
environment and rising prices persist. And while most expect greater COVID
vaccination rates around the world, half (47%) expect a new deadly strain of
the virus to appear. Key Australian highlights:
Ipsos Australia Director, David Elliott,
said: “Despite another tough year, particularly after it started relatively
optimistically, Australians continue to show their positivity, optimism and
ability to bounce back. While there is optimism about 2022 and the
global economy, there is also a high proportion who are concerned about
prices rising faster than incomes, which perhaps isn’t that surprising as
Australia’s slow wage growth is well documented and discussed. “The other stand out, but not a surprise is that Australia ranked
third highest among the countries surveyed at 68% in terms of believing there
will be more extreme weather events in Australia in 2022 than there were in
2021. Across a number of our studies, we continue to see growing
concerns with climate change and people wanting to know how the Government
plans to tackle it.” Outlook 2022 Hope springs eternal. More than eight in 10 Australians (82%), compared to the
global average of 77%, expect a better year in 2022. It ranges from 54% of
Japanese saying they are optimistic that 2022 will be a better year for them
than it was in 2021, to 94% of Chinese. 2021 seemed to have been a better year than 2020 for most countries,
although 85% of Australians said
it was a bad year. When asked in 2020, 90% said 2020 was a bad year for their
country. This year when asked about 2021 this has dropped to 77% globally. Only 56% say 2021 was bad for them and their families - down from 90%
last year and Australia was
close to the global average at 59%. As in most years, three in four say they will make some personal
resolutions to do some specific things for themselves or others in 2022, with
72% of those in Australia.
Japan (44%) and Sweden (23%) are the only surveyed countries where only a
minority will be making resolutions for the new year. Overall, there is more optimism about the global economy. Three in
five around the world agree the global economy will be stronger next year,
compared to 54% in 2020. In Australia, the
figure was 69%. COVID-19 More than half of people (56%) believe that more than 80% of the
world’s population will receive at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in
2022. In Australia, 65% of
people agree with this statement. Latin Americans are highly optimistic, with
figures rising to 81% in Peru, 76% in Brazil, and 69% in Chile. Europeans are
more sceptical about wider vaccine distribution, where figures fall to 42% in
France, 38% in Switzerland and 33% in Germany. The environment Most people around the world believe in 2022 we will see more climate
change consequences, with 60% saying is likely there will be more extreme
weather events in their country in 2022 than there were in 2021. Australia ranked third highest among
the countries surveyed at 68%, no doubt due to the bushfires, floods, and
droughts across the country. In addition, 45% expect to see people flying less than they did in
2019. Australia ranked
higher than the global average, at 57%. Those in Asia are more confident that
this is likely to be the case, with 68% in China, 67% in Singapore and 66% in
Malaysia. Economics A clear majority (75%) expect prices in their countries to increase
faster than incomes. Australia was
close to the global average at 77%. While most people around the world think
this is likely to happen, only a third (33%) think so in Japan, which has been
subject to decades of deflation. Only a third (35%) globally expect to see stock markets around the
world crashing and Australia was
again close to the global average at 38%. Globally, people have greater
expectations for stock market stability in 2022 than they did in 2021, when
40% said major stock markets around the world were likely to crash. Society 71% anticipate seeing city centres in their countries becoming busy
again as people get back to working in offices on a regular basis. Almost
eight in 10 Australians agreed
with this statement, at 76%. Nine in ten (87%) in China say this is likely to
happen. People in South America have similar expectations with four in five
(78%) in Argentina, Brazil and Colombia expecting their city centres to be
busy again. Globally, around three in ten (28%) say is likely that people in
their country will become more tolerant of each other and almost one third
(32%) of Australians agree.
While this rises to 60% in India, only 9% of French think this is likely to
happen. Technology More than half (57%) say it is likely many more people will live
their lives in a virtual world. Australians were
more sceptical, with 49% agreeing with this statement. This figure rises to
almost eight in ten (77%) in Turkey, but falls to 43% in Great Britain, 36%
in Saudi Arabia and only 18% in Japan. Four in ten (38%) think it is likely that strict rules for large
technology companies will be introduced by the Government in their country,
and from Ipsos’ Global Trends Survey 2021 83% think social media
companies have too much power. Almost half of Australians (49%) said rules would be introduced by
Government, influenced by the ACCC investigation and subsequent proposed
legislation for the global technology giants. Global threats Four in ten expect a natural disaster to hit a major city in their
country which was higher in Australia at
49%. This rises to 63% in the US and 58% in Turkey. In contrast,
Scandinavians are more optimistic and only a minority expect a natural
disaster to hit in Sweden (24%) and Denmark (21%) respectively. Four in 10 (38%) say it is likely hackers from a foreign government
will cause a global IT shutdown, which was again higher in Australia at 44%. Armageddon? One in three (34%) globally think is likely that nuclear
weapons will be used in a conflict somewhere in the world and Australia was close to the global
average at 38%. This figure rises to half (52%) of people in Turkey. One in seven (14%) expect aliens to visit the earth in 2022, but as
ever, Indians are most likely to expect visitors from outer space. Only 17%
of Australians expect
an alien visit. (Ipsos Australia) 19 December 2021 Source: https://www.ipsos.com/en-au/eight-ten-australians-expect-better-year-2022 721-722-43-30/Polls Only 37% Of Australians Expect 2022 Will Be ‘Better’ Than 2021 – Down
22% Points On A Year Ago
A special Roy Morgan web survey taken in late November shows only 37%
of Australians think 2022 will be ‘better’ than 2021, down a large 22% points
from when the same question was asked a year ago in late 2020. However, fewer than a quarter of Australians, 23%, think 2022 will be
‘worse’ than 2021, although this is up 13% points on a year ago. Nearly a
third of Australians are hedging their bets on next year with 31% (up 14%
points on a year ago) who say 2022 will be ‘the same’ and 9% (down 5% points)
don’t know. Analysing by State shows people in Victoria (46%) and New South Wales
(44%) are easily the most positive about the new year with clear pluralities
in both States expecting 2022 will be ‘better’ than 2021. However, this optimism is not as widespread in other States with only
29% of people in Queensland, 24% of people in Western Australia, 22% of
people in South Australia and 20% of people in Tasmania who say 2022 will be
‘better’ than 2021. In three States, Queensland, South Australia and
Tasmania, more people say 2022 will be ‘worse’ than 2021. This special Roy Morgan web survey was conducted in late November
with a cross-section of 1,184 Australians aged 18+.
Source: Roy Morgan telephone, SMS and web surveys in
Australia 1980-2020 with an average of 1,000 Australians aged 18+ interviewed
each year.
Older Australians are the most positive
about 2022 – 52% expect it will be ‘better’ than 2021 Analysing by age group shows it is older Australians who are clearly
the most positive about 2022. Australians aged 65+ is the only age group in
which a majority of people, 52%, say 2022 will be ‘better’ than 2021 compared
to only 17% that say it will be ‘worse’. The second most positive are at the other end of the age scale with
42% of Australians aged 18-24 who say 2022 will be ‘better’ than 2021 compared
to 29% who say it will be ‘worse’. Australians in other groups are also more positive than negative
about next year – but only just. Only around a third of Australians aged
25-34 (29%), 35-49 (33%) or 50-64 (31%) say 2022 will be ‘better’ than 2021
while around a quarter say it will be worse: 25-34 (24%), 35-49 (26%) and
50-64 (23%). When it comes to the two genders men are more positive about next
year than women with 40% of men who expect 2022 will be ‘better’ than 2021
compared to only 34% of women. There are slightly more women (25%) that say
2022 will be ‘worse’ than 2021 than men (22%). Analysis by Age & Gender – Next Year
‘Better’ or ‘Worse’
Source: This special Roy Morgan web survey was conducted
in late November with a cross-section of 1,184 Australians aged 18+.
Victorians are the most positive about 2022
– after four lockdowns in 2021 Analysing by State shows people in Victoria (46%) and New South Wales
(44%) are clearly the most positive about the new year with clear pluralities
in both States expecting 2022 will be ‘better’ than 2021. This is hardly
surprising given the long lockdowns experienced during 2021 in both Melbourne
(108 days) and Sydney (107 days). In only one other State, Western Australia, are people more positive
about 2022 than negative. Just under a quarter of people in Western Australia
(24%) expect 2022 will be ‘better’ than 2021 compared to 23% that say 2022
will be ‘worse’. Western Australia is now the only State which continues to
have closed domestic borders to most of the rest of Australia. In other States that have largely avoided COVID-19 so far but are now
experiencing rising cases after re-opening their borders in recent weeks
there are more people who say 2022 will be ‘worse’ than ‘better’. Over a third of people in Tasmania (35%) say 2022 will be ‘worse’
than 2021 and this is followed by around a third of people in South Australia
(32%) and Queensland (30%). Respondents in Australia’s Capital Cities (38%) are slightly more
positive about 2022 being ‘better’ than 2021 compared to those in Country
Regions (35%). Analysis by States & Regions – Next
Year ‘Better’ or ‘Worse’
Source: This special Roy Morgan web survey was conducted
in late November with a cross-section of 1,184 Australians aged 18+.
Michele Levine, Chief Executive Officer,
Roy Morgan, says the emergence of the highly infectious ‘Omicron variant’ in
recent weeks has unfortunately put paid to hopes that 2022 would be the year Australians
returned to a pre-pandemic sense of ‘normality’: “Australians are set to enter 2022 in a
mixed state-of-mind with new outbreaks of COVID-19 spreading rapidly in New
South Wales and Victoria over the last week as restrictions have been eased
in both States in the run-up to Christmas. “A bare plurality of 37% of Australians say
2022 will be ‘better’ than 2021, down 22% points from a year ago. Just under
a quarter of Australians, 23% (up 13% points), expect 2022 will be ‘worse’
than 2021 while just under a third, 31%, say it will be ‘the same’ and only
9% don’t know. “The numbers are less encouraging than a
year ago as Australia enjoyed a relatively COVID-free summer in 2020/21 and
with new vaccines set to arrive from February 2021 it appeared the COVID-19
pandemic might soon be over. That hope proved not to be the case with
extended lockdowns this year in New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT. “Perhaps unsurprisingly, these States are
the most positive about 2022 being ‘better’ than 2021 and nearly half of the
people in Victoria (46%) and New South Wales (44%) say next year will be
‘better’ than this year. However, in the four smaller States there are more
people inclined to say next year will be ‘worse’ than this year – especially
in South Australia and Tasmania which have been largely COVID-free throughout
the pandemic. “There are considerable uncertainties about
the economic outlook for next year with Inflation Expectations now at a seven-year high of
4.9% in November. The
threat of inflation looms over 2022 as supply chain issues, as well as strong
demand worldwide as we – hopefully – emerge from the pandemic put upward
pressure on prices. In Australia there is also the added uncertainty of a
Federal Election with campaigning set to dominate the first half of next year
and the country’s first ‘Hung Parliament’ for a decade remains a clear
possibility. “One of the most interesting aspects of the
research is the breakdown by age. The most positive Australians are the
oldest with a majority of 52% of people aged 65+ saying they expect 2022 will
be ‘better’ than 2021. This compares to 42% of those aged 18-24 and only
around a third of people in the middle: 25-34 (29%), 35-49 (33%) and 50-64
(31%). “Older Australians are the most heavily
vaccinated cohort and perhaps this helps underlie their confidence about the
year ahead, however the new outbreaks of COVID-19 in NSW, Victoria and
elsewhere suggest they may also have the most to worry about. “To deal with these new outbreaks
Australians are being advised to book in a ‘booster shot’ five months after
receiving their second dose. Already over 1 million Australians have now
received their first ‘booster shot’ which will significantly restore their
immunity levels. “During the past two years the only
‘certainty’ we have had during the pandemic has been dealing with
uncertainty. Unfortunately for those who believed that achieving a high
vaccination rate of over 90% of the population would lead to a return to
normality as we knew it pre-pandemic, the last few weeks with the emergence
of the ‘Omicron variant’ shows there will still be a large degree of
uncertainty going forward into 2022.” Finding No. 8884– This special Roy Morgan web survey was conducted
with a representative cross-section of 1,184 Australians on November 25 – 28,
2021. They were asked “Do you think that 2022 will be better, worse, or
the same as 2021?” Next Year – Better or Worse? (Australia) “As far as you are concerned, do you think
that 2022 will be better, worse, or the same as 2021?”
*This survey wasn’t conducted in 1996 and
from 2010-2016. (Roy Morgan) December 20 2021 721-722-43-31/Polls Over A Third Of Australians, 37%, Say 2022 Will Be A Year Of Economic
Difficulty While 19% Expect Economic Prosperity
A special Roy Morgan web survey taken in late November shows over a
third of Australians, 37%, think next year will be a year of ‘Economic
difficulty’, although this is down 11% points on a year ago when nearly half
of Australians, 48%, predicted ‘Economic difficulty’ for 2021. For the second straight year there are only 19% of Australians who
think next year will be a year of ‘Economic prosperity’. Nearly half of all
Australians think next year will either ‘Remain the same’ (37%) or don’t know
7% how the economy will perform. Analysing by State shows that a plurality of people in the largest
States think next year will be a year of ‘Economic difficulty’ led by
Queensland (43%), Victoria (38%) and New South Wales (35%). However, in
Western Australia (46%) and South Australia (45%), a clear plurality of
people expect in economic terms next year will ‘Remain the same’. Australians are not as positive about next year’s economic prospects
as they are about whether 2022 in a more general sense will be ‘better’ or
‘worse’ than 2021. As we revealed yesterday, despite being down on a year
ago, a
plurality of 37% of Australians say 2022 will be ‘better’ than 2021 compared
to only 23% that say it will be ‘worse’. This special Roy Morgan web survey was conducted in late November
with a cross-section of 1,184 Australians aged 18+. Do you think next year will be a year of
‘Economic prosperity’, ‘Economic difficulty’ or ‘Remain the same’ for your
country (2020 cf. 2021)
Source: Roy Morgan web surveys in Australia 2020 &
2021 with an average of 1,000 Australians aged 18+ interviewed in each
year. Question: “Compared
to this year, in your opinion, will next year be a year of economic
prosperity, economic difficulty or remain the same for your country?” Most people aged 18-34 & 65+ think 2022
will be a year of ‘Economic difficulty’ Analysing by age group shows younger Australians aged 18-34 and older
Australians aged 65+ agree – most people in these age groups expect 2022 will
be a year of ‘Economic difficulty’ – including 42% of peopled aged 18-24, 41%
of people aged 25-34 and 36% of people aged 65+. In contrast, there are pluralities of people aged in the middle who
think 2022 will ‘Remain the same’ as 2021 in economic terms. Nearly half,
44%, of people aged 50-64 and nearly two-fifths (39%) of people aged 35-49
say 2022 will ‘Remain the same’ as 2021. Although in a minority amongst all age groups, the most positive
about 2022 are people at either end of the age scale with 25% of people aged
18-24 and 24% of people aged 65+ saying next year will be a year of ‘Economic
prosperity’ – far higher than any other age groups. When it comes to the two genders a plurality of 39% of men say next
year will ‘Remain the same’ in economic terms while around a third, 34%, say
it will be a year of ‘Economic difficulty’. Women are slightly more negative
with 39% expecting a year of ‘Economic difficulty’ compared to 35% who say
next year will ‘Remain the same’. Analysis by Age & Gender – Will next
year be a Year of ‘Economic Prosperity’, ‘Economic Difficulty’ or
‘Remain the same’
Source: This special Roy Morgan web survey was conducted
in late November with a cross-section of 1,184 Australians aged 18+.
People in NSW, Victoria and Queensland
predict 2022 will be a year of ‘Economic difficulty’ Analysing by State shows people in Queensland are the most likely to
be negative on economic prospects for next year with 43% predicting a year of
‘Economic difficulty’ – a higher proportion than any other State. There are
narrow pluralities in Tasmania (40%), Victoria (38%) and New South Wales
(35%) that also predict next year will be a year of ‘Economic difficulty’. In contrast, nearly half of the people in Western Australia (46%) and
South Australia (45%) think in economic terms next year will ‘Remain the
same’ as this year. Similarly, to general views revealed yesterday on whether
2022 will be ‘better’ or ‘worse’ than 2021, it is people in New South
Wales (22%) and Victoria (21%) who are the most likely to say next year will
be a year of ‘Economic prosperity’. Those least likely to say this are in
Tasmania (11%) and South Australia (13%). Respondents in Australia’s Country Areas (39%) are slightly more
likely than those in the Capital Cities (36%) to predict next year will be a
year of ‘Economic difficulty’ Analysis by States & Regions
– Will next year be a Year of ‘Economic Prosperity’, ‘Economic
Difficulty’ or ‘Remain the same’
Source: This special Roy Morgan web survey was conducted
in late November with a cross-section of 1,184 Australians aged 18+.
Michele Levine, Chief Executive Officer Roy
Morgan, says over a third of Australians (37%) expect 2022 will be a year of
‘Economic difficulty’ and only 19% think 2022 will be a year of ‘Economic
prosperity’ – but another 37% are ‘hedging’ their bets and expecting more of
the same: “Although, as revealed yesterday, there are
more Australians (37%) who say 2022 will be ‘better’
than 2021 compared to only 23% who say it will be ‘worse’ – this doesn’t mean Australians are expecting
2022 will be a great year – just comparatively better than 2021. “This belief is borne out when one
considers how people regard the performance of the Australian economy in
2022. Over a third (37%) say 2022 will be a year of ‘Economic difficulty’
nearly twice as many as the 19% who expect a year of ‘Economic prosperity’.
Another 37% say in economic conditions in 2022 will ‘Remain the same’. “The divergent viewpoints show that even as
Australians look forward with a degree of optimism there is considerable
economic uncertainty attached to what may happen next year. The biggest
factors looming over next year are the Federal Election – due by May 2022 at
the latest – and a range of closely related economic factors including
inflation, interest rates and unemployment. “Roy Morgan’s monthly Inflation Expectations index
shows the indicator at a seven year high of 4.9% in November 2021 – and up a record 1.5% points from a year
ago. The sharp rises in Inflation Expectations show the issue is increasingly
front of mind for many Australians and, although the RBA has said it has no
plans to raise interest rates in 2022, there is a concern that if the
inflation rate increases significantly next year, they will be forced to act
earlier than expected. “The RBA has stated that it will only
consider raising interest rates when wages growth in the economy is clearly
above 2% and when the ABS CPI figure is sustainably between 2-3%. In the most recent September quarter the ABS CPI
annual rate of inflation dropped by 0.8% points from 3.8% in the year to June
2021 down to 3% in the year to September 2021. “The sharp changes in inflation during this
year are closely related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the many lockdowns
different parts of Australia has dealt over the last 18 months. Although we
are all hopeful, we have seen the last city-wide or state-wide lockdown, the
emergence of the Omicron variant in recent weeks has added new economic
uncertainty as we head into 2022. “The lockdowns have also had a big impact
on Australian employment levels but on each occasion when a lockdown has
ended the economy has bounced back quickly. The latest Roy Morgan employment estimate for November show
13.2 million Australians were employed – up from 12.9 million employed in February
2020 pre-pandemic. November was the first month after the end of the recent
lockdowns of over half of Australia’s population in NSW, Victoria, and the
ACT. “Considering all of the above uncertainties
surrounding inflation, interest rates, unemployment, the potential for new
variants of COVID-19 to emerge, and the added uncertainty surrounding an
imminent Federal Election, it’s probably no surprise that Australians are
more likely to expect ‘Economic difficulty’ next year rather than ‘Economic
prosperity’. Finding No. 8886– This special Roy Morgan web survey was conducted
with a representative cross-section of 1,184 Australians on November 25 – 28,
2021. They were asked “Compared to this year, in your opinion, will next
year be a year of economic prosperity, economic difficulty or remain the same
for your country?” Next Year – A year of ‘Economic
Prosperity’, ‘Economic Difficulty’ or ‘Remaining the same’ “Compared to this year, in your opinion,
will next year be a year of economic prosperity, economic difficulty or
remain the same for your country?”
(Roy Morgan) December 21 2021 MULTICOUNTRY
STUDIES
721-722-43-32/Polls A New YouGov Euro Track Survey, Conducted In 7 European Countries And
USA, Shows There Is Clear Confusion About How Clean Nuclear Energy Is
In late November, Kadri Simson – the EU’s energy commissioner –
called for a “gearshift
on investments” in nuclear power on the continent. Nuclear is embraced very differently by governments across Europe. In
France, nuclear accounts for 70.6% of the country’s electricity generation.
Next door, Germany is trying to phase out nuclear entirely. The EU itself is split on how to treat nuclear energy, with debate in
Brussels about whether to classify it alongside renewable sources of power as
an "environmentally sustainable economic activity”. Doing so would be
seen as a direct recommendation to financial markets to invest in nuclear
plants, according
to German newspaper Die Welt. A new YouGov EuroTrack survey, also conducted in the USA, shows there
is clear confusion about how clean nuclear energy is. Significant minorities – including a majority of people in Spain –
believe that nuclear energy produces either moderate or high levels of carbon
emissions. One in three Americans (36%) are also convinced that nuclear
energy produces sizeable carbon emissions. These misconceptions that nuclear energy emits sizeable levels of
carbon emissions could be driving opposition to the atom for some people. The
data shows that in most countries the less of a role people want to see
nuclear power play in the national energy mix, the more likely they are to
think that it produces moderate or high levels of carbon. Do people think nuclear energy is safe? Perceived safety of nuclear energy also differs greatly between
countries. Far fewer people see nuclear energy as unsafe in the two Nordic
nations (25% in Sweden and 29% in Denmark) compared to most of the rest of
the countries (46-52%). Italy is an exception, where 64% consider the
technology to be unsafe. Italians voted in a 1987 referendum to phase out
nuclear energy, which was completed in 1990. That many people see nuclear energy as unsafe is not surprising,
given high profile emergencies like Chernobyl (the motivator for the phase
out in Italy), Three Mile Island and more recently Fukushima in Japan (which
prompted Germany to start getting rid of nuclear). However, what is perhaps surprising is that comparably high numbers
of people consider fossil fuels to be unsafe. For instance, 32-67% consider
oil unsafe, 33-60% say the same of coal and 19-50% believe gas is a risky
form of electricity generation. The results suggest that carbon emission
levels factor in to some people’s risk assessments; these figures are substantially
lower for the two renewables we asked about: wind (3-26%) and solar (2-21%). Nuclear energy is distinct, however, in that the proportion of people
who consider it to be “very” unsafe tends to be higher than the number of
people who say the same of the fossil fuels. Likewise, more people who
consider nuclear to be lower on the carbon emissions scale consider it to be
unsafe than is the case for the various fossil fuels.
Is nuclear power necessary to combat
climate change? Despite safety concerns, there is support in most countries surveyed
for having nuclear as a part of nations’ energy mix. With the exception of
Denmark, where people are split 40% to 37% on whether or not to use nuclear,
the number of people in each country who want to see nuclear play a role
substantially outweigh those who don’t. Unsurprisingly, the French are the most keen, with 75% saying nuclear
should play a role (including 45% who say it should play a major role),
compared to just 9% who don’t want any nuclear generation. Even in Germany, which is currently decommissioning its nuclear power
stations, 53% want nuclear to be a part of the energy mix, compared to 28%
who want to see it gone, and likewise nuclear-less Italians support having
nuclear by 51% to 28%.
When it comes to whether nuclear energy is a necessity for going
green, nations are more mixed. Italians and Danes are far more likely than
not to say they can meet their low carbon needs without it. Spaniards also
tend to feel this way. The other countries tend to believe that nuclear will be a necessity,
by relatively wide margins. This is particularly true in Sweden, where 62%
expect nuclear to be necessary to meet its energy needs if the country gave
up fossil fuels, compared to 24% who disagree.
(YouGov UK) December 13, 2021 721-722-43-33/Polls A Survey Carried Out In 28 Nations Shows That 82% Of Global Average
Believes That World Is More Dangerous
More than eight out of ten Brazilians think that the world is more
dangerous compared to the previous year, according to the World Affairs
survey, by Ipsos. In this survey, citizens of 28 countries assessed the
global relations of their nations and what they considered to be the greatest
threats to the planet. The Brazilian average (83%) is practically the
same as the global (82%). Colombians top the list of people who believe they live in a more
dangerous world, with a rate of 91%. Next are Peru (90%), South Korea
(88%) and the United States (85%). At the other end is China, with 68%
of affirmative responses, followed by Germany, Malaysia and Italy – all with
77%. The survey also raised information about people's perception of the
global scenario. For 49% of respondents, "there are more things
getting better in the world today than getting worse". The Chinese
are the ones who most agree with this statement (86%). Brazilians, on
the other hand, remained within the global average (49%). biggest threats For 75% of respondents from the survey nations, the biggest threat is
being hacked for fraud or espionage. Then comes the fear of a major
epidemic, considered by 70%. Soon after, there are fears of natural
disaster (69%), nuclear or chemical attack (66%) and terrorist attack (62%). Confidence The survey also identified low levels of people's confidence in their
governments' response to threats. Globally, 53% believe their country is
better prepared against natural disasters, 51% against epidemics, 47% against
terrorist attacks and 46% against war with other countries and against
internal armed conflicts. To deter hacker attacks, the biggest global
fear, the confidence index for a government response is only 45%. In
Brazil, the level of confidence in the government's response is even worse,
being below the global average in all surveyed items. Economy When it comes to economics, 79% of respondents defend “free trade as
a benefit” for their regions; 78% believe that their country should work
together with other nations and 74% that it should behave as a world
leader. At the same time, for 75%, your country must devote more internal
efforts than external ones. On these issues, Brazil was aligned with
global averages. positive influencers For 80% of respondents globally, the country with the most positive
influence on world affairs over the next decade will be Canada. Next,
appear Germany (77%), France and the European Union (72%). In Brazil, 85% of respondents answered that the main positive
influence of the next decade will also be Canada, followed by Germany (80%)
and the European Union (79%). The rate of Brazilians who believe in their
own country in this regard is 61%. Future Although the world is considered a more dangerous place compared to
last year, only 51% defend that the way out is in more military
investments. However, 61% believe a new world war is possible in the
next 25 years. For 83%, the world needs new global agreements and international
institutions that must be led by democratic nations. Just over half of
respondents (53%) feel that today's global organizations have done a good job
so far. According to the perception of respondents, China, the United States
and Russia lead the list of nations with the least possibility of complying
with international agreements, with 32%, 24% and 21% of the responses,
respectively. Covid-19 Regarding the new coronavirus pandemic, the survey shows that only
45% of respondents believe that the outbreak has already been controlled or
will be ended soon. In Brazil, the number is even smaller; 40% of
people share this impression. (Ipsos Brazil) 14 December 2021 Source: https://www.ipsos.com/pt-br/83-dos-brasileiros-acreditam-que-mundo-esta-mais-perigoso 721-722-43-34/Polls In 30-Country Survey, Two-Thirds Say They Now Pay More For
Transportation, Food And Drink, And Utilities Than They Did Six Months Ago
A new Ipsos survey finds about two-thirds of consumers across 30
countries saying the prices they are now paying for transportation, food and
drink, and utilities seem higher than they were six months ago. About half
report a rise in the cost of clothing and shoes, housing, medical and health
care, and entertainment. On average globally, as many consumers expect their
household spending will increase in the next three months (42%) as expect it
will stay the same (41%). Increased spending expectations are closely
correlated with perceptions of paying higher prices. These are some of the findings of a survey of 20,504 adults from 30
countries conducted on Ipsos’ Global Advisor
online platform between November 19 and December 3, 2021. Detailed Findings On average, across the 30 countries surveyed, large proportions of
consumers report the prices they have paid in recent weeks generally seem
higher than they were six months ago:
The 12 surveyed countries where prices are most widely perceived to
have increased include all six in Latin America, all four in Central and
Eastern Europe, Turkey, and South Africa. At the opposite end of the
spectrum, Japan and China are where consumers are least likely to say the
prices they paid recently for various categories are higher. Consumers who report higher prices for the products and services they
buy skew more affluent and older. When asked how they expect their total household spending (aside from
normal holiday spending) to change over the next three months, a global
average of 42% say it will increase (a lot for 12%, a little for 30%) while
41% say it will not change and 17% that it will decrease. At a global level, upper-income and younger consumers are slightly
more likely than less affluent and older consumers to expect that their
spending will increase in the next three months. However, expectations of
increased spending vary less across demographic groups than they do across
countries, ranging from more than 60% in Romania and Argentina to just 16% in
Japan. They tend to be highest in countries where consumers most widely
report price increases. (Ipsos MORI) 14 December 2021 Source: https://www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/inflation-consumer-perceptions-30-countries-december-2021 721-722-43-35/Polls The Obamas Remain World’s Most Admired Public Figures, A Study In 38
Countries
Former United States President Barack Obama has topped the list as
Singapore’s most admired man for the fourth year in a row, according to
YouGov’s annual study of which public figures people look up to. Following Barack Obama is Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, climbing up
two spots from last year to become the second most admired man in Singapore. In third place is Canadian actor Keanu Reeves, climbing up four
places since last year. American business magnate Warren Buffet follows him
in fourth. The rest of the top ten is completed by actor Jackie Chan in sixth,
Elon Musk in eighth, Cristiano Ronaldo in ninth and Andy Lau in tenth. Former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama remains
Singapore’s most admired woman for the fourth year running. Other world
leaders also feature prominently in the top ten. Queen Elizabeth II remains
in second, as does Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern in fourth.
Burmese politician Aung San Suu Kyi and the first female Chancellor of
Germany Angela Merkel move up the list to third and seventh, respectively. Activist for female education and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala
Yousafzai, makes a debut in the top ten of most admired women, coming in
tenth place. The rest of the list is rounded off with celebrities. Talk show host
Oprah Winfrey places in sixth, actress Angelia Jolie in fifth, singer Taylor
Swift in ninth, and English actress and activist Emma Watson makes a brand
new entry into the list in eighth. The Obamas remain the world’s most admired
man and woman Barack Obama retains his position as world’s most admired man in
YouGov’s international survey this year, having wrested the position from
long-time incumbent Bill Gates last year. Michelle Obama likewise holds on to her position as world’s most
admired woman for the third year running. In fact, the top three spots for each gender are unchanged since last
year, with business tycoon and philanthropist Bill Gates remaining second
among men, followed by Chinese premier Xi Jinping. Actress and humanitarian
Angelina Jolie continues to be the world’s second-most admired woman, ahead
of third placed British monarch Queen Elizabeth II.
This year’s study surveyed more than 42,000 people in 38 countries
and territories to compile the list. Pakistani human rights campaigner Malala Yousafzai and Indian actress
Priyanka Chopra have risen farthest in the ranks this year, climbing five
places to 9th and 10th respectively. In
Chopra’s case, this represents her best performance in the series so far. Among the men, Argentine footballer Lionel Messi has seen the
greatest increase since last time, climbing four places from 11th to
7th – his highest rank to date. Despite this record
placement, as well as his recent Ballon D’or win, Messi still lags behind
Portuguese rival Cristiano Ronaldo in 4th place (also
Ronaldo’s best showing to date). Entertainers are more prominent in the female list, with 10 of the
most admired women being actresses, singers or TV presenters (although some,
like Emma Watson and Angelina Jolie, are also notable for their humanitarian
work). By contrast, the list of most admired men contains more people from
political, business and sporting backgrounds. New additions to the top twenties this year include US president Joe
Biden and his vice president Kamala Harris, Indian cricketer Sachin
Tendulkar, Thai rapper Lisa (of Blackpink fame), and New Zealand prime
minister Jacinda Ardern. This year’s rankings also see the re-entry into the top twenties of
investor Warren Buffett, Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan, Indian actress
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Chinese actresses Liu Yifei and Yang Mi. (YouGov Singapore) Source: https://sg.yougov.com/en-sg/news/2021/12/15/obamas-remain-singaporeans-most-admired-public-fig/ 721-722-43-36/Polls Positive Attitudes Towards China In Arab World, A Study In 12 MENA
Countries
In recent years, China’s engagement in the Middle East and North
Africa (MENA) has been rapidly increasing. At least 17 MENA countries
have signed agreements as part of its Belt
and Road Initiative (BRI). Meanwhile, in response to the COVID
pandemic, Chinese vaccines have been secured by a
number of countries across the region while China has promised aid
to help address the challenges caused by the pandemic. In short, China
has taken several steps to try to win the hearts and minds of ordinary
citizens across the region. Before the start of the pandemic, views of China were relatively
positive across much of the region. Public opinion surveys conducted by Arab Barometer, a non-partisan
research network seeking to understand the views of ordinary citizens in the
region, show that many citizens favor stronger economic relations with China.
In nationally representative face-to-face surveys conducted in 2018-9,
about half or more said they wanted their country to increase their economic
ties with China in nine of twelve countries. A stronger economic relationship
with China was most favored by Jordanians (70 percent), Libyans (63 percent)
and Sudanese (62 percent). Among the countries surveyed, only in Algeria (36
percent) and Egypt (30 percent) did fewer than four-in-ten citizens favor
strengthening economic ties with China.
Support for stronger relations with China tends to be higher among
elites. Those who have a university degree or above are at least ten
percentage points more likely to favor strong ties with China in Morocco,
Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq, and Egypt, for example. However, there is no
consistent difference by generation, with views of China being similar among
those who are younger and older in most countries. Beyond closer economic relations, citizens across MENA were also
largely supportive of foreign aid from China in 2018-9. In the eleven
countries and territories where this question was asked, half or more favored
assistance from China in nine cases, including at least six-in-ten in Jordan,
Sudan, Yemen, and Palestine. The key exceptions are Libya and Algeria, where
fewer than half favor Chinese foreign assistance.
Following the onset of COVID, Arab Barometer conducted its sixth wave
by phone given health concerns related to in-person interviews. Surveys
were conducted from summer 2020 to spring 2021 in seven countries every few
months. Views of China remained relatively high by spring 2021 in most of the
countries surveyed, with majorities saying they had a favorable view in seven
of the countries surveyed: Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, and Iraq.
Only in Lebanon (38 percent) and Jordan (34 percent) did fewer than half say
they viewed China very or somewhat favorably. In Lebanon, these relatively
low views are more likely the result of political than economic
considerations. Following the financial crisis, Hezbollah sided with a
bailout from China as opposed to other political parties that favored working
with the IMF.
Despite China’s efforts at vaccine diplomacy and promises of foreign
assistance to the region, views did not change dramatically during the survey
period. For example, in Tunisia, China’s favorability was 55 percent in
summer 2020 compared with 59 percent in spring 2021 while in Jordan there was
a similar difference of four points over a similar period of time.
Despite China’s overtures to the region and provision of vaccines to many countries,
popular attitudes appear relatively unaffected. Although popular views of China are relatively positive across MENA,
evidence from Arab Barometer suggests they are not particularly deeply
held. As part of the sixth wave, Arab Barometer included a question
about the degree to which China’s developing economic power represents a
critical threat to MENA. In none of the six countries where the survey
was asked does more than about a quarter see China’s economic power as a
critical threat. Lebanese (26 percent) are the most concerned, but only
15 percent in Jordan and Morocco and 13 percent in Algeria hold this
view. Given the influx of largely cheap goods from China, this result
may be counterintuitive, especially given that the U.S. is viewed as an equal
or more substantial economic threat in all countries surveyed.
Even though relatively few citizens view China as a threat, there is
also not a preference for Chinese economic engagement in MENA. In the
sixth wave, Arab Barometer asked citizens what foreign country of origin they
would prefer for a company who was contracted to construct an infrastructure
project in their country. In all seven countries surveyed, a company
based in Germany was seen as the most likely to build a project of the
highest quality, including by as many as half in Algeria and Libya. In
contrast, in no country did more than one-in-five say that China would build
the best quality project. Meanwhile, when asked about the company that
would pay the best salaries to the local workforce, citizens were split
between picking the U.S. (four countries) and Germany (three countries) as
the most preferred country of origin. In all countries except Iraq,
one-in-ten or fewer say a Chinese company would pay the best salaries. Finally, when asked the country of origin for the company they would
most prefer to get the contract, in no country is a Chinese company most
preferred. In four countries, a German company is most preferred, with an
American company preferred in two (including a tie with Turkey in Jordan),
and France preferred in one. Meanwhile, only in Iraq (22 percent) is a
Chinese company preferred by more than 15 percent of citizens. In other
words, support for “China, Inc.” appears to be relatively limited in MENA.
Overall, these results imply that the future of China in MENA is
still to be written. As a non-colonial power in the region, there appears to
be an openness of those living in MENA toward China. In a region with many
citizens looking for a rapid model for economic development, China could also
represent hope given the dramatic transformation the country has undergone
since the 1980s. Many MENA citizens hope for a similar transition in
their own countries. Yet, the results also suggest that, at least to date, there is little
more than hope and projection being placed on China. In 2019, Arab Barometer
asked citizens in Kuwait whether they thought Chinese were good people.
Fully 42 percent said they didn’t know. Notably, Kuwait is the first country
in the Arab Gulf region to establish relations with Beijing, the first to
sign up to its Belt and Road Initiative, it has a joint strategic partnership
with China, and has more than US$14 billion annually in bilateral trade with
China. Despite these links, the survey results reveal that nearly half
of Kuwaitis have no clear image of Chinese citizens. Although this question
did not appear in other countries, given their weaker linkages, it is
unlikely that their populations would have a substantially clearer view of
Chinese citizens. In short, China has an opportunity in the region but also faces risks
to its popularity in the years ahead. As citizens in MENA come into more
direct contact with China and its policies in the future, their views are
likely to become more entrenched. Elsewhere, support from China has alienated
publics, such as in countries like Sri Lanka and Malaysia, where foreign aid
projects have not always been viewed as benefiting the local
populations. China’s continuing popularity will depend in large part on
its ability to convince MENA publics that its foreign policy and assistance
is working for their benefit. If not, then it is likely that popular
support for China will begin to fade in the years to come. (Arabbarometer) December 15, 2021 Source: https://www.arabbarometer.org/2021/12/fragile-popularity-arab-attitudes-towards-china/ 721-722-43-37/Polls Striking Findings From 2021, 16 Countries
As 2021 draws to a close, here are some of Pew Research Center’s most
striking research findings from the past year. These 15 findings cover
subjects ranging from extreme weather to the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing
demographic shifts in the United States. And they represent just a small
slice of the year’s full
list of research publications. A growing share of childless Americans say
it is unlikely they will ever have children, an
October survey found. Some 44% of non-parents ages 18 to 49 say it
is not too or not at all likely that they will have children someday, an
increase from the 37% who said the same in 2018. Meanwhile, 74% of adults
younger than 50 who are already parents say they are unlikely to have more
kids, virtually unchanged since 2018.
What’s behind the growing share of non-parents younger than 50 who
expect not to have children? A majority (56%) say a major reason is that they
just don’t want to. Among those who point to some other reason, about
two-in-ten (19%) say it’s due to medical reasons, 17% say it’s for financial
reasons and 15% say it’s because they do not have a partner. Roughly
one-in-ten point to their age or their partner’s age (10%), or to the state
of the world (9%).
Around seven-in-ten U.S. adults (72%) said
in an August survey that they personally know someone who has been
hospitalized or died from COVID-19. As has been the case
throughout the COVID-19
outbreak, larger shares of Black (82%) and Hispanic (78%) adults than
White (70%) and English-speaking Asian adults (64%) said they personally know
someone who had been hospitalized or died as a result of the coronavirus. Across other major demographic groups, there were modest or no
differences in the shares who say this. Democrats and Democratic-leaning
independents, for example, were about as likely as Republicans and GOP
leaners to say they know someone who had been hospitalized or died (74% and
71%, respectively). More than 600,000 Americans had died from the virus at the time of
the August survey. Since then, the death toll has risen to more
than 800,000. Americans voted in record numbers in the
2020 presidential election, as turnout rose in every state, according
to a January
analysis by the Center. Nearly two-thirds of the estimated number of
eligible voters and more than six-in-ten people of voting age cast ballots in
the election. Nationwide, presidential election turnout was about 7 percentage
points higher than in 2016, regardless of which of three different turnout
metrics we looked at. Turnout rates increased in every state compared with
2016, but of the 10 states where it rose the most, seven conducted the vote
entirely or mostly by mail. Minnesota had the highest turnout of any state, with 79.4% of
estimated eligible voters casting ballots for the presidential election.
Colorado, Maine and Wisconsin all followed close behind at about 75.5%;
Washington state, at 75.2%, rounded out the top five. The lowest-turnout
states were Tennessee (59.6% of estimated eligible voters), Hawaii and West
Virginia (57% each), Arkansas (55.9%) and Oklahoma (54.8%).
About eight-in-ten Asian Americans say
violence against them is increasing in the U.S., an April
survey found. The survey was fielded after the fatal
shooting of six Asian women and two other people in the Atlanta area
in March, and following other
assaults on Asian Americans. Amid widespread reports of discrimination and violence against
Asian Americans during the coronavirus
outbreak, 45% of Asian adults said they had experienced at least one of
five specific types of incidents since the start of the pandemic. Around a third (32%) said they had feared someone might threaten or
physically attack them – a greater share than among people in other racial or
ethnic groups who said this. Some 27% of Asian adults said people had acted
as if they were uncomfortable around them. Another 27% said they had been
subject to slurs or jokes. Lower shares said someone had made a remark that
they should go back to their home country (16%) or that they were to blame
for the coronavirus outbreak (14%). At the same time, 32% said someone has expressed support for them
since the start of the pandemic.
Across 16 publics surveyed in spring 2021, a median of just 17% of adults said democracy in
the U.S. is a good example for other countries to follow. A
median of 57% said American democracy used
to be a good example for other countries to follow but has
not been in recent years. A median of 23% said American democracy has never been a good example for other
countries to follow. Americans largely shared the view that their country is no longer a
good model of democracy: 72% said U.S. democracy used to be a good example
for others to follow but has not been recently. Democrats and Democratic
leaners were twice as likely as their Republican and GOP leaning counterparts
to say the U.S. has never been a good model of democracy. More broadly, the U.S. political system also received generally
lukewarm ratings across the 16 advanced economies surveyed. People were split
on how the system
is functioning, with a median of 50% saying it works well and 48% who
disagreed.
In just five years, the percentage of
Republicans with at least some trust in national news organizations has
fallen by half – dropping from 70% in 2016 to 35% this year, a June
survey found. Democrats remain far more likely than Republicans to say they have a
lot or some trust in the information that comes from national news
organizations (78% vs. 35%). The 43-point partisan gap is the widest measured
since at least 2016. Women in the U.S. are now more likely than
men to have a four-year college degree, according
to a November
analysis. Around four-in-ten women ages 25 and older (39%) have a
bachelor’s degree, compared with a slightly smaller share of men in the same
age group (37%). Among those ages 25 to 34 specifically, women are now 10
percentage points more likely than men to have a bachelor’s degree (46% vs. 36%). The reasons for not completing a four-year degree differ for men and
women, according to an accompanying survey of adults who do not have such a
degree and are not currently enrolled in college. Men are more likely than
women to point to factors that have more to do with personal choice. Roughly
a third of men without a bachelor’s degree (34%), for example, say a major
reason they didn’t complete college is that they just didn’t want to. Only
one-in-four women say the same.
Most Democrats in the U.S. see voting as a
fundamental right, while most Republicans view it as a privilege that comes
with responsibilities, according to a
July survey.
The vast majority of Democrats (78%) say voting is a “fundamental
right for every adult U.S. citizen and should not be restricted in any way.”
Two-thirds of Republicans say voting is “a privilege that comes with
responsibilities and can be limited if adult U.S. citizens don’t meet some
requirements.” Overall, a majority of Americans (57%) say voting is a fundamental
right that should not be restricted while 42% express the view that voting is
a privilege that comes with responsibilities.
About three-in-ten Americans are
religiously unaffiliated, a 10 percentage point rise from a decade ago, according
to a survey conducted
between May and August. Currently, 29% of U.S. adults are religious
“nones” – those who describe themselves as atheists, agnostics or “nothing in
particular.” By comparison, 16% described themselves this way when the Center
first asked the question in 2007. Christians continue to make up a majority of the U.S. population
(63%), but their share is 12 points lower in 2021 than it was in 2011.
Christians now outnumber religious “nones” by a ratio of a little more than
two-to-one. In 2007, when the Center began asking its current question about
religious identity, Christians outnumbered “nones” by almost five-to-one (78%
vs. 16%). Democrats and Republicans were deeply
divided over former President Donald Trump’s role in the events of Jan. 6, according
to a March
survey.
The vast majority of Democrats (87%) said Trump’s conduct surrounding
the riot at the U.S. Capitol was wrong and that senators should have voted to
convict him during his impeachment trial, while just 11% of Republicans said
the same. Around two-thirds of Republicans (65%) said Trump’s conduct was not
wrong and that he should not have been impeached by the U.S. House of
Representatives; just 4% of Democrats said the same. Overall, about half of Americans (52%) said Trump’s conduct was wrong
and that senators should have voted to convict him, while 31% said his
conduct was not wrong and that he should not have been impeached by the U.S.
House. Some Americans (15%) said Trump’s conduct was wrong but that senators
should not have voted to convict him.
For the first time, the number of Americans
who identify as non-Hispanic White declined between 2010 and 2020, according
to the Center’s analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. The White population of
the United States declined by about 5.1 million people during that timespan. In a related Pew
Research Center survey in July, about six-in-ten U.S. adults (61%) said
the decline in the White share of the U.S. population is neither good nor bad
for society. About two-in-ten (22%) said it is bad, including 9% who said it
is very bad. Slightly fewer (15%) said it is good, including 7% who said it
is very good.
Only 34% of U.S. adults under the age of 30
now get TV through cable or satellite, down from 65% in 2015, according
to a survey
fielded in January and February. There were declines in other age groups,
too, with decreases of 27 percentage points among those ages 30 to 49 and 14
points among those 50 to 64. Adults under 30 who are nonsubscribers are also much more likely than
older nonsubscribers to have never received TV at home via cable or satellite
– and to say they don’t currently subscribe because they can find the content
they want online instead. Two-thirds of U.S. adults say extreme
weather events across the country have been occurring more often than in the
past, a September
survey found. Far fewer Americans say they’re happening about as
often (28%), and only 4% say they are happening less often.
Nearly half of Americans (46%) also say the area where they live has
had an extreme weather event over the past 12 months, according to the same
survey. Nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults (73%) in the West South
Central census
division, which includes Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma, say
they’ve experienced extreme weather within the past year. A majority of
adults (59%) say the same in the Mid-Atlantic region, which includes
Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. By contrast, far fewer say they’ve
experienced extreme weather in other regions over the past year. In most census regional divisions, Democrats are more likely than
Republicans to report experiencing extreme weather within the past year.
Overall, 51% of Democrats say the area where they live has experienced this,
compared with 39% of Republicans.
A growing share of U.S. adults are neither
married nor living with a partner, according to
an October
study. In 2019, roughly four-in-ten adults ages 25 to 54 (38%) were
unpartnered – that is, neither married nor living with a partner, according
to a Pew Research Center analysis of Census Bureau data for that year (the
most recent available). This share was up sharply from 29% in 1990. Men were
more likely to be unpartnered than women. All of the growth in the unpartnered population since 1990 has come
from a rise in the number who have never been married, although the
unpartnered population does include some adults who were previously married
(those who are separated, divorced or widowed). Around the world, more people mention their
family as a source of meaning in their lives than any other factor, according
to an
open-ended survey question the Center posed to people in 17 advanced
economies in the spring. In 14 of the 17 nations surveyed, more people mentioned their family
as a source of meaning than anything else. Respondents highlighted their
relationships with parents, siblings, children and grandchildren; quality
time spent with their relatives; and the pride they get from family members’
accomplishments. Many also expressed the desire to live a life that leaves an
improved world for their offspring.
(PEW) DECEMBER 17, 2021 Source: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/12/17/striking-findings-from-2021/ 721-722-43-38/Polls 32% Say That Coronavirus Is One Of The Biggest Issues Facing Their
Country Today, A Survey In 28 Countries Tells
The final wave of our 28-country What Worries the World survey in
2021 (conducted between 19th November and 3rd December 2021) finds Covid-19
back at the top of our global issues ranking. Throughout the year, we saw levels of concern about the virus gradually
fall until it ceased to be the number one global issue in October. Last month it was in third place with 28%, the
lowest score recorded. However, we now see it increase by 4 points to 32% in
December 2021.
This is driven by significant jumps in concern about the virus
compared to the previous month in a number of countries – especially in
Germany (+23), the Netherlands (+19) and Belgium (+16). These three countries, along with South Korea, join our list of
countries where Covid-19 is currently the public’s top concern (alongside
Australia, Canada, Japan, Great Britain, Saudi Arabia, and the US). Poverty & Social Inequality Poverty and social inequality remains a top global worry this month,
down only one point from last wave’s results. It moves to second place only
due to the rise in concern about Covid-19. Almost one-third globally (31%)
list it as a top issue facing their country today. Concern is greatest in Russia, where over half (54%) say it is a top
worry. This is followed by Colombia (45%) and Brazil (43%). There are significant drops in the level of concern in the
Netherlands (-11 points), Germany (-7 points) and in Peru (-6 points)
compared to last month. Poverty and social inequality is the number one concern in four
countries: Russia, Brazil, Japan and France. Unemployment Unemployment is the joint-third top worry this month (level with
corruption); 28% on average select it as a top issue facing their country. South Africa remains most concerned about unemployment with six in 10
(63%) listing it as a top worry. It is followed by Spain (50%) and Italy
(46%). Turkey sees a significant increase in concern, up 10 points from last
month, while concern falls -8 and -7 points in Italy and Sweden respectively. December marks the 20th month in a row where unemployment has been
the top concern for Italy, and the 9th month running for South Africa. It is
also the top concern in India and Spain this month. Financial/Political Corruption Financial/political corruption is in joint third place this month,
with 28% on average listing it as a top issue for their country today – level
with concern about unemployment. Concern is highest in South Africa, with 57% there reporting concern
about corruption – unchanged from last month. Malaysia and Colombia follow
closely with 56% and 52% respectively. The largest increases from last month are seen in Great Britain (+5),
alongside Argentina and Mexico (both +4). Meanwhile we record significant
decreases in South Korea and the Netherlands (both -6 percentage points). Corruption remains the top concern for the public in Malaysia,
Colombia, and Peru – in line with last month. Crime & Violence Crime & violence is the fifth greatest concern in our global
issues tracker. Across all counties, it is selected by 27% - a proportion
that has remained unchanged for 3 months. Concern is highest, at 67%, in Sweden – the country consistently most
worried about crime. It is followed by South Africa (53%, +2 vs. last month),
Mexico (52%, -5), and 50% in Chile, Israel and Peru. The largest increases in concern about crime and violence are seen in
Israel (+13 points) and Peru (+9). Meanwhile, there has been a 10-point
decline in worry about this issue in Colombia, which moves from being the 6th most
worried to the 8th most worried country. Special focus: Inflation This month we take a closer look at inflation, a rising concern in
many parts of the world today. Our What Worries the World survey shows it to be at record-high
levels. Across all 28 countries, one in five (19%) on average say that it is
one of the most worrying issues facing their country today, putting it at
number 7 out of 18 total issues (after healthcare at 22% in 6th). At the top is Argentina (52%) – the country historically most
concerned about inflation. Poland, in second with 47%, has seen a dramatic
increase from the 16% recorded in January. Also looking back to the start of the year, Turkey is up 15pts,
Russia 11pts, Canada 26pts, and Brazil 17pts. Peru is up from 4% to 26% and
the US from just 2% to 25%. Also see our global survey on public perceptions of inflation. Heading in the right or wrong direction? At the end of 2021, the world is slightly more pessimistic than this
time last year. Across the 28 nations surveyed, 65% on average say that
things in their country are on the wrong track while 35% think they are
heading in the right direction. In December 2020 this stood at 62% and 38%. This month, Peru has the largest proportion of respondents saying
that their country is heading in the wrong direction (88%), replacing
Colombia (now 86%) as the most pessimistic country. Israel sees the largest increase in the public saying things are
heading in the right direction (12 points), making it the fifth most
optimistic country surveyed. Meanwhile, Italy sees a 9-point rise in those
saying things are heading in the right direction. Elsewhere, those in the Netherlands saying things are on the “wrong
track” increases by 12 points, making it the fifth most pessimistic country
surveyed. (Ipsos Canada) 21 December 2021 Source: https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/news-polls/what-worries-world-december-2021 721-722-43-39/Polls Globally, 59% Of The Population, On Average, Consider The Cost Of
Living To Be Higher Now Than It Was Six Months Ago, Among 30 Countries
Analyzed
The upward trend of inflation in recent months, due to the increase
in the price of goods necessary for the consumption of families such as
electricity, fuel or food, is beginning to be noticed in the pockets of
consumers around the world. This is confirmed by the data from the
latest survey conducted from the Ipsos Global Advisor online
platform . On average, 59% of the world's population believes
that the cost of living has increased in the last half year.
About two-thirds of consumers in the 30 countries analyzed state
that, on average, the cost of transport (70%), food and drink (70%) and
public services (66%) are higher than six years ago months. Furthermore,
approximately half of the world's population affirms that, on average, the
price of clothing and footwear (55%), housing (51%), medical and health care
(51%) and leisure (49% ) has also increased. Likewise, 63% of the part
of the population with higher incomes perceive that prices have increased
more in recent times, a figure higher than that of the citizens who share
this feeling, with lower purchasing power (54%). 57% of the Spanish population considers that prices have risen in the
last six months, two points below the global average. Seven out of ten
people in the country have the feeling that transport (70%), food and drink
(69%) and public services (70%) have become more expensive, placing the
perception of the increase in the price of services four points above the
global average. On the other hand, about half of the Spanish population
says that the price of clothing and footwear (54%), leisure (51%) and housing
(49%) is now higher than just half a year ago. Spain, where the price of electricity continues to break records
almost daily and is now the second developed country where the cost of this
basic good has risen the most, is, sharing a percentage with Poland (47%),
the second country Europe where the population declares that the rise in the
price of basic services (including electricity and gas, but also water,
telephone, internet access ...) has been especially marked, only behind
Belgium (52 %). The percentage is lower in neighboring countries such as
Italy (39%) or France (36%). Will household spending increase in the
coming months? Looking at the next three months, 42% of the world's population, on
average, expects household spending to continue increasing, practically the
same percentage of people who expect it to remain the same (41%). On the
other hand, 12% believe that it will decrease and 5% believe that there will
be a significant drop in daily household expenses.
For its part, the majority of the Spanish population, with 54%, does
not expect that household spending will increase in the near future, compared
to 30% who believe that it will. On the other hand, 6% of the Spanish
population foresees a drop in household spending for the next three months. (Ipsos Spain) December 22, 2021 721-722-43-40/Polls How Many People Have Been Hit By The Global Supply Chain Crisis In 7
European Countries And The U S
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the sensitive global supply chain
has been struggling lately. Precautions taken against the virus, including
closing workplaces, as well as low vaccine supply in many parts of the world,
have resulting in delayed shipping times and scarcity of some items. At the same time, electricity prices are rising across the world due
to energy supply shortages caused by a cold winter in Europe and a hot summer
in Asia. Now a new YouGov EuroTrack survey, conducted in seven European
countries (Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden and Denmark) and
the United States, uncovers how many people have been affected by key aspects
of the crisis. In all countries surveyed, most people are aware that a global supply
chain crisis is taking place. In most nations, between 83% and 95% have heard
at least something about the problems facing the international supply network.
The exception is Italy, where only 57% say they have. This reflects that the supply chain crisis is affecting countries in
different ways. Across a range of supply issues, Italians are consistently
less likely to have experienced them or to have heard of other people doing
so. By contrast, people in the UK are noticeably more likely to have
experienced key supply problems. A majority of Britons (56%) say they have
personally experienced food shortages in shops, a figure slightly higher than
in the US (49%) but substantially higher than all the continental European
nations surveyed (6-18%).
Britons are also the only country where substantial numbers of people
have experienced shortages of fuel in recent weeks, following the crisis in
September and October. One in three Britons (33%) say they experienced this
personally, compared to no more than 10% in any other country.
In other areas, the UK is generally in line with the other nations
studied. In all continental European nations studied, most have experienced
household fuel/electricity price increases in recent weeks (52-66%). This
issue is less widespread in the US, but nevertheless 42% of Americans have
also seen their bills rise.
Americans are, however, more likely to have personally noticed delays
to getting products delivered (42%) than the European nations surveyed (from
14% in Italy to 32% in Germany). When it comes to toilet paper shortages,
Americans (21%), as well as Germans (17%), are somewhat more likely than
other countries (2-10%) to have experienced a lack of the white posterior
wipes. The results also show that 28% of Americans have stockpiled or
otherwise brought forward their purchases of toilet paper. (YouGov UK) December 22, 2021 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
