This interest varies according to the subject, young people showinga particular interest insocial subjects (32% are very interested in them), the environment (32%) andsocietal subjects (31%), much more than in the economy (21%) or French political life (19%).

Among those who are not really interested in current events, it is above all the news that is too negative and information that istoo scary (36%) that is the main reason for their lack ofinterest, ahead of thelack of trust in the media and journalists (25%).

Traditional media remain the preferred information channels for young people

Today, the general media are the channel to which young people turn primarily to learn about current events. They cite these generalist media in the first place on theirtraditional medium (40%), ahead of the accounts of these mediaon social networks (26%) and thesites or applicationsof these same media (23%). Discussions with their loved ones are also an important source of information (35%) while media broadcasting exclusively online (22%) andinfluencers and experts present on social networks (17%), which often target a young audience, are rarely mentionedby the latter as a way to learn about current events.

In detail, television channels still largely dominate when it comes to informationon current events. 65% of young people cite television, especially "classic" channels (50%), much more cited than continuous news channels (30%).

The written press, although it is the second most cited medium, is used by less than one in two young people (46%). The different types of press are rarely mentioned, whether it is the national press (24%), the regional press (18%) or the specialized press (14%).

Finally, online media are quite far behind, whether it is the accounts of influencers or experts (22%) or media broadcasting exclusively online (21%). It is mainly the youngest who get information via the accounts of influencers or experts (32% of those under 20 against only 14% of young people aged 25 to 30).

However, the fact that social networks and online media are not the most cited element by young people does not mean that they do not use them. 94% of young people aged 16 to 30 use at least one social network or online media on a daily basis to learn about current events. Instagram is most often used (48% use it at least once a day), ahead of YouTube (42%) and Tik Tok (36%).

The daily use of social networks varies greatly by age: the youngest citing Tik Tok more (47% of those under 20 versus 36% on average) while the older ones cite Facebook more (43% of 25-30 year old vs. 35% on average).

A significant use of traditional media linked to a strong trust in these media

Three-quarters of young people surveyed today say that there are "media they trust to provide reliable and quality information" (75%) and "journalists or experts they trust" (73%). On the other hand, only 60% say they trust social networks or influencers.

Similarly, young people are more likely to trust newspapers or specialized magazines (62%), news radio (61%) or television channels (59%) than they trust the accounts of personalities on social networks dedicated to news (44%) or continuous news channels (39%).

Young people feel well equipped to deal with fake news, which they say is mainly present on social networks.

Two-thirds of young people surveyed (65%) now consider themselves well equipped to detect fake news and false information. If this figure shows a certain confidence on this subject, only 16% of young people say they are fully armed, half (49%) preferring to adopt a more measured position, thus demonstrating thatthis confidence is not unreserved.

More confident in traditional media, the majority of young people (62%) consider that fake news is rare, while only 37% believe the same for online media and influencers or experts present on social networks. In detail, it is above all on French political life (61%), international news (54%) and health (52%) that young people believe that fake news is the most widespread.

An expectation among young people of neutrality and plurality

In the treatment of information by the media, young people expect above all that the latter reflect all opinions and let people form their opinion (71%), less than a third consider conversely that the media must defend the opinion that seems best to them (29%).

This expectation of a posture reflecting the plurality of opinions is also reflected ina desire for neutrality. Two-thirds (66%) of young people surveyed believe that the media should always be neutral, regardless of the subject. This position is shared regardless of the age group. However, nearly one in two (48%) of executives believe that on certain subjects it is normal for the media and journalists to take a stand.

As well as that of seeing generalist media, analyzing and deciphering topics in a serious tone

Young people want above all generalist media, which cover all subjects (78%), rather than media devoted to a single theme (22%), and which address the whole population (69%). They are also waiting for a media that analyzes and decrypts information (70%) andthat disseminates this information in a serious tone (62%).

Young people are alsomore attracted to media with short formats, quick to read and easy to understand (55%) than in-depth topics (45%). In order to get informed, they now prefermany formats, whether video reports (29%), broadcasts (27%) or short explanatory videos (26%). Note thatinterest in formats can vary depending on age. Thus, young people aged 25 to 30 prefer video reports (36%) or broadcasts (31%) while young people under 20 are more attracted by short explanatory videos (30%) or very short posts (28%).

In terms of topics, young people expect the media above all to address environmental issues (28%) andsocial issues (26%), these being the ones that interest them most among the various current topics.

(Ipsos France)

November 25, 2022

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/fr-fr/un-jeune-sur-deux-declare-ne-sinteresser-quun-peu-lactualite

SUMMARY OF POLLS

ASIA

(Taiwan)

Taiwan Votes On Lower Voting Age, Mayors, City Councils

Taiwanese were picking their mayors, city council members and other local leaders in all 13 counties and in nine cities. There's also a referendum to lower the voting age from 20 to 18. While international observers and the ruling party have attempted to link the elections to the long-term existential threat that is Taiwan's neighbor, many local experts do not think China has a large role to play this time around.

(Asahi Shimbun)

November 26, 2022

(Turkey)

34% Of Turkish Employees Say Their Jobs Are Suitable For Remote Work

The suitability of the work / position made for the remote / home working situation that started with the pandemic is an important issue. 34% of employees say their jobs are suitable for remote work. Half of these employees today work fully or remotely on certain days of the week. Currently, 3 out of every 10 people working from home / remotely think that they will continue to work this way for another month. Only 23% think they will continue to work this way for 6 months or more.

(Ipsos Turkey)

24 November 2022

(Pakistan)

81% Businesses Do Not Believe That The Court System Of Pakistan Is Fair, Impartial And Uncorrupted

According to a survey conducted by Gallup & Gilani Pakistan, 81% of businesses do not believe that the court system of Pakistan is fair, impartial and uncorrupted The complete report for the Business Confidence Survey Q4 2022 can be accessed here A nationally representative sample of businesses from across the country was asked the following question regarding, “Please tell me if you strongly disagree, tend to disagree, tend to agree or strongly agree with the following statement: "The court system is fair, impartial and uncorrupted” 81% disagreed with the statement while 19% agreed.

(Gallup Pakistan)

November 21, 2022

AFRICA

(Uganda)

Ugandans Want Government Action On Environmental Problems Affecting Their Communities

Almost six in 10 Ugandans (58%) say pollution is a “somewhat serious” or “very serious” problem in their community. Citizens cite deforestation (48%), trash and plastic disposal (22%), pollution of water sources (11%), and human waste management (10%) as the most important environmental issues in their community. More than eight in 10 respondents (83%) say plastic bags are a major source of pollution in Uganda. If environmental-protection policies threaten jobs and incomes, two-thirds (67%) of Ugandans would still want the government to prioritise the environment rather than jobs. Almost six in 10 Ugandans (57%) say the primary responsibility for reducing pollution and keeping communities clean rests with local citizens.

(Afrobarometer)

25 November 2022

WEST EUROPE

(UK)

More Than Two-Thirds Of The Public (67%) Are Worried About Climate Change And Its Effects

More than two-thirds of the public (67%) are worried about climate change and its effects, 62% think it would only be possible avert the worst impacts of climate change with a “drastic change” to the steps already being taken, and around half (51%) believe individuals can make a big difference in the fight to save the planet. When asked what steps they’d be personally willing to take to help tackle the crisis, topping the list for Britons is switching to an energy provider who only uses renewable energy (52% say they’re willing to do so while 14% say they’re already doing this).

(YouGov UK)

November 22, 2022

55% Of UK Adults Think Refugees Around The World Need More Support With Finding Shelter Or Accommodation

When participants (UK adults aged 16-75) were asked: “Thinking about conditions in which refugees live around the world… In which, if any, of the following areas do you think refugees around the world need more support than you believe they are currently getting?”, 55% selected “Finding shelter/ accommodation” from the list of 5 areas shown to them. 56% have enough food to eat and 55% are finding shelter/ accommodation.

(Ipsos MORI)

23 November 2022

Half Of Britons Believe The Autumn Statement Will Leave Families Worse Off

Half of all Britons (50%) think the Autumn Statement will have a negative impact on their households, according to a YouGov/Times poll conducted in the wake of the announcements. This includes nearly half of Conservative voters (45%) and a majority of Labour voters (57%) who believe the budgetary measures will leave them or their families worse off. Just a fraction of the public (4%) think the changes will leave their families better off, including 6% of Tory voters and 4% of Labour voters.

(YouGov UK)

November 23, 2022

25 Years After Her Death, Princess Diana Is More Popular Than King Charles, And The Monarchy

To see how the late Princess’s reputation has held up over the years, we included Diana on the latest YouGov royal favourability tracker. The results show that, more than a quarter of a century after her death, Princess Diana’s legacy remains strong, and she is still more popular than her former husband and the monarchy in general. Seven in ten Britons (72%) have a positive view of Princess Diana, including 34% who have a “very positive” opinion. By contrast, two thirds (67%) have a positive view of King Charles, and 60% have a favourable opinion of the institution of the monarchy in general. Only a quarter (25%) have a “very” positive view of Charles, and just 20% say the same of the monarchy.

(YouGov UK)

November 24, 2022

(France)

World Cup 2022: 47% Of Fans Believe Les Bleus Can Win The Competition

(Ipsos France)

November 22, 2022

One In Two Young People Say They Are Only Slightly Interested In Current Events

Young French people show a rather limited interest in current events. Indeed, if 38% say they are very interested in it, nearly one in two (46%) is only "a little". This interest increases little with age but is much higher among executives (59%). This interest varies according to the subject, young people showinga particular interest insocial subjects (32% are very interested in them), the environment (32%) andsocietal subjects (31%), much more than in the economy (21%) or French political life (19%).

(Ipsos France)

November 25, 2022

(Germany)

43 Percent Of Germans Identify Themselves As Sustainable, Cause-Free Donors

(YouGov Germany)

November 24, 2022

(Denmark)

Denmark's Early Election Saw The Social Democrats Increase Vote Share

Earlier this month, Denmark held an early general election following collapse in parliamentary support for the ruling ‘Red Bloc’ coalition led by the Social Democrats. Despite this seemingly difficult political context, the Social Democrats maintained their position as largest party in the parliament, and even increased their vote share by a couple of points to 27.5%. The Red Bloc overall won 49% of the vote, while the rival ‘Blue Bloc’ won 41.6%, a resounding victory for incumbent prime minister Mette Frederiksen’s Bloc. The leading Blue Bloc party, Venstre, dropped 10 points from 2019, down to 13.3%.

(YouGov UK)

November 24, 2022

(Russia)

Half Of Russians Believe That In 25 Years Vaccines Against Poliomyelitis And HIV Infection Will Be Developed

The majority of Russians agree that in 25 years vaccines against polio and HIV infection will be developed and readily available in the world (48%). These are the data of the all-Russian study Romir. 18% of Russians do not agree that in a quarter of a century a vaccine will be developed and easily available. Another 34% find it difficult to answer. The most optimistic in this matter are representatives of the generation of the "thaw" (45 - 59 years old) - 51%. The least optimistic "digital" generation (18 -24 years old) - 23% do not believe in the possibility of a vaccine in 25 years.

(Romir)

November 21, 2022

NORTH AMERICA

(USA)

Partisans Agree: Time With Family And Friends Is Meaningful And Fulfilling

More than eight-in-ten U.S. adults (83%) say spending time with family provides them a great deal or quite a bit of meaning and fulfillment, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted earlier this year. This includes large majorities of Republicans and independents who lean toward the GOP (85%) as well as Democrats and Democratic leaners (82%). Similar but smaller majorities of Republicans (64%) and Democrats (68%) say the same about spending time with friends.

(PEW)

NOVEMBER 22, 2022

Americans Overwhelmingly Say Marijuana Should Be Legal For Medical Or Recreational Use

An overwhelming share of U.S. adults (88%) say either that marijuana should be legal for medical and recreational use by adults (59%) or that it should be legal for medical use only (30%). Just one-in-ten (10%) say marijuana use should not be legal, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted Oct. 10-16, 2022. These views are virtually unchanged since April 2021. This is particularly the case among those ages 75 and older, just three-in-ten of whom say marijuana should be legal for both medical and recreational use. Larger shares in every other age group – including 53% of those ages 65 to 74 – say the drug should be legal for both medical and recreational use.

(PEW)

NOVEMBER 22, 2022

(Canada)

Half (52%) In Canada Say Abortion Should Be Available At Any Time During A Pregnancy

The latest research from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds that while a majority of Canadians are absolutists – either completely “pro-choice” (52%) or completely “pro-life” (8%) – a significant segment (41%) consider themselves somewhere “in between”. This diversity of view includes Canadians who have had an abortion themselves. Among these women, three-in-five (58%) identify as pro-choice, six per cent say they are pro-life, and 36 per cent sit somewhere along the middle of the continuum.

(Angus Reid Institute)

November 24, 2022

(Argentina)

Argentina: After Their Defeat They Have A 3% Chance Of Winning The World Cup Qatar

Yesterday one of the biggest surprises of the Qatar 2022 World Cup happened, after the Saudi Arabian team won by two goals to one against the Argentina team. The impact was great on soccer fans and more on Argentine fans, since the team arrived in Qatar being the second favorite to win the title followed by Brazil, however, after their unfortunate defeat, the chances of the selection of Lionel Messi dropped to the point of only having a 3.0% chance of winning the coveted World Cup.

(CNC)

November 23, 2022

AUSTRALIA

Consumer Electronics & Apparel Top Considered Product Purchases Among Aussie Black Friday Shoppers

Among those who have previously shopped over the season (42%), consumer electronics and tech products emerged as the most popular product category shoppers would look to purchase during Black Friday sales (60%). This was followed by fashion apparel, which half of consumers said they would consider for purchase (50%). One in five said they scout for home decoration or furniture purchases (41%) and personal care or beauty products (40%), while roughly a third look for deals on games and toys (34%) and jewellery or accessories (32%).

(YouGov Australia)

November 21, 2022

Mortgage Stress Increases To Its Highest Since April 2018 With 22.6% Of Mortgage Holders Now At Risk

New research from Roy Morgan shows an estimated 1,013,000 mortgage holders (22.6%) were ‘At Risk’ of ‘mortgage stress’ in the three months to October 2022. This period encompassed two interest rate increases of 0.5% and an increase of 0.25% in early October taking official interest rates to 2.6% in early October – the highest official interest rates since August 2013. Since then, there has been another interest rate increase of +0.25% in November which has taken official interest rates to 2.85% - the highest official interest rates for over nine years since May 2013.

(Roy Morgan)

November 22, 2022

MULTICOUNTRY STUDIES

Seven In 10 People In 34 Countries Support Global Rules To Stop Plastic Pollution

An average of 70% people across 34 countries support a treaty that creates global rules for governments to end plastic pollution, according to the Global attitudes towards a plastic pollution treaty report by Ipsos. Support for a treaty creating global rules for governments to end plastic pollution is highest in Latin America (77%) and Europe (72%), and lowest in North America (60%). The highest level of support for such a treaty is seen in Peru and Colombia (both 81%), while support is lowest in Japan (48%) and the United States (58%).

(Ipsos MORI)

23 November 2022

Six In Ten Britons Would Support Energy Saving Public Information Campaign, A Study In 5 Countries Shows

In early October it was reported that Liz Truss had blocked attempts by the business and energy department to launch a public information campaign asking Britons to cut their energy use in order to help reduce the risk of blackouts this winter. As a result, in France, as many as 79% of people have seen messaging from their government asking them to reduce the amount of energy they use in the run up to winter, according to a new YouGov poll, as have 72% of Germans. Most Italians (56%) have also noticed government campaigning, as have half of Spaniards (48%). While Spain introduced laws on government and business energy use in August, it is not clear whether a reported forthcoming campaign to encourage private citizens to cut their energy use ever launched.

(YouGov UK)

November 22, 2022

ASIA

770-43-01/Polls

Taiwan Votes On Lower Voting Age, Mayors, City Councils

Lingering concerns about the threat posed by its giant neighbor China took a backseat in Taiwan's closely watched local elections on Saturday as voters focused on other pressing issues closer to home such as air pollution and bad traffic.

Taiwanese were picking their mayors, city council members and other local leaders in all 13 counties and in nine cities. There's also a referendum to lower the voting age from 20 to 18.

While international observers and the ruling party have attempted to link the elections to the long-term existential threat that is Taiwan's neighbor, many local experts do not think China has a large role to play this time around.

“The international community has raised the stakes too high. They’ve raised a local election to this international level, and Taiwan’s survival,” said Yeh-lih Wang, a political science professor at National Taiwan University.

During campaigning, there were few mentions of the large-scale military exercises targeting Taiwan that China held in August in reaction to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit.

“So I think if you can’t even raise this issue in Taipei,” Wang said. “You don’t even need to consider it in cities in the south.”

Instead, campaigns resolutely focused on the local: air pollution in the central city of Taichung, traffic snarls in Taipei’s tech hub Nangang, and the island’s COVID-19 vaccine purchasing strategies, which had left the island in short supply during an outbreak last year.

At an elementary school in New Taipei City, the city that surrounds the capital Taipei, voters young and old came early despite the rain to cast their ballots.

Yu Mei-zhu, 60, said she came to cast her ballot for the incumbent Mayor Hou You-yi, running for reelection. “I think he has done well, so I want to continue to support him. I believe in him, and that he can improve our environment in New Taipei City and our transportation infrastructure."

President Tsai Ing-wen also came out early Saturday morning to cast her ballot, catching many voters by surprise as her security and entourage swept through the school. She then urged people across Taiwan to vote.

Tsai, who also chairs the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, has spoken out many times about “opposing China and defending Taiwan” in the course of campaigning. But the DPP's candidate Chen Shih-chung, who was running for mayor in Taipei, only raised the issue of the Communist Party's threat a few times before he quickly switched back to local issues as there was little interest, experts said.

Candidates spent the last week before the elections in a packed public schedule. On Sunday, the DPP's Chen marched through Taipei with a large parade filled with dancers in dinosaur suits and performers from different countries. Chiang Wan-an, the Nationalist party's mayoral candidate, canvassed at a hardware market, while Vivian Huang, an independent candidate, visited lunch stalls at a market. All three made stops at Taipei's famous night markets.

The question is how the island's two major political parties — the Nationalist and the incumbent DPP — will fare. Because both Tsai and the Nationalist's chair Eric Chu handpicked candidates, the performance will impact their own standings within their party, as well as the party's strength in the coming two years.

“If the DPP loses many county seats, then their ability to rule will face a very strong challenge,” said You Ying-lung, chair at the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation that regularly conducts public surveys on political issues.

The election results will in some ways also reflect the public's attitude towards the ruling party's performance in the last two years, You said.

Observers are also watching to see if outgoing Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je's Taiwan People's Party's candidates will pick up a mayoral seat. A 2024 presidential bid for Ko will be impacted by his party's political performance Saturday, analysts say. Ko has been campaigning with his deputy, the independent mayoral candidate Huang, for the past several weeks.

Food stall owner Hsian Fuh Mei said he was supporting Huang.

“We want to see someone international,” he said. “If you look at Singapore, before we were better than Singapore, but we’ve fallen behind. I hope we can change direction.”

Others were more apathetic to the local race. “It feels as if everyone is almost the same, from the policy standpoint,” said 26-year-old Sean Tai, an employee at a hardware store.

Tai declined to say who he was voting for, but wants someone who will raise Taipei's profile and bring better economic prospects while keeping the status quo with China. “We don’t want to be completely sealed off. I really hope that Taiwan can be seen internationally," he said.

(Asahi Shimbun)

November 26, 2022

Source: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14778194

770-43-02/Polls

34% Of Turkish Employees Say Their Jobs Are Suitable For Remote Work

21nov4

Currently, 3 out of every 10 people working from home / remotely think that they will continue to work this way for another month. Only 23% think they will continue to work this way for 6 months or more.

21nov5

As a working order from now on, only 13% of employees want to go to work every day and work in the office. What the majority want is to continue working remotely in some way.

21NOV6

The majority of employees in the world prefer hybrid working order. The rate of people who want to go to work/office is only 8%

21nov7

So how do managers think? Managers are much less likely to want to work entirely from home. Most managers prefer hybrid work instead of working from home.

21nov8

For remote workers, the biggest benefit of this work arrangement is money and time savings. Better work-life balance is another important benefit.

21nov9

Ipsos, Turkey CEO Sidar Gedik made the following evaluations about the data; The concept of working partially or completely out of office was also discussed before the pandemic. Of course, the discussion was valid for jobs that were suitable for working in this way. We can say that the pandemic has put an end to this debate for a while. Anyone who could work remotely for "vital reasons" worked remotely for a while. After the outbreak lost its effect, some sectors, some companies returned to the order of working in the office partially or completely. At this point, the hybrid working method came to the agenda. According to our current research on this subject, it is not possible for two-thirds of the employees in our country to work outside the office / workplace due to the nature of the work. Our research has shown that half of those whose work is available for office/non-workplace work continue to work partially or completely remotely. However, those who think that this way of working will continue for more than 6 months are in the minority, only 23% think so. Time will tell how to proceed.

In our country, the rate of those who want to work completely from home and those who want to work completely in the office is high compared to other countries. In our country, those who want to work completely from home are 2 times more than in other countries, and those who want to work completely in the office are 1.5 times more.

In other countries, there are many more who prefer hybrid work, while those who prefer this way of working are about 45% in our country and 68% in other countries. The main motivation behind this choice is to spend less money and time thanks to hybrid work and of course to achieve a better work-life balance.

In our country, 87% of those who are currently working remotely are in favor of continuing to work completely or partially from outside the workplace. This rate is higher in our research in other countries, up to 92%.

If we look at the picture from the other side, six out of ten people who are currently working remotely in our country want to have a connection with the office. While 13% want to return to the office completely, 45% prefer a hybrid way of working, that is, working a little remotely at work.

The rate at which managers in the world prefer to work entirely from home is 3 times lower than young employees. While 28% of employees at the beginning of business life say that they only want to work from home from now on, this rate decreases to 10% among senior managers. Both mid-level and senior managers see hybrid work as the most appropriate alternative in terms of effective collaboration. Of course, there is a possibility that the anxiety of losing young employees to other companies also plays a role in the way managers think in this way. For younger employees, there is not much difference between working from home, hybrid working and returning to the office completely in terms of collaboration. They think that when they work from home, we can support each other as if we were in the office.

With hybrid work, it was seen that "existing staff" could carry out the work. However, it is a question mark how long it will take for the next generation to reach a certain level of competence with hybrid work. In this transition period, we observe that the acquisition of competence takes a longer time. In the longer term, in a world where both trainers and trainees are "natives of this new order," this and negativity can disappear. The dimensions of the work such as human relations, teamwork, mutual tolerance, which are related to emotions, are in need of deep discussions. We will see how the "born-grow" hybrid working generations will approach this side of the business.

(Ipsos Turkey)

24 November 2022

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/tr-tr/hibrit-calisma-devam-ediyor-mu

770-43-03/Polls

81% Businesses Do Not Believe That The Court System Of Pakistan Is Fair, Impartial And Uncorrupted

Trend Analysis 81% businesses do not believe that the court system of Pakistan is fair, impartial and uncorrupted, 7% more than in Q1 2022 (the last wave in which this question was asked).

Breakdown by Business Type 80% to 90% of manufacturers and service providers did not believe the court system to be fair, impartial and uncorrupted.

(Gallup Pakistan)

November 21, 2022

Source: https://gallup.com.pk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/21-Nov_merged.pdf

AFRICA

770-43-04/Polls

Ugandans Want Government Action On Environmental Problems Affecting Their Communities

As Uganda gears up to start oil production in 2025, controversy over the proposed East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) has pitted economic development against environmental protection and human rights. A recent European Parliament resolution seeks to delay the 1,443-kilometer pipeline, which is supposed to transport crude oil from western Uganda to the Tanzanian coast. The nonbinding resolution cites risks to both countries' protected natural reserves, water sources, and wetlands and notes that use of the oil will result in up to 34 million tons of carbon emissions annually (European Parliament, 2022; Independent, 2022). Bobi Wine, leader of Uganda’s largest opposition party, has joined other critics in voicing concerns about environmental impacts as well as the rights of affected landowners, a lack of transparency and accountability, and poor management of the oil project (Okiror, 2021; Wandera, 2022). In contrast, President Yoweri Museveni, the deputy speaker of Parliament, and other government officials have loudly condemned the resolution and accused the European Union of seeking to undermine Uganda’s sovereignty, racism, and economic sabotage (Organization for World Peace, 2022). The pipeline is the latest chapter in a long-running debate about environmental concerns in Uganda. Evidence shows that the country’s forests, swamps, and water bodies face serious threats from pollution, rapid human encroachment, and overexploitation. For example, the country’s forest cover declined from 24% of Uganda's total land area in 1990 to 9% in 2015, a loss of about 3 million hectares, while wetland cover decreased from 15.5% in 1994 to 8.9% in 2020 (Ministry of Water and Environment, 2016, 2020). Despite laws and agencies to protect the environment and natural resources, violations are rampant, and major violators are often either protected or left untouched. Museveni’s directives to evict people encroaching on wetlands have hardly made a dent (Etukuri, 2022; Draku, 2022; Muhindo, 2022). Can the damage be undone, or at least limited? This dispatch reports on special survey modules included in the Afrobarometer Round 9 questionnaire to explore Ugandans’ experiences and perceptions of pollution, environmental governance, and natural resource extraction. A majority of Ugandans say pollution is a serious problem in their community. They rate deforestation as the most important environmental issue, followed by trash disposal, and describe plastic bags as a major source of pollution.

Most citizens want more government action to limit pollution and protect the environment, even at the cost of jobs and incomes. And when it comes to natural resource extraction, a majority of Ugandans say that its costs outweigh its benefits, and that tighter regulation of the industry is needed to protect the environment. Afrobarometer surveys Afrobarometer is a pan-African, nonpartisan survey research network that provides reliable data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life. Eight rounds of surveys have been completed in up to 39 countries since 1999. Round 9 surveys (2021/2022) are currently underway. Afrobarometer conducts face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice. The Afrobarometer team in Uganda, led by Hatchile Consult Ltd., interviewed 2,400 adult Ugandans between 7 and 25 January 2022. A sample of this size yields country-level results with a margin of error of +/-2 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. This was the 12th Afrobarometer survey in Uganda since 1999. Key findings On pollution and environmental governance: § Almost six in 10 Ugandans (58%) say pollution is a “somewhat serious” or “very serious” problem in their community. § Citizens cite deforestation (48%), trash and plastic disposal (22%), pollution of water sources (11%), and human waste management (10%) as the most important environmental issues in their community. § More than eight in 10 respondents (83%) say plastic bags are a major source of pollution in Uganda. § If environmental-protection policies threaten jobs and incomes, two-thirds (67%) of Ugandans would still want the government to prioritise the environment rather than jobs. § Almost six in 10 Ugandans (57%) say the primary responsibility for reducing pollution and keeping communities clean rests with local citizens. Far fewer would assign that responsibility to the national (23%) or local (13%) government. § More than six in 10 citizens (64%) say the government should do more to limit pollution and protect the environment. On natural resource extraction: § Only four in 10 Ugandans (41%) say the benefits of natural resource extraction outweigh negative impacts such as pollution, while half (51%) see the costs as being higher than the gains. § More than eight in 10 citizens (83%) want the government to regulate natural resource extraction more tightly in order to reduce its negative impact on the environment.

§ More than half (56%) of respondents say communities do not receive a fair share of revenues from resource extraction activities in their area, while half (50%) believe that ordinary citizens do not have a voice in decisions about natural resource extraction. Pollution and environmental governance Pollution: The scope of the problem The World Health Organization (2018) estimates that environmental pollution kills more than 8 million people worldwide annually. In Uganda, almost six in 10 citizens (58%) consider pollution, such as accumulation of trash or damage to the quality of the air, the water, or the land, to be a “somewhat serious” (26%) or “very serious” (32%) problem in their community (Figure 1). Urban residents are more concerned about pollution than rural residents (64% vs. 56%) (Figure 2). Concerns about pollution also increase with one’s experience of poverty, ranging from 36% among those with no lived poverty to 67% among those with high-lived poverty.1 Younger adults, men, and citizens with post-secondary education are also somewhat more likely than their counterparts to consider pollution a serious problem. Geographically, pollution is of greatest concern among residents of Kampala (75%) and the Northern Region (68%), and far less so among those living in the Western Region (46%). Our findings are consistent with the 2021 World Air Quality Report, which ranks Kampala as one of the most polluted cities in the world, with pollution levels up to seven times higher than the World Health Organization's standard for safety (World Economic Forum, 2022).

Most important environmental issue Ugandans rank deforestation as the most important environmental issue in their community (cited by 48%), followed by trash and plastic disposal (22%) (Figure 3). About one in 10 cite pollution of water sources (11%) and human waste management (10%). Citizens’ prioritisation of deforestation and trash disposal as environmental problems varies widely across demographic groups. Rural dwellers are far more likely than urban residents to cite deforestation as most important (54% vs. 30%), while trash and plastic disposal is of greater concern in the cities (36%) than in rural areas (16%) (Figure 4). Similarly, residents of Kampala (69%) are more than twice as likely to prioritise trash and plastic disposal as their counterparts in other regions (10%-29%), while deforestation ranks low among their environmental concerns (8%). On the other hand, deforestation is cited most often in the East (65%) and North (55%), Uganda’s poorest regions. A possible connection between deforestation and poverty is also supported by our finding that concerns about deforestation increase with one’s experience of poverty, ranging from 40% among those with no lived poverty to 51% among those with high lived poverty. In contrast, concerns about trash and plastic disposal decrease alongside economic status: The well-off are more than twice as likely as the poorest to cite trash disposal as the top environmental issue affecting them (33% vs. 15%).

These results are consistent with other reports indicating that Uganda’s deforestation is escalating rapidly, due mostly to rapid population growth (with increasing demand for agricultural land, particularly in rural areas) and poverty (with a high reliance on forests for sustenance and livelihoods) (Twongyirwe, Bithell, & Richards, 2018). Moreover, almost three-fourths (73%) of households in Uganda use firewood for cooking while two in 10 (21%) use charcoal, putting further strain on the country’s forests (Uganda Bureau of Statistics, 2021). Are plastic bags a major source of pollution? Unlike in Rwanda, bans on the production and use of plastic bags have met with controversy in Uganda, and proposed bans are either overturned or never implemented. Uganda made its first attempt to ban plastic bags in 2007, but it proved unsuccessful. In 2009, 2015, and 2018, further bans were announced, but plastic bags are still widely used in the country (Behuria, 2021). The president has shifted the goalposts: In June 2018, he issued an order prohibiting the production, distribution, sale, and use of polythene bags (Star, 2018). Later that year, he stated that he opposed the ban on plastic bags and favoured a stronger focus on recycling (Observer, 2018). Behuria (2021) contends that resistance from the business community has greatly contributed to the failed implementation of bans on plastic bags in Uganda. More than eight in 10 citizens (83%) “agree” or “strongly agree” that plastic bags are a major source of pollution in Uganda (Figure 5).

Protecting the environment Actions to reduce pollution can range from making small everyday adjustments to once-in-ageneration game-changers – from shifting (back) to reusable shopping bags to dismantling a coal-burning industry. For Ugandans, protecting the environment starts at home: Almost six in 10 respondents (57%) say ordinary citizens have the primary responsibility for reducing pollution and keeping their communities clean (Figure 6). Only about a quarter (23%) would instead place that responsibility on the national government, and even fewer would look to the local government (13%), to traditional leaders (3%), and to business and industry (3%).

More than six in 10 citizens (62%) say the government is doing “fairly badly” or “very badly” at reducing pollution and protecting the environment, while only one-third (33%) think it is doing a good job (Figure 7). Negative ratings are more common among urban than rural residents (66% vs. 61%) and increase with respondents’ level of education, ranging from 58% among those with no formal education to 68% among those with post-secondary qualifications. They also increase with respondents’ experience of poverty, ranging from 45% among those with no lived poverty to 67% among those with high lived poverty. Citizens who live in the Central Region (80%) and Kampala (74%) are far more likely to give the government poor marks on reducing pollution and protecting the environment than their counterparts in other regions (52%-64%). In line with their negative assessments of the government’s performance, almost two-thirds (64%) of Ugandans say the government should be doing more to limit pollution and protect the environment, including more than half (52%) who want “much more” government action (Figure 8). One in 10 (11%) want the government to keep doing what it is currently doing, while a quarter (25%) think it should do less to protect the environment. In fact, fully two-thirds (67%) of Ugandans want the government to focus more on preventing pollution and protecting the environment even if it means a loss of jobs or other disruptions to daily life. Only 30% say the government should instead pay more attention to creating jobs and increasing incomes, even if it leads to environmental damage (Figure 9). Men (69%) and urban residents (71%) are somewhat more likely than women (65%) and rural dwellers (65%) to prioritise environmental protection over job creation. So are middle-aged citizens (71%) compared to younger adults and the elderly. As with the call for greater government efforts to limit pollution and protect the environment, the emphasis on environmental protection is most pronounced in Kampala (84%) and the Central Region (76%).

Natural resource extraction Although Uganda’s mining industry is small, accounting for 2.3% of the country’s gross domestic product, it is expected to grow dramatically as a result of recent oil discoveries (Oketch, 2021). But while this may bring economic benefits, resource extraction can also be a major source of local-level environmental damage. In Uganda, half (51%) of citizens see the costs of natural resource extraction, such as pollution, as outweighing benefits such as jobs and revenue. Only four in 10 (41%) think the benefits outweigh the costs (Figure 10). To reduce the negative impact of natural resource extraction on the environment, a large majority (83%) of citizens say the government should regulate the industry more tightly. Only 14% oppose stricter regulation.

Natural resource extraction: Citizens’ voice and benefit Negative assessments exceed positive ones when it comes to the stake of ordinary citizens in natural resource extraction (Figure 11). A majority (56%) of respondents say that communities do not receive a fair share of revenues from natural resource extraction that takes place in their area, while only one-third (35%) think they do. Similarly, half (50%) of respondents say local communities do not have a voice in decisions about natural resource extraction, while only 44% think they do.

Conclusion As Uganda’s forests and wetlands continue to disappear at alarming rates, citizens are taking up the call for environmental protection. They see pollution, deforestation, and trash and plastic disposal as important issues that affect their communities and require urgent attention from both ordinary citizens and the government – even at considerable economic cost. Limiting the damage may require collective action by all stakeholders, such as the adoption of affordable alternative fuel sources and the equitable application of environmental laws. Balancing the benefits and costs of economic development will not be easy, but public opinion suggests that environmental protection must be part of the equation.

(Afrobarometer)

25 November 2022

Source: https://www.afrobarometer.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/AD577-Ugandans-want-government-action-on-environmental-threats-Afrobarometer-25nov22.pdf

WEST EUROPE

770-43-05/Polls

More Than Two-Thirds Of The Public (67%) Are Worried About Climate Change And Its Effects

When asked what steps they’d be personally willing to take to help tackle the crisis, topping the list for Britons is switching to an energy provider who only uses renewable energy (52% say they’re willing to do so while 14% say they’re already doing this).

That’s followed by a widespread willingness to limit food to that which is produced in the UK, with 55% of people saying they’re willing to join the 5% who say they already stick to home-grown meals.

Other changes Britons are most willing to make (or are already making) to tackle climate change are personally covering the costs of making their homes more energy efficient (50%), switching to an electric car (45%) and only buying clothes second-hand (41%).

But not all of YouGov’s climate-saving suggestions are as popular, with the idea of cutting back on meat and dairy most likely to encounter public resistance.

Britons generally unwilling to give up meat and dairy to save the climate

Giving up entirely on meat and dairy is regularly cited as one of the most significant environmentally-friendly changes an individual can make.

However, fewer than a quarter of Britons are willing to cut meat and dairy from their diet completely (16% are willing while an additional 8% say they are already doing so), while more than six in ten (62%) say they’re unwilling to do so.

And nearly half of the public (45%) are unwilling to pay more for meat and dairy products, despite scientists saying food with a high carbon footprint – such as meat – should come with a heftier price tag. A quarter (25%) would be happy to take on the extra cost, however, while 6% say they already pay a premium.

Most Britons are unwilling to give up flying for fun

Flying abroad for holidays can contribute significantly to the size of an individual’s carbon footprint, but the idea of giving up flying for leisure is not popular among Britons.

Nearly half of the public (48%) are unwilling to give up holiday flights, compared to 15% who say they would never fly recreationally again if it helps to tackle climate change (an additional 9% say they already don’t take any leisure flights).

A third (33%) are willing to pay extra fees to offset the environmental impact of the flights they take and 3% say they already do, though 30% are unwilling to fork out more to fly.

Britons are also divided on whether they’d give up driving to save the planet, with 42% unwilling to trade in their car for walking, cycling or public transport compared to 40% who either already have (15%) or would be willing to do so (25%).

Britons willingness to go green has grown

While many climate-saving suggestions remain fairly unpopular with most Britons, the past year has seen a shift in favour of some.

Among the most significant – and likely to be compounded by a recent stark rise in energy bills – is a growth in the percentage of Britons willing to personally cover the costs of making their homes energy efficient. Between September last year and this October, the proportion willing to do so or already doing so has risen from 41% to 50%.

And as the cost-of-living crisis leaves many Britons with less to spend, there’s also been a jump in the proportion of people willing to only buy their clothes second-hand, growing from 30% who already did so or were willing to last year to 41% now.

While Britons are largely still unwilling to give up on meat and dairy, the proportion who have already done so or would do so to help the climate has also grown over the course of the year from 17% in September last year to 24% this October.

(YouGov UK)

November 22, 2022

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2022/11/22/most-people-are-worried-about-climate-change-what-

770-43-06/Polls

55% Of UK Adults Think Refugees Around The World Need More Support With Finding Shelter Or Accommodation

The following proportions of the respondents selected each of the 5 options at this question:

Having enough food to eat (56%)
Finding shelter/ accommodation (55%)
Having access to healthcare (53%)
Having access to clean water (52%)
Keeping warm during cold winter months (47%)

(Ipsos MORI)

23 November 2022

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/55-percent-of-uk-adults-think-refugees-around-world-need-more-support-finding-shelter-or-accommodation

770-43-07/Polls

Half Of Britons Believe The Autumn Statement Will Leave Families Worse Off

Just 6% of Conservative voters think Jeremy Hunt’s budgetary measures will leave their households better off

Half of all Britons (50%) think the Autumn Statement will have a negative impact on their households, according to a YouGov/Times poll conducted in the wake of the announcements.

This includes nearly half of Conservative voters (45%) and a majority of Labour voters (57%) who believe the budgetary measures will leave them or their families worse off.

Just a fraction of the public (4%) think the changes will leave their families better off, including 6% of Tory voters and 4% of Labour voters.

Only 15% of Britons believe the Autumn Statement will leave Britain better off

As far as Britain as a whole is concerned, more than a third of the public (35%) say they think the policies contained within the statement will make the country worse off.

Three in ten people (30%) think Hunt’s statement won’t make much of a difference to Britain, twice the amount who say the country will be better off as a result (15%).

A quarter of Conservative voters (25%) say the country will be better off, with 28% saying Britain will be worse off.
In contrast, 44% of Labour voters think the statement’s measures will leave Britain worse off and just 10% better off.

But what do Britons think of the policies within the Autumn Statement?

Despite most Britons thinking the Autumn Statement will either not make much difference to the country or will leave it worse off, some of the changes contained within it have won support.

Most people (56%) believe the tax rises suggested by the chancellor are necessary (17% think they are unnecessary).

Of individual measures asked about, an increase to the national living wage from £9.50 an hour to £10.42 an hour is the most popular of Hunt’s suggestions, with 83% of the public saying it’s a good idea.

Also well-supported is the plan to increase the windfall tax on energy firms, which is backed by more than three-quarters of Britons (76%).

Three quarters of Britons (75%) also support increasing pensions by 10.1% next year, in line with inflation.

In contrast, just 26% think delaying the introduction of a cap on social care costs by two years is a good idea – the least popular measure tested.

A third say delaying the cap is the wrong priority for the current time, while 41% say they don’t know if delaying the cap is a good idea or not.

Britons divided on whether the Autumn Statement was fair or not, but believe tax rises are necessary

There is uncertainty around the overall fairness of the Autumn Statement, with nearly four in ten Britons (38%) saying they don’t know if it was fair or not, higher than the 31% who think it was fair and the 30% who think it was not.

Half of Conservative voters think it was fair (48%), while more than one in five (22%) think it was unfair and 30% of Tories don’t know.

By contrast, Labour voters tend to think it was unfair by 40% to 23%, while more than a third (37%) say they don’t know.

Despite many people believing the measures in the Autumn Statement could have a detrimental impact on themselves or their families, the majority of Britons think the tax rises included in the chancellor’s statement are necessary – 56% say they are, compared to 17% who say they are not.

Nearly seven in ten Conservative voters (69%) think the tax rises are necessary, as do 52% of Labour voters.

In contrast, 11% of Tories and 23% of Labour supporters think they are unnecessary.

(YouGov UK)

November 23, 2022

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2022/11/23/half-britons-believe-autumn-statement-will-leave-f

770-43-08/Polls

25 Years After Her Death, Princess Diana Is More Popular Than King Charles, And The Monarchy

Even the youngest adults, none of whom were born until after she died, are just as likely to have a positive view of Diana as their elders

The fifth season of hit royal drama The Crown launched last week, with this season focussing heavily on the tumultuous relationship between Princess Diana and the then Prince Charles.

Seven in ten Britons (72%) have a positive view of Princess Diana, including 34% who have a “very positive” opinion.

By contrast, two thirds (67%) have a positive view of King Charles, and 60% have a favourable opinion of the institution of the monarchy in general. Only a quarter (25%) have a “very” positive view of Charles, and just 20% say the same of the monarchy.

While Princess Diana’s ratings are overwhelmingly positive among all age groups, those aged 50 and above are more likely to take a negative view of her, at 25-26%, compared to 13% of 25-49 year olds and 9% of 18-24 year olds. Those aged 25-49 are the most likely to have a positive opinion of Princess Diana, at 79%.

Seven in ten 18-24 year olds (70%) also have a positive view of Diana, but they are more likely than other age groups to say “don’t know”, at 21%. While on the face of it this may be unsurprising, as even the oldest amongst this age group would not be born until a few months after her death, this (lack of) awareness figure is actually the same as it is for the other top royals, demonstrating how far-reaching the late Princess’s legacy has proven.

Diana’s eldest son remains the most popular royal

Prince William continues to be the most popular member of the royal family, with 81% holding a positive opinion of him (including 45% with a “very positive” view). Catherine, Princess of Wales is not far behind, on 75%. In both cases, these figures are virtually unchanged from the previous survey in late September.

Likewise, having surged following his ascension to King, Charles’ favourability ratings have now stabilised, with little difference between this survey and September’s.

By contrast, Prince Harry’s popularity has dipped slightly once again, having seen a 15pt uptick following the death of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth. Only four in ten (39%) have a favourable view of the Duke of Sussex, down six points since September. The number of people holding an unfavourable view has increased by the same amount in that time, to 52%.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex continues to be less popular than her husband, with only 28% liking her, but this figure is effectively unchanged since September.

As ever, none can match Prince Andrew’s rock bottom unpopularity. Just 6% have a positive opinion of the Duke of York, while 85% have an unpopular opinion (including fully 67% who take a “very negative” view of him).

(YouGov UK)

November 24, 2022

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2022/11/24/25-years-after-her-death-princess-diana-more-popul

770-43-09/Polls

World Cup 2022: 47% Of Fans Believe Les Bleus Can Win The Competition

The football France team will begin its journey in the 2022™ FIFA World Cup Championship on 22 November. In a first match against Australia, she will put her title on the line, four years after hanging a second star on her jersey. The event, which is being held in Qatar this year, is among the most followed sports competitions in the world. While the Blues are preparing to put their title on the line, are the French behind them? Does he believe in a hat-trick of the French team?

Fans are more mixed about the chances of victory of the Blues

During previous surveys, Ipsos has regularly polled French fanson their confidence in a potential victory of Les Bleus at the World Cup. In October 2021,62% considered the France team capable of winning a 3rd star, a score confirmedlast August (64%). This confidence seems to be eroding in this last measure: "The half-hearted performances of Les Bleus in the UEFA Nations League in September, combined with the injuries of some players, seem to have somewhat damaged the morale of the fans. During this last measure of Ipsos, caution is advised: 47% of supporters believe Didier Deschamps' men can win the World Cup. Similar observation on the status of the Blues from the point of view of the fans: while they were 68% to see the team of France among the favorites in August, they are only52% in October. " commentsThibaud Vignal, MSU Group Head at Ipsos in France.

Enthusiasm persists around the event

Next December, will the France team and its new Ballon d'Or Karim Benzema manage to embroider a new one on their shirt? Despite this caution, the prospect of winning another World Cup after 1998 and 2018 would besynonymous with national unity according to French fans:

72% would consider a final victory asa source of pridefor the country;
71% as amoment of joy and sharingon a national scale, despite the possible debates that may emerge during family dinners.

On these two observations, the "1998 generation" is more convinced than the "2018 generation": 35-year-olds and over are more likely than 18-34 year olds to adhere to these statements.

And even if the victory is not at the rendezvous, the championship remains an important time for football fans of all generations, being both a vector of union and reunion:

68% see it asa moment of sharing, an opportunity to meetwith family or friends;
63% see it asa moment of unity for the country ;
60% see it asan unmissable event.

(Ipsos France)

November 22, 2022

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/fr-fr/coupe-du-monde-2022-47-des-supporters-estiment-les-bleus-en-mesure-de-remporter-la-competition

770-43-10/Polls

One In Two Young People Say They Are Only Slightly Interested In Current Events

Limited interest in current events

Traditional media remain the preferred information channels for young people

A significant use of traditional media linked to a strong trust in these media

Young people feel well equipped to deal with fake news, which they say is mainly present on social networks.

An expectation among young people of neutrality and plurality

As well as that of seeing generalist media, analyzing and deciphering topics in a serious tone

(Ipsos France)

November 25, 2022

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/fr-fr/un-jeune-sur-deux-declare-ne-sinteresser-quun-peu-lactualite

770-43-11/Polls

43 Percent Of Germans Identify Themselves As Sustainable, Cause-Free Donors

The holidays are just around the corner and numerous gifts will be distributed again this Christmas. In addition to Christmas, there are numerous other occasions to give gifts every year, but many gifts consume many resources and often produce mountains of waste. In times of climate change, sustainable gifts are therefore becoming increasingly popular and are now very much in vogue.

In our current YouGov Framework "Sustainable Gifting – The Different Gift Types in Germany", we analyse the demographic characteristics of consumers who are interested in sustainable gifts and take a look at their occasions for giving as well as attitudes and preferences.

Sustainable, causeless donors make thank-you gifts

43 percent of Germans identify themselves as sustainable, cause-free donors. This group prefers sustainable brands and does not need a special occasion to give gifts to others. More than half of the sustainable donors without cause are women (55 percent) over the age of 55 (44 vs. 41 percent of the total population). This target group is most likely to buy vouchers/gift cards (55 percent), food/drinks (52 percent) and books (43 percent) as gifts. The sustainable causeless donors are best reached with television campaigns (42 percent) and the majority (60 percent) are more likely to buy a product if the brand shares their views and values, as is the case for 50 percent of the total population.

Sustainable, occasion-related givers most often give at weddings

The group of sustainable occasion-related donors (16 percent) are more likely to use sustainable brands and only give gifts on special occasions. More than half of this target group (53 percent) are men between 18 and 24 years old (13 vs. 9 percent of the total population). This target group is also most likely to give away vouchers/gift cards (53 percent), food/drinks (49 percent) and books (39 percent). More than half of sustainable event-related donors (54 percent) believe that companies can remain socially relevant with sponsorship and almost a quarter (24 percent) have noticed the sponsorship of a sports team in the last 6 months (vs. 20 percent of the total population).

Donors without cause and occasion-related are often single

More than a quarter of Germans (26 percent) are givers without cause, so they do not need a special occasion for a gift and attach little importance to sustainable brands. 31 percent of this target group lives alone and most often buys gifts for weddings (50 percent), as a sign of gratitude/appreciation (48 percent) or for a birth (41 percent).

Another 16 percent of respondents give exclusively on special occasions and do not pay attention to the sustainability of products. This group of occasion-related donors are often men (58 percent) between the ages of 25 and 34 (17 vs. 15 percent of the total population). Occasion-related donors are often single (34 vs. 29 percent) and most often give vouchers/gift cards (44 percent), food/drinks (38 percent) and books (25 percent).

(YouGov Germany)

November 24, 2022

Source: https://yougov.de/news/2022/11/24/nachhaltiges-schenken-wird-immer-beliebter/

770-43-12/Polls

Denmark's Early Election Saw The Social Democrats Increase Vote Share

Earlier this month, Denmark held an early general election following collapse in parliamentary support for the ruling ‘Red Bloc’ coalition led by the Social Democrats.

Despite this seemingly difficult political context, the Social Democrats maintained their position as largest party in the parliament, and even increased their vote share by a couple of points to 27.5%.

The Red Bloc overall won 49% of the vote, while the rival ‘Blue Bloc’ won 41.6%, a resounding victory for incumbent prime minister Mette Frederiksen’s Bloc. The leading Blue Bloc party, Venstre, dropped 10 points from 2019, down to 13.3%.

In all, twelve parties passed the 2% threshold required to win seats in the Danish parliament (Folketing). Though neither bloc won a majority in terms of votes, with the support of Faroese and Greenlander party allies, the Red Bloc inched past the parliamentary majority line, winning 90 seats out of 179.

Now, a new post-election survey from YouGov sheds light on the issues which were most important to the Danish people as they went to the polls earlier this month.

Welfare and the economy are the top issues that Danes considered when voting in the 2022 general election

We asked those who voted in the 2022 general election what the most important issues were to them when deciding how to vote. Denmark follows the Nordic welfare model, characterised by universal welfare services, spending some of the highest levels of public money on this in the world. So, it is perhaps unsurprising that, of those who voted in the election, welfare and benefits come out as the top issue, with 47% putting this in their top three. The economy came in second with 39%, followed by the environment (30%) and the cost of living (26%).

Immigration and asylum has been a prominent issue in Danish politics for some time, with the Danish People’s Party revolving their 2015 campaigns around shifting public opinion to the right, and even influencing the parties on the left like Social Democrats to have right-leaning immigration and asylum policies. However, in 2019 a decrease in the importance of the issue saw the Danish People’s Party vote share decline, and now in the 2022 election only one in five voters (21%) put this controversial topic in their top three.

Social Democrat voters prioritise welfare and benefits and Venstre voters the economy

The top issues among Social Democrat supporters are similar to the most important issues amongst the Danish public as a whole. As with the wider public, welfare and benefits was the top issue, although Social Democrat voters put much more emphasis on it. No less than 58% of their 2022 voters put this in their top three most important issues. Joint-second on the list was the economy and the environment, at 32% for both. The cost-of-living then came in close behind, with 30% of Social Democrat voters picking this in their top three.

On the other side of the aisle, the issues most important to Venstre voters were the economy (59%), welfare and benefits (35%), the cost-of-living (27%) and defence and security (27%).

What are the priorities of the new entrants, the far-right Danish Democrats and centrist Moderates?

Two new parties entered the Danish parliament this year. Venstre witnessed a dramatic drop in support this election owing in large part to the arrival of the Danish Democrats, founded earlier this year by Venstre’s former leader Inger Støjberg. Støjberg had been ousted from the party after a Danish court convicted her for illegally instructing authorities to separate asylum-seeking couples where one partner was under 18.

Støjberg continued her hard-line positions on immigration and asylum into her new party leadership, attracting support on the far-right of Danish politics. Despite the controversy, the Danish Democrats did relatively well, gaining 8.1% of the vote.

Most strikingly, but perhaps expected, a huge majority of Danish Democrat voters (72%) put immigration and asylum in their top three most important issues. Welfare and benefits (33%) and crime (23%) were also important issues for the party’s supporters.

Comparing the top issues among 2019 and 2022 supporters of Venstre highlights the reduction in the party’s support from a catch-all right-wing Danish party in the previous election to a much slimmer, centre-right party now. Amongst 2019 Venstre voters one in five (22%) put immigration in their top three most important issues, compared to just 12% of their voters now. Meanwhile, 2022 Venstre supporters are more concerned about the economy (+5), taxation (+4) and less concerned about welfare and benefits (-9) than supporters in 2019.

Looking to the Moderates, welfare and benefits along with the economy come joint top, at 45%. Immigration and asylum, on the other hand, was seen as important by a mere 9%, lowest across all party breakdowns except the Green Left (8%).

(YouGov UK)

November 24, 2022

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2022/11/24/what-were-issues-dictating-which-party-danes-voted

770-43-13/Polls

Half Of Russians Believe That In 25 Years Vaccines Against Poliomyelitis And HIV Infection Will Be Developed

The majority of Russians agree that in 25 years vaccines against polio and HIV infection will be developed and readily available in the world (48%). These are the data of the all-Russian study Romir.

18% of Russians do not agree that in a quarter of a century a vaccine will be developed and easily available. Another 34% find it difficult to answer.

The most optimistic in this matter are representatives of the generation of the "thaw" (45 - 59 years old) - 51%. The least optimistic "digital" generation (18 -24 years old) - 23% do not believe in the possibility of a vaccine in 25 years.

In the world, 7 out of 10 people consider it possible to develop vaccines against polio and HIV infection in 25 years, follows from a global study by the International Association Gallup International.

Most confident in the success of medicine in the fight against these viral infections in Vietnam, Côte d'Ivoire, Libya, Ghana and Nigeria. The most pessimistic were the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Switzerland, Syria. These countries have the most negative estimates about the prospects for vaccine development in 25 years.

Doctor of Sociological Sciences, founder of M-Holding, President Of Romir Andrey Milekhin:

"Optimism is characteristic of young people – both people and countries. Actually, medicine itself reassures us. Pharmacology, biotechnology, bionic prosthetics are developing. Already, technology allows us to maintain the quality of life beyond 100 years. But not everyone will be able to pay the price for such an opportunity. What is for sure, a sharp increase in the life expectancy of a minority will give rise to new problems, such as a crisis of meanings and an even greater stratification of society. "

(Romir)

November 21, 2022

Source: https://romir.ru/studies/romir-polovina-rossiyan-veryat-chto-cherez-25-let-budut-razrabotany-vakciny-ot-poliomielita-i-vich-infekcii

NORTH AMERICA

770-43-14/Polls

Partisans Agree: Time With Family And Friends Is Meaningful And Fulfilling

Political conversations over Thanksgiving dinner may be fraught for many American families, especially after a tense midterm election season. But people in both major parties at least agree on the value of getting together.

The share of Republicans and Democrats who say they draw a great deal or quite a bit of meaning and fulfillment from being outdoors and experiencing nature is also nearly identical (72% and 70%, respectively). Republicans are substantially more likely to say they draw meaning from their religious faith, however (56% vs. 39%).

(PEW)

NOVEMBER 22, 2022

Source: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/11/22/partisans-agree-time-with-family-and-friends-is-meaningful-and-fulfilling/

770-43-15/Polls

Americans Overwhelmingly Say Marijuana Should Be Legal For Medical Or Recreational Use

With a growing number of states authorizing the use of marijuana, the public continues to broadly favor legalization of the drug for medical and recreational purposes.

The new survey follows President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon people convicted of marijuana possession at the federal level and direct his administration to review how marijuana is classified under federal law. It was fielded before the Nov. 8 midterm elections, when two states legalized the use of marijuana for recreational purposes – joining 19 states and the District of Columbia, which had already done so.

Over the long term, there has been a steep rise in public support for marijuana legalization, as measured by a separate Gallup survey question that asks whether the use of marijuana should be made legal – without specifying whether it would be legalized for recreational or medical use. This year, 68% of adults say marijuana should be legal, matching the record-high support for legalization Gallup found in 2021.

There continue to be sizable age and partisan differences in Americans’ views about marijuana. While very small shares of adults of any age are completely opposed to the legalization of the drug, older adults are far less likely than younger ones to favor legalizing it for recreational purposes.

This is particularly the case among those ages 75 and older, just three-in-ten of whom say marijuana should be legal for both medical and recreational use. Larger shares in every other age group – including 53% of those ages 65 to 74 – say the drug should be legal for both medical and recreational use.

Republicans are more wary than Democrats about legalizing marijuana for recreational use: 45% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents favor legalizing marijuana for both medical and recreational use, while an additional 39% say it should only be legal for medical use. By comparison, 73% of Democrats and Democratic leaners say marijuana should be legal for both medical and recreational use; an additional 21% say it should be legal for medical use only.

Ideological differences are evident within each party. About four-in-ten conservative Republicans (37%) say marijuana should be legal for medical and recreational use, compared with a 60% majority of moderate and liberal Republicans.

Nearly two-thirds of conservative and moderate Democrats (63%) say marijuana should be legal for medical and recreational use. An overwhelming majority of liberal Democrats (84%) say the same.

There also are racial and ethnic differences in views of legalizing marijuana. Roughly two-thirds of Black adults (68%) and six-in-ten White adults say marijuana should be legal for medical and recreational use, compared with smaller shares of Hispanic (49%) and Asian adults (48%).

In both parties, views of marijuana legalization vary by age

While Republicans and Democrats differ greatly on whether marijuana should be legal for medial and recreational use, there are also age divides within each party.

A 62% majority of Republicans ages 18 to 29 favor making marijuana legal for medical and recreational use, compared with 52% of those ages 30 to 49. Roughly four-in-ten Republicans ages 50 to 64 (41%) and 65 to 74 (38%) say marijuana should be legal for both purposes, as do 18% of those 75 and older.

Still, wide majorities of Republicans in all age groups favor legalizing marijuana for medical use. Even among Republicans 65 and older, just 17% say marijuana use should not be legal even for medical purposes.

While majorities of Democrats across all age groups support legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use, older Democrats are less likely to say this. About half of Democrats ages 75 and older (51%) say marijuana should be legal for medical or recreational purposes; larger shares of younger Democrats say the same. Still, only 8% of Democrats 75 and older think marijuana should not be legalized even for medical use – similar to the share of all other Democrats who say this.

(PEW)

NOVEMBER 22, 2022

Source: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/11/22/americans-overwhelmingly-say-marijuana-should-be-legal-for-medical-or-recreational-use/

770-43-16/Polls

Half (52%) In Canada Say Abortion Should Be Available At Any Time During A Pregnancy

It may often feel as though contemporary debates over abortion have fallen into a trap of simplicity in which the perspectives of Canadians about a complex issue are reduced to binary concepts: “pro-choice” or “pro-life”, legal or illegal, moral or amoral.

This diversity of view includes Canadians who have had an abortion themselves. Among these women, three-in-five (58%) identify as pro-choice, six per cent say they are pro-life, and 36 per cent sit somewhere along the middle of the continuum.

Among those in this “in between” group that eschews the polarities of the debate, just over one-third (36%) are comfortable with abortion until 15 weeks of pregnancy – about the point when a fetus develops a heartbeat. Another one-quarter (23%) say abortion is acceptable until the point of fetal viability, about 23 to 24 weeks. Some who claim to be in between profess they simply do not know at what point in a pregnancy abortion is or isn’t acceptable (33%).

Other factors including gender, age, experience, and faith all influence perspectives on this issue, and are the focus of this second report in a three-part series looking at abortion in Canada.

To read Part One, which focused on respondents’ personal experiences with either having an abortion or carrying an unplanned pregnancy through to term, please click here.

More Key Findings:

Young women – those between the ages of 18 and 34 – are most likely to be completely pro-choice (65%) but also most likely to be completely pro-life (14%).

Canadians who ‘strongly agree’ that faith is an important part of their life are most likely to voice pro-life views (40%). That said, the same number (39%) say that they are somewhere in between the two extremes, and one-in-five say they are completely pro-choice (21%).

Canadians tend to prioritize the rights of the mother over the rights of the fetus. Three-in-five (58%) say that the viable fetus (after approximately 24 weeks) does not have equal rights to the mother, while 22 per cent believe that it does.

About ARI

The Angus Reid Institute (ARI) was founded in October 2014 by pollster and sociologist, Dr. Angus Reid. ARI is a national, not-for-profit, non-partisan public opinion research foundation established to advance education by commissioning, conducting and disseminating to the public accessible and impartial statistical data, research and policy analysis on economics, political science, philanthropy, public administration, domestic and international affairs and other socio-economic issues of importance to Canada and its world.

INDEX

Part One: Pro-life, pro-choice, somewhere in between

Young women most likely to identify as “completely pro-choice”
Faith a factor, but not one size fits all

Part Two: Understanding those “in-between”

Part Three: Viability and rights

Part One: Pro-life, pro-choice, somewhere in between

The ongoing debate over the ethics and legalities of abortion in Canada can be passionate but often overly simplified. Between protesters outside of abortion clinics and hospitals yelling at or harassing women attempting to access abortions in the name of their “pro-life” beliefs, or political parties requiring their members to attest to “pro-choice” positions – more nuanced views of millions of Canadians are often left out of the discussion.

Overall, half of Canadians do identify as “completely pro-choice”, telling the Angus Reid Institute they believe an abortion is acceptable at any time during a pregnancy, for any reason. On the other end of the spectrum, eight per cent say they are “completely pro-life” and believe that abortion is never acceptable except under exceptional circumstances where the physical health of the mother is in danger. Two-in-five (41%) say they don’t identify with either side of this debate and find themselves somewhere in between:

In Canada, there is no law to either guarantee or restrict abortion; it is largely governed by conventional medical practice, which allows abortion until approximately 23 weeks gestation.

Those who have personal lived experience with this issue are also far from unanimous in their views. Among women who have had an abortion three-in-five are completely pro-choice (58%) while more than one-in-three say their views are somewhere between the two ends of the time continuum.

Those who have carried an unplanned pregnancy to term are more likely to be completely pro-life, though most identify themselves in each of the two other groups.

Quebecers are most likely to identify as “completely pro-choice” with a strong majority (59%) of this view:

Young women most likely to identify as “completely pro-choice”

Women between the ages of 18 and 34 are notably most likely to be either “completely pro-choice” (65%) or “completely pro-life” (14%). Men between the ages of 35 and 54 are least likely to be completely pro-choice compared to other age and gender groups, as seen below:

Faith a factor, but not one size fits all

Individuals who say religious faith plays an important role in their lives are not monolithic in where they situate themselves on the acceptability of abortion. As one may expect, this group is most likely to identify as completely pro-life (40%). That said, this stance does not represent the majority view among people of strong faith. Indeed, this demographic is just as likely to say its views are “somewhere in between”, while one-in-five (21%) identify as completely pro-choice:

Part Two: Understanding those “in-between”

Respondents who do not identify as either completely pro-life or completely pro-choice were asked to further define what “in-between” means to them. Among these respondents, about one-in-three (36%) say that they are comfortable with abortion until about 15 weeks, the point at when a fetus develops a heartbeat. Another one-in-four (23%) say they believe it is acceptable until the point of viability – the time when a fetus could survive outside the womb, generally considered to be about 24 weeks

A small group say abortion should be available after this, but again, do not go as far as to choose “at any time” in pregnancy.

Overall, half (52%) identify as completely pro-choice and eight per cent as completely pro-life, with smaller segments identifying their level of acceptability in between the two ends of the spectrum:

The views of those closest to the issue, who have either had an abortion or carried an unplanned pregnancy to term, are varied. Both groups are most likely to be open to abortion at any time in a pregnancy, but with considerable nuance, especially among the latter group:

Part Three: Viability and rights

Opponents of abortion often include the rights of the unborn child in their arguments. Science, politics, and religion are often in competition as to the correct definition of when life begins. Canadians in this study were asked specifically about a viable fetus. A fetus is considered viable around 23 or 24 weeks, but does it have rights? Angus Reid Institute researchers canvassed views.

One-in-five Canadians (22%) say that they would consider the rights of the fetus as equal to that of the mother at the point of viability in a pregnancy. Three-in-five (58%) say that even at this point the mother has rights that supersede the fetus. The former view is more prominent among men than women across all age groups, though all groups tend to agree that the rights of the woman take precedence:

Both women who have had an abortion and those who have carried an unwanted pregnancy to term tend to agree that the rights of the woman are foremost in this discussion:

Of note are the two-in-five Canadians who say they are in between being completely pro-life and completely pro-choice. While those on each side of the debate are more certain how they feel about the rights of the mother and the fetus, there is a lack of consensus among those in the middle:

(Angus Reid Institute)

November 24, 2022

Source: https://angusreid.org/abortion-canada-faith-pro-choice-pro-life/

770-43-17/Polls

Argentina: After Their Defeat They Have A 3% Chance Of Winning The World Cup Qatar

Qatar 2022: after losing, Argentina has a 3% chance to win

Probability of Centro Nacional de Consultoría

The CNC or Centro Nacional de Consultoría, is a company dedicated to research and consulting, which was given the task of making a projection based on the probabilities of the teams that are currently participating in the Qatar 2022 World Cup, to determine which team is the worst candidate and the best . The odds for Lionel Scaloni's team before the World Cup were quite high, so much so that they were in second place among the candidates to win the tournament, however, after losing to the Arab team, their odds fell to the ground. According to him CNC, Currently, La Scaloneta has a 3.0% probability of being world champion, 34% of qualifying for the round of 16, 18% for the quarterfinals, 10.7% and 5.6% of reaching the World Cup final.

(CNC)

November 23, 2022

Source: https://www.centronacionaldeconsultoria.com/en/post/argentina-after-their-defeat-they-have-a-3-chance-of-winning-the-world-cup-qatar

AUSTRALIA

770-43-18/Polls

Consumer Electronics & Apparel Top Considered Product Purchases Among Aussie Black Friday Shoppers

Characterised by steep, ‘must-grab’ discounts and offers, seasonal shopping events have undeniably disrupted traditional holiday shopping. As we approach one of the biggest shopping events of the year, Black Friday, data from YouGov RealTime Omnibus sheds light on shopping behaviour among shoppers in Australia.

One in five said they scout for home decoration or furniture purchases (41%) and personal care or beauty products (40%), while roughly a third look for deals on games and toys (34%) and jewellery or accessories (32%).

Of lesser interest were groceries (28%), books and stationery (25%), and sports goods (25%).

The survey also revealed that the largest proportion of shoppers typically spend $101 to $500 during Black Friday sales, with two in five saying they spend that amount (40%). One in six spend between $51 and $100 (17%).

At the other end of the spectrum, a quarter said they typically spend between $501 and $1,000 (24%), while just over one in twenty spend even more than that (7%).

How then, can marketers reach audiences as we approach the major shopping event? When asked where they recall seeing Black Friday advertisements in the past, online advertisements appear to have made the biggest impression, with close to half recalling seeing ads there (46%).

Facebook (40%) and TV (39%) were the advertising channels with next highest recall (39%), followed by social media advertising on YouTube (32%) and Instagram (31%).

Next came advertisements or notifications from shopping apps or sites (30%). Word of mouth was recalled by a comparable proportion of shoppers (28%).

Around one in five recalled traditional advertising on radio (20%), TikTok (18%), and offline platforms like billboards, newspapers, buses, and trains (17%). Twitter advertisements had the lowest recall at just 15%.

(YouGov Australia)

November 21, 2022

Source: https://au.yougov.com/news/2022/11/21/consumer-electronics-apparel-top-considered-produc/

770-43-19/Polls

Mortgage Stress Increases To Its Highest Since April 2018 With 22.6% Of Mortgage Holders Now At Risk

Since then, there has been another interest rate increase of +0.25% in November which has taken official interest rates to 2.85% - the highest official interest rates for over nine years since May 2013.

Despite these interest rate increases the proportion of mortgage holders considered ‘At Risk’ of mortgage stress in the three months to October 2022 (22.6%) is well below the high reached during the Global Financial Crisis in early 2009 of 35.6% (1,455,000 mortgage holders).

The number of mortgage holders now considered ‘At Risk’ is now just below the long-term average over the last 15 years of 22.8% of mortgage holders considered ‘At Risk’.

‘Mortgage stress’ dropped to record lows during 2021 as record low interest rates, tens of billions of dollars of Government stimulus, and the measures taken by banks and financial institutions to support borrowers in financial distress combined to reduce the number of mortgage holders considered ‘At Risk’.

The number of mortgage holders considered ‘Extremely At Risk’, has now increased to 619,000 (14.4%) in the three months to October 2022 which remains clearly below the long-term average over the last 15 years of 659,000 (15.9%).

Mortgage Stress – Owner-Occupied Mortgage-Holders

Source: Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia), average interviews per 3 month period April 2007 – October 2022, n=2,707.
Base: Australians 14+ with owner occupied home loan.

Mortgage Risk set to increase to over 1-in-4 mortgage holders (over 1.1 million) by January 2023

The RBA decision to increase interest rates by 0.25% in November means official interest rates are now at 2.85% - and widely expected to increase again for an eighth straight month in December.

Roy Morgan has modelled the impact of three potential interest rate increases in December of +0.25% to 3.1%, +0.4% to 3.25% and +0.5% to 3.35% and projected how these different sized increases would impact the number of mortgage holders that would be considered ‘At Risk’ by January 2023.

In October 22.6% of mortgage holders, 1,013,000, were considered ‘At Risk’ and depending on the size of the interest rate increase this is set to increase by between 2.5-2.8% points by January 2023.

If the RBA raises interest rates by +0.25% in December to 3.1% there will be 25.1% (up 2.5% points) of mortgage holders, 1,123,000, considered ‘At Risk’ in January 2023 – an increase of 110,000.

If the RBA raises interest rates by +0.40% in December to 3.25% there will be 25.3% (up 2.7% points) of mortgage holders, 1,132,000, considered ‘At Risk’ in January 2023– an increase of 119,000.

If the RBA raises interest rates by +0.50% in December to 3.35% there will be 25.4% (up 2.8% points) of mortgage holders, 1,136,000, considered ‘At Risk’ in January 2023– an increase of 123,000.

It is worth understanding that this is a conservative model, essentially assuming all other factors remain the same. And of course we are already seeing an increase in unemployment (Australian unemployment increases to 9.2% in October as final COVID-19 restrictions end – November 14, 2022).

The greatest impact on an individual, or household’s, ability to pay their mortgage is not interest rates, it’s if they lose their job or main source of income.

Mortgage Risk at different level of interest rate increases

Source: Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia), July-Oct. 2022, n=3,508. Base: Australians 14+ with owner occupied home loan.

Michele Levine, CEO Roy Morgan, says mortgage stress in Australia is set to increase to over one-in-four mortgage holders if the RBA raises interest rates for an eighth straight month in December – the highest level of mortgage holders ‘At Risk’ for over a decade since June 2012:

“The latest Roy Morgan data shows mortgage stress in the Australian housing market has continued to increase this year with 1,013,000 mortgage holders (22.6%) now defined as ‘At Risk’ in October 2022, up 253,000 on a year ago when the extensive lockdowns in NSW and Victoria finally ended.

“The figures for October 2022 take into account the first six interest rate increases by the RBA from May to October totaling 2.5%. If the most recent interest rate increase in November of +0.25% is considered the estimated number of mortgage holders considered ‘At Risk’ increases by a further 62,000 to 1,075,000 (24.2%) – the highest for over nine years since July 2013.

“October marks the first time since September 2018 that over 1 million Australian mortgage holders have been considered ‘At Risk’. Even so, with just over one-in-five mortgage holders considered ‘At Risk’ in October 2022 (22.6%) the level of mortgage stress is still below the long-term average over the last 15 years of 22.8% of mortgage holders considered ‘At Risk’.

“The latest ABS CPI figures for the year to September 2022 show Australian inflation hitting a thirty year high of 7.3% – the highest June 1990 (7.7%). The rising inflation level in Australia, and all the indications from the RBA, suggest interest rates will increase again in December by either +0.25%, +0.40% or perhaps +0.50%.

“If the RBA does raise interest rates again by any of these suggested amounts (+0.25%, +0.40% or +0.50%) Roy Morgan forecasts that mortgage stress is set to increase to over 25% of mortgage holders considered ‘At Risk’ by January 2023 – well over 1.1 million mortgage holders.

“Of more concern is the rise in those mortgage holders considered ‘Extremely At Risk’, now estimated at 619,000 (14.4%) in October 2022 – the highest since May 2019, before anyone had even heard of the ‘Coronavirus’ or ‘COVID-19’.

“It’s important to consider that interest rates are but one variable that determines whether a mortgage holder is considered ‘At Risk’. The variable that has the largest impact on whether a borrower falls into the ‘At Risk’ category is related to household income – which is directly related to employment.

“These figures show that as long as employment levels remain strong the number of mortgage holders considered ‘At Risk’ will not increase to anywhere near the levels experienced during the Global Financial Crisis in 2007-08-09 when well over 30% of mortgage holders were considered ‘At Risk’ – including a peak of 35.6% in May 2008.

“The latest Roy Morgan employment estimates show a near-record 13.5 million Australians were employed in October 2022, up by around 600,000 since February 2020 when there were 12.9 million employed pre-pandemic. The strong growth in the jobs market has attracted more Australians into the labour force and there are now over 1.36 million unemployed Australians (9.2% of the workforce) compared to 1.17 million pre-pandemic.”

These are the latest findings from Roy Morgan’s Single Source Survey, based on in-depth interviews conducted with over 60,000 Australians each year including over 10,000 owner-occupied mortgage-holders.

To understand more about mortgages in the full context of household finances and the uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus and rising interest rates and inflation, ask Roy Morgan.

How are mortgage holders considered ‘At Risk’ or ‘Extremely At Risk’ determined?

Roy Morgan considers the risk of ‘mortgage stress’ among Mortgage holders in two ways:

Mortgage holders are considered ‘At Risk’[1] if their mortgage repayments are greater than a certain percentage of household income – depending on income and spending.

Mortgage holders are considered ‘Extremely at Risk’[2] if even the ‘interest only’ is over a certain proportion of household income.

[1] "At Risk" is based on those paying more than a certain proportion of their after-tax household income (25% to 45% depending on income and spending) into their home loan, based on the appropriate Standard Variable Rate reported by the RBA and the amount they initially borrowed.

[2] "Extremely at Risk" is also based on those paying more than a certain proportion of their after-tax household income into their home loan, based on the Standard Variable Rate set by the RBA and the amount now outstanding on their home loan.

To learn more about Roy Morgan’s mortgage data, call (+61) (3) 9224 5309 or email askroymorgan@roymorgan.com.

Please click on this link to the Roy Morgan Online Store.

About Roy Morgan

Roy Morgan is Australia’s largest independent Australian research company, with offices in each state, as well as in the U.S. and U.K. A full-service research organisation, Roy Morgan has over 80 years’ experience collecting objective, independent information on consumers.

Margin of Error

The margin of error to be allowed for in any estimate depends mainly on the number of interviews on which it is based. Margin of error gives indications of the likely range within which estimates would be 95% likely to fall, expressed as the number of percentage points above or below the actual estimate. Allowance for design effects (such as stratification and weighting) should be made as appropriate.

Sample Size

Percentage Estimate

	40% – 60%	25% or 75%	10% or 90%	5% or 95%
1,000	±3.0	±2.7	±1.9	±1.3
5,000	±1.4	±1.2	±0.8	±0.6
7,500	±1.1	±1.0	±0.7	±0.5
10,000	±1.0	±0.9	±0.6	±0.4
20,000	±0.7	±0.6	±0.4	±0.3
50,000	±0.4	±0.4	±0.3	±0.2

(Roy Morgan)

November 22, 2022

Source: https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/9118-mortgage-stress-risk-late-2022

MULTICOUNTRY STUDIES

770-43-20/Polls

Seven In 10 People In 34 Countries Support Global Rules To Stop Plastic Pollution

Undertaken in conjunction with the Plastic Free Foundation and WWF, the survey was conducted among 23,029 adults under the age of 75 across 34 countries via Ipsos’ Global Advisor online platform.

The United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) has committed to an internationally binding treaty to combat plastic pollution by 2024. The details and scope of such a treaty have not yet been defined.

Seven in 10 support a treaty that sets global rules

Support for a treaty creating global rules for governments to end plastic pollution is highest in Latin America (77%) and Europe (72%), and lowest in North America (60%). The highest level of support for such a treaty is seen in Peru and Colombia (both 81%), while support is lowest in Japan (48%) and the United States (58%).

Ipsos Australia Public Affairs Director, Stuart Clark, said:

Our previous survey showed that ninety percent of people in the countries surveyed support an international treaty to stop plastic pollution. This new research highlights strong support for all countries agreeing to the same set of global rules.

Support for a comprehensive set of measures to tackle plastic pollution

The survey also reveals that consumers globally believe it is important for the treaty to incorporate five different measures to tackle plastic pollution.

Stuart Clark said: “These high levels of support for measures that go beyond bans to include extended producer responsibility and clear labelling of products show that there’s a strong desire for countries to work together to implement a comprehensive set of rules in a global treaty.”

Clear majorities in every country surveyed, and a global average of 75%, believe that it is important to have global rules to ban unnecessary single-use plastics. Once again, Latin America shows the highest level of support at (81%), followed by Europe (74%). At a country level, Mexico has the highest level of support for global rules to ban unnecessary plastic at 87%, followed by Colombia (85%), Peru, Chile and South Korea (all 82%). Again, Japan has the lowest support for a treaty banning unnecessary plastics (54%), followed by Israel (60%), Sweden and the United States (both 63%).
Majorities of people across the 34 countries surveyed believe that it is important to have global rules to ban types of plastic that cannot be easily recycled, with a global average of 77%. Latin America again placed the highest importance on banning such plastics that cannot be easily recycled (84%), followed by APAC countries (75%). Those surveyed in North America (71%) and G-7 countries (72%) placed the least importance on such a ban. By country, Colombia placed the highest level of importance on banning plastics that cannot be easily recycled at 88%, followed by Peru (87%), Mexico and Chile (both 86%). Once again, Japan placed the least importance on such a ban at 53%, followed by Sweden and Israel (69%).
Majorities across the countries surveyed believe that it is important for a treaty to have rules making manufacturers and retailers responsible for reducing, re-using and recycling plastic packaging, with a global average of 78%. Latin America has the highest level of support for such rules (83%), while G-7 countries and North America have the lowest (both 73%). South Africa and Mexico place the highest importance on making manufacturers and retailers responsible for reducing, re-using and recycling plastic packaging (both 86%). Japan placed the least importance on this (56%), followed by Poland (69%).
In addition, clear majorities believe that it is important to have global rules requiring all new plastic products to contain recycled plastic, with a global average of 76%. The highest level of perceived importance of such rules is seen in Latin America (83%), while the lowest is in G-7 countries (71%). By country, such rules requiring all new plastic products to contain recycled plastic are considered most important in Mexico (87%), South Africa (85%) and Peru (85%). Once again, such rules are least important in Japan (52%), followed by Sweden (65%) and Saudi Arabia (68%).
A clear majority also believe that it is important to require labelling of plastic products so that it is clear how to responsibly sort them for reuse, recycling or disposal, with a global average of 77%. The highest level of perceived importance for rules on such labelling is in Latin America (84%) and APAC countries (78%), while the lowest is among G-7 countries and North America (both 74%). Global rules on such labelling is most important in Colombia and Peru (both 88%), and least important in Japan (63%) and Sweden (67%).

(Ipsos MORI)

23 November 2022

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/seven-in-10-people-in-34-countries-support-global-rules-stop-plastic-pollution

770-43-21/Polls

Six In Ten Britons Would Support Energy Saving Public Information Campaign, A Study In 5 Countries Shows

Truss is now gone, but no campaign has appeared, although there have been hints that a telephone advice service may be set up to inform people how to save energy. Analysis by the Social Market Foundation think tank found that a public information campaign could save households £250-400 and the Treasury £9bn.

By contrast, neighbouring governments in France, Germany, and Italy have all launched schemes.

As a result, in France, as many as 79% of people have seen messaging from their government asking them to reduce the amount of energy they use in the run up to winter, according to a new YouGov poll, as have 72% of Germans.

Most Italians (56%) have also noticed government campaigning, as have half of Spaniards (48%). While Spain introduced laws on government and business energy use in August, it is not clear whether a reported forthcoming campaign to encourage private citizens to cut their energy use ever launched. That said, prime minister Pedro Sánchez did receive a lot of publicity for his advice to citizens that they could save energy staying cool by not wearing a tie.

In Britain, only 26% of people say they have – given the government has not launched a campaign it is not clear what they are referring to, but could be referring to campaigns by independent regulator Ofgem or local council campaigns.

Liz Truss’s opposition to an energy saving campaign stood at odds with the public view: 60% of Britons say they would support the government running such a campaign, with only 25% opposed.

This is largely in line with opinion on the continent, with the same number in France back the government running campaigns, as do 54% of Germans. In Spain and Italy, support is even higher, at 72% and 76% respectively.

(YouGov UK)

November 22, 2022

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2022/11/22/six-ten-britons-would-support-energy-saving-public