The House of Commons health and social care committee has begun an inquiry into whether changes should be made to the laws governing assisted dying and assisted suicide. It has produced a consultation paper summarising the existing law which makes clear that, although suicide and attempted suicide are not crimes, it is illegal for a person “to encourage or assist the suicide of another person. Euthanasia (healthcare professionals administering lethal drugs) is also illegal”. The committee wants to learn what we, the public, think about this and whether we would support a change in the law. It has produced a consultation paper which summarises the basis of the present law and is now trying to find out whether we ‘broadly agree” with it or “broadly disagree”.

Simple enough, one might think. But there’s nothing simple about assisted suicide. If ever there was an issue that gets to the very heart of our humanity, it is this. At the most basic level it is, indeed, profoundly simple. We either accept that no human has the right to help end the life of another human or we accept that we have a moral duty to end the suffering of another in certain extreme circumstances.

The Commons committee has, inevitably, been criticised for the way in which it is approaching its enquiry. Lord Brown of Eaton-under-Heywood is a crossbench peer, a former justice of the Supreme Court, and one of those critics. He believes that the committee has got it “badly wrong” because it has failed to recognise what is being asked for by those who want the law to be changed. They are not, he says, demanding a wholesale rejection of the existing law but rather its “narrowly circumscribed modification.”

In an article for The Times he wrote: “Their case is quite simply that, subject to certain precisely specified conditions and safeguards, terminally ill patients in the last six months of their expected lives should be able to request a doctor’s assistance to accelerate their death. It is this that is being sought by Dignity in Dying and other such campaign groups and has been the subject of successive private members’ bills successfully promoted in the House of Lords.”

What worries Lord Brown and many who share his view is that if most of us tell the committee that we “broadly disagree” with the existing law it will be taken to mean that we are in favour of encouraging and assisting prospective suicides and, indeed, euthanasia. Therefore, he says, the committee is asking the wrong question. The right question is whether there are “any circumstances in which the law should permit a terminally ill patient to seek, and a doctor then to provide, assistance in accelerating that patient’s death?”

If we answer yes to that question, he says, “it will plainly then be necessary to discuss and decide in what circumstances and subject to precisely what conditions such assistance should be lawful.”

But even this would be a step too far for those who oppose any form of assisted dying. One of the leading campaigners against it, Baroness Findlay, argues that even the term “assisted dying” is a euphemism for assisting suicide and, ultimately, euthanasia. Others claim that in countries which have legalised euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide there have been sharp increases in the number of people who have been helped to die because, for instance, they suffer from some depressive illness. That’s in spite of safeguards which make it clear that doctors should help someone die only if that person has no more than six months to live and is suffering terribly. Some doctors say it can often be very difficult to estimate how long a person has to live.

Professor Kevin Yuill, the chief executive of Humanists Against Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia, asks: “If we define assisted suicide as medicine for unbearable suffering … how can we deny it to anyone who is suffering? Is it possible to keep safeguards in place when access has been widened in every jurisdiction where it has been legalised? Is it right to direct some towards suicide and others towards suicide prevention? We can respond with compassion in rare cases where assisting a death is appropriate. But we should not remove the moral imperative to prevent suicide embodied in the 1961 Suicide Act. One need not be Christian to believe in the commandment “thou shalt not kill”.

Others argue that the key element in this highly charged debate is personal choice. If suicide is no longer a criminal offence why should we make it a crime to help somebody who is desperate to put an end to their suffering?

Sarah Wootton, the chief executive of Dignity in Dying, says campaigners like Baroness Findlay are wrong to claim that evidence from overseas suggests assisted dying inevitably leads to form of euthanasia: “The truth is there has been a shift towards giving dying people the right to decide how and when they die, simply because without that choice some are forced to suffer or to take matters into their own hands. We are, in several UK jurisdictions, on the cusp of a change in the law. While those with personal objections to assisted dying will no doubt try to hold back the tide, there are many more who recognise that giving dying people choice and dignity is right.”

Many, of course, will argue that this is not one of those clearcut debates about right and wrong. They will point to their personal experiences of loved ones who are suffering with a terminal illness and simply want to end their suffering.

I have a close friend whose wife, a nurse in her early fifties, was diagnosed with terminal cancer after an exploratory operation and given three months to live. She was told by her doctors that chemotherapy would probably extend that by a couple of months, but she decided she wanted to spend the rest of her time living as close to a “normal” life as possible. When she left the hospital she was handed a bottle of diamorphine and told she could take as much as she needed if the pain became intolerable. The implication was clear. If she wanted to end her suffering they had given her the means to do so. In fact, she was eventually admitted to a wonderful hospice and died a peaceful death with the minimum of pain.

I offer that sad story not as hard evidence for one side of this debate or the other. It is one of those infinitely complex issues where our individual experiences may influence us far more than statistics or intellectual or even spiritual argument.

But if you are one of those whose opinions are sought by our legislators how will you respond? Do you want to change the law on assisted dying or keep it as it stands?

(YouGov UK)

January 06, 2023

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/health/articles-reports/2023/01/06/john-humphrys-assisted-dying-crime-or-blessing

SUMMARY OF POLLS

ASIA

(Indonesia)

Vegetarian And Vegan Lifestyles Among Indonesians

The number of vegetarians and vegans are rising. According to some studies, the approximate number of vegans are less than 1% of the world population. And based on the most recent United Nations estimates, the world population in 2022 will be 8.0 billion. Therefore, the total number of vegans in the world in 2022 will be approx 80 million. In addition, according to the data from Indonesian Vegetarian Society (IVS), 2019 was a vegan year, where vegan community started to develop in some countries. So since then, many world-class entrepreneurs have flocked to develop a vegetarian restaurant business. This phenomenon is also confirmed by Diana Beauty, as a vegan enthusiast who lives in Indonesia.

(Snapcart)

January 2, 2023

(Pakistan)

74% Pakistanis Think That The Quality Of Air In Their Area/City Is Good

According to a survey conducted by Gallup & Gilani Pakistan, 74% Pakistanis think that the quality of air in their area/city is good. A nationally representative sample of adult men and women from across the country was asked the following question regarding, “On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is “very bad” and 5 is “very good”, how would you rank each of the following services?- The quality of air in your area/city” 5% said it is very bad, 6% said it is bad, 16% said the air quality in their city/area school is average, 53% said that this it is good while 21% said that it is very good.

(Gallup Pakistan)

January 6, 2023

MENA

(Saudi Arabia)

In this Spotlight*KSA report, we asked those living in Saudi Arabia about their outlook for 2023 covering various topics including the economy, environment, and society. On a personal level, 8 out of 10 in Saudi Arabia are optimistic that 2023 will be better than 2022 while 77% are planning their personal resolutions to work on in 2023. When it comes to the economy, 71% believe the global economy will be better in 2023.

(Ipsos Saudi Arabia)

5 January 2023

AFRICA

(Angola)

In Angola, Gender-Based Violence Is Seen As The Top Challenge To Women's Rights

(Afrobarometer)

5 January 2023

WEST EUROPE

(UK)

The Number Of Leave Voters Who Think It Was Wrong For Britain To Vote Leave The EU Has Been Steadily Increasing Since 2021

The number of Leave voters who think it was wrong for Britain to vote leave the EU has been steadily increasing since 2021, hitting a record 19% in November 2022. Respondents were asked to answer in their own words (rather than choosing from a list of options) and the top reason given, at 25%, is just a general sense that things have gotten worse since Brexit. Slightly more specifically, the second most common answer given by Leave voters who have changed their mind is the current state of the economy / the rising cost of living, at 19%.

(YouGov UK)

January 06, 2023

Assisted Dying: A Crime Or A Blessing

For very good reasons the nation has become preoccupied with the state of the National Health Service. What could possibly be more important than our health? To which some might say: the way we end our lives or the lives of our loved ones if their suffering becomes intolerable. In this country it is a crime to help someone end their life. Should that continue to be the case? The House of Commons health and social care committee has begun an inquiry into whether changes should be made to the laws governing assisted dying and assisted suicide.

(YouGov UK)

January 06, 2023

UK Grocery Price Inflation Fuels First Ever £12 Billion Christmas

Take-home grocery sales increased by 7.6% in the 12 weeks to 25 December 2022 according to our latest figures. Year-on-year growth in December was even higher at 9.4%, the fastest rate recorded since February 2021, with sales reaching a new record at £12.8 billion. Monthly grocery sales were a whopping £1.1 billion higher in December versus last year, breaching the £12 billion mark for the first time.

(Kantar)

04 January 2023

(Russia)

Russians' Spending Increased In The Last Week Of 2022

Research holding Romir presents data on the weekly spending index (WPI) and the weekly average bill index (WIN). In the period from December 26, 2022 to January 1, 2023, the average weekly spending of Russians increased by 8.6% compared to the previous week. Weekly spending index amounted to 6890 rubles. In annual dynamics, the index rose by 7.3%. The average check index increased by 7.8% compared to the previous week and amounted to 803 rubles in monetary terms. Compared to the same period last year, the average check is 0.1% higher.

(Romir)

January 3, 2023

(Germany)

The Ukraine War And The 9-Euro Ticket Are The Events Of The Year 2022 For Germans

The year 2023, which has just begun, allows us to look back on the past: 2022 has been history for a few days. For the Germans, Russia's attack on Ukraine in February 2022 and the resulting war in Ukraine was the event of the year: Out of a total of 44 events surveyed, they named the Ukraine war most frequently as one of the events of the year (55 percent). The 9-euro ticket for German local transport (38 percent), which could be purchased monthly from June to August 2022, followed at a little distance for all Germans. This was particularly significant for the 18 to 24 year olds (50 percent) and was the most frequently mentioned event for this age group.

(YouGov Germany)

January 05, 2023

NORTH AMERICA

(USA)

Americans Largely Pessimistic About U S Prospects In 2023

Coming off several challenging years, Americans enter 2023 with a mostly gloomy outlook for the U.S. as majorities predict negative conditions in 12 of 13 economic, political, societal and international arenas. When offered opposing outcomes on each issue, about eight in 10 U.S. adults think 2023 will be a year of economic difficulty with higher rather than lower taxes and a growing rather than shrinking budget deficit. More than six in 10 think prices will rise at a high rate and the stock market will fall in the year ahead, both of which happened in 2022. In addition, just over half of Americans predict that unemployment will increase in 2023, an economic problem the U.S. was spared in 2022.

(Gallup)

JANUARY 3, 2023

60% Of U S Adults Say That Whether Someone Is A Man Or Woman Is Determined By Their Sex At Birth

Overall, 60% of U.S. adults say that whether someone is a man or woman is determined by their sex at birth, while 38% say someone can be a man or woman even if that is different from their sex at birth, according to a May 2022 Pew Research Center survey. Most Republicans and Republican-leaning independents (86%) say someone’s gender is determined by sex at birth, while a majority of Democrats and Democratic leaners (61%) say someone’s gender can differ from their sex at birth.

(PEW)

JANUARY 4, 2023

Public Expectations Out Of 2023

It’s only been six days into 2023, and the country is already experiencing some history. The fractured Republican majority still has not elected the Speaker of the House. With over a dozen rounds of voting (and counting), this is the most rounds of voting that's been required to elect the Speaker since 1859. Inflation climbed to 40-year highs as COVID became less of a priority for the public. At the personal and country-level, a majority of Americans feel the past year was bad for themselves and their family, far more than the number of people who felt this way before the pandemic. Despite the historic hurdles the country went through in 2020 and 2021, decisive majorities held out hope that the new year would be better than the past year.

(Ipsos USA)

6 January 2023

Two In Five Americans Also Say They Are More Likely To Look For A New Job Should The FTC Ban Noncompete Clauses

In the day after the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) proposed new rule that would prohibit employers from having their employees sign noncompete agreements, an Ipsos poll finds that over one in three Americans (38%) have heard of the FTC's announcement. After given more information, the public and employed Americans alike are split on whether noncompete agreements are good or bad for the American economy. However, three in five Americans (61%), including two-thirds of those who are currently employed (66%), support the FTC's proposed ban on non-competes.

(Ipsos USA)

6 January 2023

(Canada)

Two-Thirds (65%) Of Working Canadians Say They Have Achieved A Better Work-Life Balance In 2022

The pandemic has allowed many working Canadians to embrace the benefits of working from home. However, some Canadians who adopted this new lifestyle are expecting changes to the workplace in the upcoming year. According to a recent Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of Global News, 65% of working Canadians say that they have achieved a better work-life balance in 2022, yet 36% of those who worked from home in 2022 expect to return to the office on a regular basis next year. The catch? Most Canadians working from home – 70% to be exact, don’t want to.

(Ipsos Canada)

4 January 2023

Six In Ten (61%) Canadians Say Covid-19 Is Still A Concern For Them

Six in ten (61%) Canadians disagree (39% strongly/23% somewhat) that COVID-19 is not a concern for them, according to a new Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of Global News. Three quarters (74%) of those over the age of 55 say this is the case while fewer Canadians aged 35-54 (57%) or 18-34 (50%) say it is a concern, indicating the lasting impact of COVID-19 and how it is still influencing the lives of Canadians. Regionally, Saskatchewan and Manitoba residents (68%), Ontarians (65%) and those living in British Columbia (63%) are most likely to hold this opinion, followed by Quebec (58%), Atlantic Canada (57%) and Alberta (52%). However, 39% of Canadians say it is not a concern (13% strongly/25% somewhat).

(Ipsos Canada)

6 January 2023

MULTICOUNTRY STUDIES

Digitization Of Banking Behavior Around The World In 14 Countries

While the traditional bank remains the dominant model, with nearly 3 out of 4 French customers still being exclusively customers of a traditional bank (72% compared to only 54% in the United States), close to 1 out of 4 French customers say they are customers of both a traditional bank and an online bank (23%), while exclusive customers of online banks are very much in the minority (5% in France against 8% in the United States). 80% of French customers consult their accounts at least once a week (79% in Europe) and almost 1 in 2 even do so at least once a day (45%).

(Ipsos France)

January 4, 2023

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/fr-fr/pres-d1-client-sur-3-dispose-desormais-dau-moins-un-compte-dans-une-banque-en-ligne

Optimism For 2023, The Global Average Is 45% Around 36 Nations

Six out of ten Brazilians (57%) believe they will receive a salary increase next year. The data was obtained from the survey "Global Inflation Monitor", carried out by Ipsos. Of the 36 nations that make up the survey, Brazil occupies the 2nd position among the most optimistic countries, behind only Colombia (60%). The global average is 45%. At the other end, citizens who least expect salary increases are in Italy, Japan and Peru. In these countries, the rates were 19%, 22% and 28%, respectively.

(Ipsos Brazil)

5 January 2023

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/pt-br/otimismo-para-2023-57-dos-brasileiros-acreditam-que-vao-receber-aumento-salarial-no-proximo-ano-0

What Worries The World – December 2022, A Survey Among 29 Countries

The cost of living remains the biggest concern globally, however, for the first time since July 2020, worry has dropped compared to the previous month, down two percentage points (40%) from November. 11 countries - Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, GB, Poland, Saudi Arabia, the US, and Turkey - cite inflation as their top worry. This is down from 13 in November. Across all countries, worry about inflation is followed by poverty & social inequality (31%), crime & violence (28%), unemployment (26%), and financial & political corruption (24%) which together make up the top five global worries.

(Ipsos Australia)

5 January 2023

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/en-au/what-worries-world-december-2022

ASIA

776-43-01/Polls

Vegetarian And Vegan Lifestyles Among Indonesians

In addition, according to the data from Indonesian Vegetarian Society (IVS), 2019 was a vegan year, where vegan community started to develop in some countries. So since then, many world-class entrepreneurs have flocked to develop a vegetarian restaurant business [2]. This phenomenon is also confirmed by Diana Beauty, as a vegan enthusiast who lives in Indonesia.

“I think current environment have enough support for the lifestyle. So many new vegan restaurants opening up in big cities around Indonesia. And many restaurants provide vegan options/menu as well,” she said.

Thus, in order to know further about the developing of vegetarian and vegan lifestyles trend in Indonesia, in November 2022 Snapcart conducted a study with the results below.

From the infographic above we can see that the majority of people in Indonesia (77%) are familiar with the terms ‘vegetarian and vegan’. However, only 35% Indonesians who really understand about these lifestyles, as you can see in this graphic below.

Vegan-graphic-1

Does price of products affect these lifestyles?

In society, sometimes we hear that vegetarian and vegan products are expensive. However, our study figured out some interesting facts.

Currently, among 2.378 samples, 11% of Indonesians which is dominated from SES lower are vegetarians or vegans. While 26% of them, which is dominated by SES upper have tried to be a vegetarian or vegan but decided to quit these lifestyles, mostly after they tried to do it for less than a year.

Furthermore, from the infographic we can see that price issue is not included among the top 5 reasons why people stopped doing these lifestyles. However, as a vegan for almost five years, Diana also added that products for vegans and vegetarians are indeed very affordable. But the cheap prices do not apply to certain types of food products that are sometimes consumed by vegetarians and vegans.

“Not all products are affordable. Depends on what you buy as well. If you stick to whole food it’s actually really affordable. The fancy ingredients are expensive like quinoa, seeds, etc,” said Diana.

Vegan-graphic-2

The future of vegetarian and vegan lifestyles in Indonesia

Even though the number of vegetarians and vegans in Indonesia is still a few, but our research shows some intriguing facts about the development of these lifestyles.

Despite the fact that only 11% of Indonesians who are still loyal to be a vegetarian (dominated by male) and vegan (dominated by female) for mostly around 1-5 years to this day, but according to infographic above, almost half of the population (45%) of those who haven’t tried applying these lifestyles are interested to become a vegetarian or vegan one day.

Vegan-graphic-3

Vegan-graphic-4

Furthermore, although some of our respondents who have tried to become a vegetarian or vegan confessed that they do these lifestyles only for a diet (17%) or experiencing a new thing (3%), which might be last for a short period of time, but most of them (62%) said they tried these lifestyles because they want to be healthy and live longer, so it is possible for them to continue applying these lifestyles in the future.

Additionally, our study also found out that most people in Indonesia are getting used to consume various of vegetarian and vegan products such as food and beverage, beauty, even fashion products that don’t use any animal body parts as production materials, and only 31% of Indonesians who have never consumed those kind of products.

“I believe these lifestyles will be sustainable and will be adapted by more people in the near future. The fact that many industries are catering to these lifestyles shows growth in demand,” said Diana to Snapcart.

(Snapcart)

January 2, 2023

Source: https://snapcart.global/vegetarian-and-vegan-lifestyles-among-indonesians/

776-43-02/Polls

74% Pakistanis Think That The Quality Of Air In Their Area/City Is Good

(Gallup Pakistan)

January 6, 2023

Source: https://gallup.com.pk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/6th-Januray_06-Jan_merged.pdf

MENA

776-43-03/Polls

8 Out Of 10 In Saudi Arabia Are Optimistic That 2023 Will Be Better Than 2022

In this Spotlight*KSA report, we asked those living in Saudi Arabia about their outlook for 2023 covering various topics including the economy, environment, and society.

On a personal level, 8 out of 10 in Saudi Arabia are optimistic that 2023 will be better than 2022 while 77% are planning their personal resolutions to work on in 2023.

When it comes to the economy, 71% believe the global economy will be better in 2023 compared to 46% globally.

As for the environment, 69% predict that 2023 will be the hottest year on record in the kingdom. Nonetheless, 70% believe that there will be a breakthrough technology developed to combat climate change in 2023.

Finally, 65% of those in Saudi Arabia say that it would become normal for businesses to implement a 4-day work week.

(Ipsos Saudi Arabia)

5 January 2023

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/en-sa/spotlightksa-predictions-2023

AFRICA

776-43-04/Polls

In Angola, Gender-Based Violence Is Seen As The Top Challenge To Women's Rights

Gender-based violence (GBV) threatens the health, well-being, and lives of women throughout Angolan society. The most recent Multiple Indicator and Health Survey reports that 32% of Angolan women have suffered physical violence since the age of 15; 8% will be victims of sexual violence at some point in their lives; and 34% have been victims of physical or sexual violence perpetrated by their husbands or partners (Instituto Nacional de Estatística (2017). The Angolan government has ratified international conventions and instruments to combat GBV, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (United Nations, 1979) and the Maputo Protocol (African Union, 2003), and the country’s laws against domestic violence and National Policy on Equality and Gender Equity seek to protect women against violence. But despite these normative and legal instruments, there are still major challenges in the fight against GBV, both in society's appreciation of the need to combat it and the government’s commitment to decisive action for its elimination. In his State of the Nation address in October, President João Lourenço (2022) called for stronger penalties to reduce domestic violence in the country. This dispatch reports on a special survey module included in the Afrobarometer Round 9 (2021/2022) questionnaire to explore Africans’ experiences and perceptions of genderbased violence. Angolans consider gender-based violence the most important women's-rights issue that the government and society must address. A majority of citizens say GBV is a common reality in their communities and should be treated as a criminal matter, rather than a private matter to be resolved within the family. Citizens express confidence that the police take reported GBV cases seriously.

Key findings § GBV tops the list of women’s-rights issues that Angolans say the government and society must address. § A majority (62%) of Angolans say violence against women and girls is “very common” (27%) or “somewhat common” (35%) in their community. § More than two-thirds (69%) of citizens say it is “never” justified for a man to use physical force to discipline his wife. Three in 10 consider it “sometimes” (20%) or “always” (9%) justified. o Rejection of GBV is particularly common among the most educated citizens (83%), urban residents (76%), and women (73%). § About half (49%) of Angolans consider it “somewhat likely” or “very likely” that a woman who reports GBV will be criticised, harassed, or shamed by members of the community. o But a majority (59%) of citizens believe that the police are likely to take reports of GBV seriously. § Two-thirds (67%) of Angolans say domestic violence should be treated as a criminal matter, rather than a private matter to be resolved within the family. Is gender-based violence (GBV) an important problem in Angola? In Angola, GBV tops the list of important women’s-rights issues that citizens say the government and society must address. Nearly one-quarter (23%) of survey respondents cite GBV as the main challenge in the fight for women's rights, followed by unequal access to education (18%), unequal opportunities or pay in the workplace (17%), too few women in influential positions in government (15%), and unequal rights of property ownership and inheritance (7%) (Figure 1).

Men and women hold almost identical views on the most important women’s-rights issues except that men are less likely than women to cite the lack of women in influential government positions as a priority (12% vs. 18%) (Figure 2).

How common is GBV? One reason that GBV is considered a major issue is probably that many Angolans think it happens frequently: 62% of respondents say violence against women and girls is “somewhat common” (35%) or “very common” (27%) in their community (Figure 3).

The perception that violence against women and girls is a common occurrence is shared by majorities of both women and men (64% vs. 61%) and is more widespread in cities (65%) than in rural areas (58%) (Figure 4). This view increases with respondents’ education level (ranging from 55% among those with no formal schooling to 68% among those with post-secondary education) and with respondents’ experience of lived poverty1 (ranging from 57% among the economically better off to 64% among those experiencing moderate or high lived poverty). Older respondents (58%) are less likely to report that GBV happens frequently

Physical discipline of a spouse About seven in 10 Angolans (69%) say it is “never justified” for a man to use physical force to discipline his wife. Three in 10 consider it “sometimes” (20%) or “always” (9%) justified. Women are more likely than men to rule out physical discipline as “never justified,” 73% vs. 64% (Figure 5). The view that men are never justified in physically disciplining their wives is more common among urbanites (76%) than their rural counterparts (55%), and grows significantly with respondents’ education level, ranging from 58% of those with no formal schooling to 83% of those with post-secondary qualifications (Figure 6).

Response to GBV Police and scholars agree that the true extent of GBV is unknown because many attacks on girls and women are never reported. Reasons include fear of the attacker, fear of a negative response by others, and the belief that the authorities won’t take the case seriously (Palermo, Bleck, & Peterman, 2014). Asked whether they think a woman who reports being a victim of rape, domestic violence, or other GBV will be criticised, harassed, or shamed by others in the community, fewer than a quarter (23%) of Angolans say this is “very unlikely” (Figure 7). While another 19% consider it “somewhat unlikely,” about half (49%) say it is “somewhat” (23%) or “very” (26%) likely. The possibility of facing criticism, harassment, or shaming would likely make it even more difficult for a GBV survivor to report such a crime to the authorities.

The perception that such negative consequences are unlikely to occur is somewhat more common in cities (44%) than in rural areas (38%) and among citizens with post-secondary education (47%) than among those with less schooling (40%-43%) (Figure 8).

Despite mixed expectations about the community's response, a majority (59%) of Angolans believe that the police will take reported cases of GBV seriously. Still, about one-third (32%) of citizens consider this unlikely (Figure 9).

While women and men hold similar views on this question, citizens with no formal schooling are far less likely to express confidence in the police response (38%) than their counterparts with at least a primary education (60%-65%) (Figure 10).

Is domestic violence a criminal or family matter? One common form of GBV is domestic violence. Even though the perpetrators may be known, many domestic-violence cases go unreported or unresolved, and often present victims and families with complex, wrenching decisions. Do Angolans see domestic violence as a criminal matter or a private matter? Two-thirds (67%) of Angolans say domestic violence is a criminal matter that requires the involvement of law enforcement, while 28% consider it a private matter that needs to be handled within the family (Figure 11). Women are more likely than men to see domestic violence as a criminal matter, 71% vs. 63%. The poorest respondents are less likely to agree that domestic violence is a criminal matter (63%, vs. 72%-74%) of their better-off counterparts.

Conclusion Angolans consider gender-based violence a serious problem that needs urgent attention by their government and society. Not only do citizens say it is a common occurrence, but many also believe that a woman who reports being a victim of GBV will be criticised, harassed, or shamed by others in the community. Citizens’ attitudes provide a solid basis for action against GBV: Most say that the use of physical force against women is never justified, that domestic violence is a criminal matter that requires the involvement of law enforcement agencies, and that the police are likely to take cases of GBV seriously

(Afrobarometer)

5 January 2023

Source: https://www.afrobarometer.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AD586-Angolans-see-GBV-as-top-priority-Afrobarometer-5jan23.pdf

WEST EUROPE

776-43-05/Polls

The Number Of Leave Voters Who Think It Was Wrong For Britain To Vote Leave The EU Has Been Steadily Increasing Since 2021

A sense that things are generally getting worse, as well as the poor the state of the economy, top the list of reasons

The number of Leave voters who think it was wrong for Britain to vote leave the EU has been steadily increasing since 2021, hitting a record 19% in November 2022.

So why have some Leave voters changed their mind on Brexit?

Respondents were asked to answer in their own words (rather than choosing from a list of options) and the top reason given, at 25%, is just a general sense that things have gotten worse since Brexit.

Slightly more specifically, the second most common answer given by Leave voters who have changed their mind is the current state of the economy / the rising cost of living, at 19%.

One in nine (11%) say they have changed their view because they feel the public were lied to about Brexit, or because it hasn’t turned out how they expected when they voted back in 2016. In a similar vein, 8% specifically blame the handling of the processes of leaving the EU by the government, or felt the deal that was agreed between the UK and EU was a bad one.

One in ten (10%) cite issues with trade or restrictions on businesses.

Issues around freedom of movement and the ability to live and work abroad were mentioned by one in twenty (5%), while 3% cited a shortage of workers since we left the EU. A similar number (4%) say that they have changed their mind because immigration hasn’t reduced as expected.

(YouGov UK)

January 06, 2023

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2023/01/06/why-have-some-leave-voters-changed-their-mind-brex

776-43-06/Polls

Assisted Dying: A Crime Or A Blessing

But if you are one of those whose opinions are sought by our legislators how will you respond? Do you want to change the law on assisted dying or keep it as it stands?

(YouGov UK)

January 06, 2023

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/health/articles-reports/2023/01/06/john-humphrys-assisted-dying-crime-or-blessing

776-43-07/Polls

UK Grocery Price Inflation Fuels First Ever £12 Billion Christmas

Monthly grocery sales were a whopping £1.1 billion higher in December versus last year, breaching the £12 billion mark for the first time.

Value sales are up significantly but grocery price inflation is the real driving factor behind this rather than increased purchasing. If we look at the amount people bought this period, sales measured by volume are actually down by 1% year-on-year, showing the challenges shoppers are facing.

This story played out across the traditional Christmas categories. For example, value sales of mince pies soared by 19% but volume purchases barely increased at all. Christmas puddings were popular, growing by 16% in value and 6% in volume terms. Brussels sprouts were off the menu for some households as the proportion buying them fell to 45% from 48%.

The FIFA men’s World Cup was a boost for the take-home beer market. England’s Quarter Final match against France on 10 December saw sales hit their biggest daily takings of the year, surpassed only by the Friday and Saturday before Christmas as people stocked up on festive drinks.

Grocery inflation falls again

Grocery price inflation now stands at 14.4%, down slightly from 14.6% in November. This is the second month in a row that grocery price inflation has fallen, raising hopes that the worst has now passed. However, it’s still a painfully high figure at the current rate, impacting how and what we buy at the shops.

Consumers continued to trade down to supermarkets’ own label products this period, with sales rising by 13.3%, well ahead of a 4.7% increase in branded lines. The British supermarket sector is more competitive than ever and the grocers are keen to retain customers by offering their own festive alternatives. This has included an emphasis on premium own label products, giving consumers a way to treat themselves this Christmas. These lines always do well at this time of year and this festive period was no exception with sales growing by 10.2% to hit more than £700 million for the first time. Tesco’s Finest range remains the single largest premium own label line by some distance, while Aldi and Lidl were the biggest contributors to the premium own label sector’s overall growth in 2022.

Busiest month in stores since March 2020

Friday 23 December was the most popular shopping day of the year, with more than half of the nation’s households going to stores or receiving a delivery. Shoppers took to the supermarkets in their droves in the immediate run-up to the big day, but this was also evident throughout the month of December as people visited physical grocery stores 5% more often than this time last year. In fact, December was stores’ busiest month since the start of the pandemic.

The online grocery sector also remained in growth with value sales up 4% year on year. However, there was a slight decline in online’s total share compared to Christmas 2021, nudging down by 0.6 percentage points to 11.6%. Inflation’s impact can be seen on this part of the market too as the average cost of a virtual basket now sits at £93.06.

The latest period saw a marked increase in the purchasing of cold and flu related items versus a year ago. Bouts of cold and flu dented some people’s enjoyment of seasonal festivities and sales of cough lozenges were up by 54%, while the market for decongestants grew by 36%. Facial tissues’ sales also increased by 35%, as people tried to deal with a particularly harsh time for winter colds.

GB DataViz_Jan_2023

Buoyant Christmas sales were enjoyed across the board this month. The traditional grocers still captured most of the Christmas purchasing, with Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons accounting for more than two thirds of all spending.

Asda led this group, with sales up by 6.4%, closely followed by Sainsbury’s and Tesco which achieved sales growth of 6.2% and 6.0% respectively. Despite sales falling by -2.9%, Morrisons had its best performance since June 2021, standing the retailer in good stead for a return to growth in the new year.

Aldi remained the fastest growing grocer with 27.0% growth taking its market share up from 7.7% this time last year to 9.1%. Lidl’s sales increased by 23.9%, moving its market share up by 0.9 percentage points to 7.2%.

Iceland’s sales grew by 10.2%, with sales of frozen poultry rising by 15% and frozen prepared foods by 18%. This pushed Iceland’s market share to 2.5%. Co-op’s market share now stands at 5.6% while Waitrose has 4.7%. Ocado increased sales by 8.2%, maintaining a market share of 1.7%.

(Kantar)

04 January 2023

Source: https://www.kantar.com/inspiration/fmcg/2022-wp-uk-grocery-price-inflation-fuels-first-ever-12-billion-christmas

776-43-08/Polls

Russians' Spending Increased In The Last Week Of 2022

Research holding Romir presents data on the weekly spending index (WPI) and the weekly average bill index (WIN).

In the period from December 26, 2022 to January 1, 2023, the average weekly spending of Russians increased by 8.6% compared to the previous week. Weekly spending index amounted to 6890 rubles. In annual dynamics, the index rose by 7.3%.

The average check index increased by 7.8% compared to the previous week and amounted to 803 rubles in monetary terms. Compared to the same period last year, the average check is 0.1% higher.

WPI (weekly spending index) of the research holding Romir shows the dynamics of the volume of consumption of consumer goods by Russians and is calculated for each calendar week based on the Romir Unified Data Panel.

INSCh (index of weekly average check) of the research holding Romir shows the dynamics of the cost of household purchases and is calculated for each calendar week based on data from the Romir Unified Data Panel.

(Romir)

January 3, 2023

Source: https://romir.ru/studies/romir-rashody-rossiyan-vyrosli-za-poslednyuyu-nedelyu-2022-goda

776-43-09/Polls

The Ukraine War And The 9-Euro Ticket Are The Events Of The Year 2022 For Germans

2022 - The YouGov Year in Review

For 36 percent of Germans, the death of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and the succession to the throne by her son Charles are among the events of the year, more frequently for women than for men (42 percent vs. 29 percent). For a third of all respondents (34 percent), inflation and increases in the cost of living are among the events of 2022, for 32 percent the heat wave in Europe with temperatures in Germany up to 40 degrees and forest fires in some parts of Europe.

When asked about the events of 2022, 19 percent each named the arms deliveries from Germany to Ukraine and the dead police officer at a traffic stop in Kusel, Rhineland-Palatinate. 17 percent name the lifting of many corona measures from March 20, 2022 as the event of the year.

2022 was a bad year for the majority, most likely for older people

55 percent of Germans, i.e. just over half, say that 2022 was a rather or very bad year for them. This statement is most common among those over 55 (64 percent vs. 37 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds). The GenZ, i.e. the 18 to 24 year olds, are the most likely to say that it was a good year for them (48 percent). In the German population as a whole, 36 percent say so.

(YouGov Germany)

January 05, 2023

Source: https://yougov.de/topics/entertainment/articles-reports/2023/01/05/der-ukraine-krieg-und-das-9-euro-ticket-sind-fur-d

NORTH AMERICA

776-43-10/Polls

Americans Largely Pessimistic About U S Prospects In 2023

When offered opposing outcomes on each issue, about eight in 10 U.S. adults think 2023 will be a year of economic difficulty with higher rather than lower taxes and a growing rather than shrinking budget deficit. More than six in 10 think prices will rise at a high rate and the stock market will fall in the year ahead, both of which happened in 2022. In addition, just over half of Americans predict that unemployment will increase in 2023, an economic problem the U.S. was spared in 2022.

On the domestic front, 90% of Americans expect 2023 will be a year of political conflict in the U.S., 72% think the crime rate will rise, and 56% predict there will be many strikes by labor unions.

Regarding world affairs, 85% of U.S. adults predict the year ahead will be fraught with international discord rather than peaceful. And while 64% think the United States’ power in the world will decline, 73% think China’s power will increase. However, 64% of Americans expect Russia’s power in the world will decrease in 2023, likely a reflection of that country’s recent setbacks in its war against Ukraine.

These findings are from a Dec. 5-19 nationally representative web survey of U.S. adults who are members of Gallup’s probability-based panel.

Gallup has asked Americans for their predictions for the coming year intermittently over the years starting in 1960. The prior surveys were conducted by in-person or telephone interviews, and the results are not directly comparable to the current data collected by self-administered web survey.

However, historical data have generally shown that Americans’ forecasts for the coming year are largely dependent on their views of the domestic and international climates at the time. Likewise, recent Gallup polling underscores the public’s gloomy outlook in their 2023 predictions on domestic issues.

The government, the economy and inflation dominated as the most important problems facing the U.S. in 2022, and confidence in the economy remains among the worst readings measured since the Great Recession.
This decreased confidence is largely due to the highest inflation in the U.S. in more than 40 years, which a majority of Americans say is causing financial hardship in their household.
In addition, the public’s perceptions of local crime reached a record-high level and national crime perceptions edged up in October.

Democrats More Hopeful About 2023 Than Republicans, Independents

Party identification is the greatest demographic differentiator in predictions for 2023, with Democrats more likely than Republicans to offer positive predictions for all of the dimensions. This is a typical phenomenon whereby Americas who identify with the sitting president’s party are more positive in general in their outlook for the year ahead.

Majorities of Democrats foresee five positive developments in 2023. These include full or increasing employment (69%), a reasonable rise in prices (53%), a rising stock market (53%), an increase in U.S. power (56%) and a decrease in Russian power (79%). Democrats are least likely to predict political cooperation (13%) and a peaceful year mostly free of international disputes (21%).

Meanwhile, 61% of independents and 47% of Republicans expect Russian power in the world will decrease. Aside from the 36% of Republicans who expect few labor union strikes in the year ahead, no more than 23% of Republicans expect a positive outcome for any of the other 11 dimensions.

Bottom Line

Americans are greeting 2023 with great skepticism and little expectation that the economic struggles that closed out 2022 will abate. Few U.S. adults also predict the partisan politics that plague the nation will improve, not an unreasonable expectation given that there will be divided government in 2023 after Republicans won control of the U.S. House of Representatives. The public’s predictions for international affairs are similarly pessimistic. However, with their party controlling the White House, Democrats are more hopeful about the year ahead.

(Gallup)

JANUARY 3, 2023

Source: https://news.gallup.com/poll/467528/americans-largely-pessimistic-prospects-2023.aspx

776-43-11/Polls

60% Of U S Adults Say That Whether Someone Is A Man Or Woman Is Determined By Their Sex At Birth

Republicans and Democrats in the United States differ widely in their views on gender identity and transgender issues. But there are notable differences among Democrats, too, especially by race and ethnicity.

How we did this

But Democrats’ views differ widely by race and ethnicity. Around two-thirds of Black Democrats (66%) say that whether someone is a man or woman is determined by their sex at birth. By contrast, 72% of White Democrats, 61% of Asian Democrats and 54% of Hispanic Democrats say that someone can be a man or woman even if that is different from their sex at birth. On this question, Black Democrats’ views are closer to those of Republicans than to the views of other Democrats.

When it comes to societal acceptance of transgender people, Americans as a whole are divided: 38% of adults say society has gone too far in accepting trans people, 36% say it has not gone far enough and 23% say it has been about right. A majority of Republicans (66%) say society has gone too far in accepting transgender people, while a majority of Democrats (59%) say it has not gone far enough.

On this question, too, there are some racial and ethnic differences among Democrats. In particular, Black Democrats are less likely than White, Asian and Hispanic Democrats to say society has not gone far enough in accepting transgender people.

Americans also differ by party – and within party – when asked about certain laws, policies and proposals that affect transgender people. Black Democrats are less likely than White, Hispanic and Asian Democrats to favor or strongly favor policies that protect transgender people from discrimination in jobs, housing and public spaces, as well as policies that require health insurance companies to cover medical care for gender transitions.

Black Democrats are more likely than other Democrats to favor certain other policies. For example, around a third of Black Democrats (34%) favor or strongly favor requiring transgender people to use public bathrooms that match their sex at birth. Support for such policies is lower among White (14%), Asian (20%) and Hispanic Democrats (24%).

Differences in Americans’ views about gender identity extend to their opinions about what children should learn in school, according to a more recent Center survey of K-12 parents in the U.S. conducted in September 2022. Parents of K-12 students differ sharply by party over whether their children should learn that someone’s gender is determined by their sex at birth or that someone can be a boy or girl even if that differs from their sex at birth.

Among Democratic K-12 parents, views again differ by race and ethnicity. Majorities of Black and Hispanic Democratic parents either prefer that their K-12 children learn that sex at birth determines whether someone is a boy or girl – or say that their children should not learn about this subject at school at all. By contrast, nearly two-thirds of White Democratic K-12 parents (64%) prefer that their children learn at school that someone can be a boy or girl even if that differs from their sex at birth. (There were not enough Asian American Democratic K-12 parents in the September 2022 survey to analyze separately.)

Black Democrats more likely than other Democrats to say religion influences their views on gender identity

What explains Black Democrats’ differences with other Democrats on questions related to gender identity and transgender people?

Black Democrats are generally more likely than other Democrats to describe their political views as moderate and less likely to describe their views as liberal. Black Democrats have also differed from other Democrats on certain social issues, including whether the legalization of same-sex marriage has been good for society. They tend to be more religious than other Democrats as well – and more likely to say religion influences their views on gender identity, according to the Center’s May 2022 survey.

Around four-in-ten Black Democrats (37%) say their religious views have a great deal or fair amount of influence on their views about whether someone’s gender can differ from their sex at birth. Fewer White (11%), Hispanic (21%) and Asian Democrats (22%) say the same. White Democrats, by comparison, are more likely than Democrats in all other major racial and ethnic groups to say their views on gender identity are influenced a great deal or fair amount by knowing someone who is transgender. White Democrats are also more likely than most other Democrats to say their views are influenced a great deal or fair amount by what they’ve learned from science.

(PEW)

JANUARY 4, 2023

Source: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2023/01/04/black-democrats-differ-from-other-democrats-in-their-views-on-gender-identity-transgender-issues/

776-43-12/Polls

Public Expectations Out Of 2023

At the same time, many of the tumultuous events of the past year are still fresh in the public’s mind. Inflation remains a pressing issue for many as fears about higher unemployment linger.

At this reflective and forward-looking time of year, we are examining how attitudes shifted last year and how the public is feeling about entering the new year. All of this is in five charts below.

Inflation Bug. Last year, the country underwent monumental changes. Inflation climbed to 40-year highs as COVID became less of a priority for the public. The shifting issue landscape swayed how political leaders and decision-makers operated as bread-and-butter issues superseded the uncertainty and fears of the pandemic. The question remains this year, whether inflation will be able to be tamed. We will see.

Declining trust. At the same time, it’s important to remember the political context undergirding this moment. Majorities in the U.S. and around the world feel the system is broken. That sentiment has softened worldwide in the past six years but is still held by many. Will the rancor subside? Maybe a bit.
A bad year. At the personal and country-level, a majority of Americans feel the past year was bad for themselves and their family, far more than the number of people who felt this way before the pandemic. Similarly, a supermajority of Americans feels the past year was bad for the U.S., 28 points ahead of where Americans were just four years ago. We still suffer from the post-pandemic blues.
Optimism remains. Despite the historic hurdles the country went through in 2020 and 2021, decisive majorities held out hope that the new year would be better than the past year. While a majority of Americans still have this same optimism for 2023, far fewer do than in years past. What do they say? Hope springs eternal.

Economy is still a sore spot. Most Americans are bracing for an uncomfortable macroenvironment. Many expect inflation to be higher this year than last. A majority believe that unemployment will also be higher in 2023 than in 2022, though more still expect higher prices than higher jobless numbers at this point. Overall, Americans aren’t feeling optimistic about the global economic environment after a bruising year last year. It’s the economy stupid!?

Right now, Americans are feeling more apprehensive about the economy moving into the new year, worrying over the duel fears of higher unemployment and inflation. This crystalizes a fundamental change 2022 brought; the economy, and specifically inflation, passed COVID as people's main worry. All the while, populist sentiments continue to set the economic and political stage for public opinion.

Many feel that 2022 was a bad year for themselves and the country. Looking ahead, majorities of Americans are optimistic. Are Americans right? We will see.

(Ipsos USA)

6 January 2023

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/news-polls/what-does-the-public-expect-from-2023

776-43-13/Polls

Two In Five Americans Also Say They Are More Likely To Look For A New Job Should The FTC Ban Noncompete Clauses

FTC

(Ipsos USA)

6 January 2023

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/news-polls/most-americans-support-banning-noncompete-agreements

776-43-14/Polls

Two-Thirds (65%) Of Working Canadians Say They Have Achieved A Better Work-Life Balance In 2022

A third of working Canadians willing to earn less if it means working fewer hours

A strong majority (84%) of Canadians who work remotely say that they have enjoyed working from home more often this past year, so much so that 70% do not want to return to the office on a regular basis in 2023. Social connection might be influencing the 30% of people who do want to return to the office, as half (51%) go on to say that they miss being with their colleagues in person.

Given that such a large proportion of Canadians who worked from home this year enjoyed this work-life adjustment, 36% of employed Canadians say they would be fine earning 20% less money if it meant they could work 20% fewer hours than they do now. Seven in ten (71%) Canadians say they have changed jobs in 2022 and have done so on their own accord, meaning for 29% it wasn’t their choice.

The new year may bring unpredictable shifts to the workplace environment and will no doubt influence perceptions among working Canadians regarding how they split their time between work and play.

(Ipsos Canada)

4 January 2023

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/news-polls/two-thirds-working-canadians-say-they-have-achieved-better-work-life-balance-in-2022

776-43-15/Polls

Six In Ten (61%) Canadians Say Covid-19 Is Still A Concern For Them

While personal concern might be waning for some, a majority (70%) disagrees (32% strongly/38% somewhat) that COVID-19 is not a big deal, leaving 30% who agree (10% strongly/21% somewhat) that it is no big deal. Regionally, residents in Saskatchewan and Manitoba (84%) are more likely to disagree that COVID-19 is not a big deal, compared to those in Alberta (65%), Ontario (70%) and Quebec (65%).

More Canadians are vaccinated against COVID-19 than the seasonal flu

Amid the flu season and approaching the three-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadians are deciding on whether to get vaccinated against both in the upcoming months. Canadians are more concerned about COVID-19 than the flu, and this could be influencing some of the relaxed attitudes being measured towards the flu shot. Four in ten (43%) Canadians say they are already recently vaccinated against the seasonal flu, while the same proportion (42%) says they do not intend to get it. The remaining 15% say they still intend to get it but haven’t yet. Unsurprisingly, Canadians over the age of 55 years (64%) are more likely to have gotten the seasonal flu shot or intend to get it, while those aged 18-34 (30%) and 35-54 (32%) are less inclined; Ontarians (46%) and Quebec residents (50%) are also less likely to get a seasonal flu shot than those in other parts of the country.

When asked about getting vaccinated against COVID-19, however, 58% of Canadians said they already got a jab recently, compared to 27% who do not intend to get vaccinated and 14% who intend to get one. Generationally, the same patterns emerge: Canadians over the age of 55 years (74%) are more likely to have already gotten the COVID-19 vaccine or intend to get one soon, while those 18-34 (48%) and 35-54 (50%) are less intentional about getting one. Regionally, Ontario residents and Quebecers are once again equally (31%) less likely to have recently been vaccinated or intend to get a shot.

COVID-19 continues to be more of a concern than the seasonal flu for Canadians, with nearly half (45%) concerned more about COVID-19 than the season flu (16%). Four in ten (39%) are concerned about neither. Those living in Quebec (43%) and Ontario (39%) are more likely to be concerned about neither compared to other provinces, as are 18-34-year-olds (47%) and 35-54-year-olds (43%) compared to those 55+ (30%).

On balance, Canadians report being slightly more likely (21%) to get the season flu shot this year than last year, rising to 27% in Quebec. Conversely, 14% are less likely to get poked this year. For most (64%), however, their propensity to get the flu shot is unchanged.

(Ipsos Canada)

6 January 2023

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/news-polls/six-ten-61-canadians-say-covid-19-still-concern-them

MULTICOUNTRY STUDIES

776-43-16/Polls

Digitization Of Banking Behavior Around The World In 14 Countries

The main teachings in France

A hyper-digitalization of customer behavior with their bank

Customer habits continue to digitize at very high speed following the Covid-19 crisis: nearly 1 in 3 customers now have at least one account in an online bank, nearly 1 in 2 also say they consult their accounts at least once a day (and 8 out of 10 do so at least once a week). French customers continue to communicate with their bank first through their bank adviser, but this channel now faces direct competition from the mobile application and the website (in the whole of the European Union, on the contrary, the tools are now in front of the bank adviser). The use of an adviser to subscribe to certain services is no longer desired by more than 6 out of 10 customers. In some countries such as the United Kingdom, the use of an adviser is even in the minority.

Hyper-digitalization calls for hyper-personalization

Firstly, at important moments in their lives (installation, project financing, acquisition, retirement, etc.), only a small minority of French customers say that their bank contacts them to offer them suitable services. The lack of proactivity is obvious today. Furthermore, less than 1 out of 6 French customers who have been in contact with their bank believe that their bank has offered them really interesting products during the high points of their life. The digital tools of banks do not generate more satisfaction on the part of customers, whether in the follow-up of their requests, the quality of the solutions offered or the speed with which they are answered. Satisfaction with banks' digital tools still needs to be improved,

New challenges for banks

Moderate satisfaction with digital tools is a challenge. In terms of cybersecurity, more than 1 in 4 French customers say they have already been the subject of an attempt to hack their bank data, with nearly 1 in 3 French victims deeming their bank's intervention insufficient. For many customers, the ability of banks to guarantee a better level of security to their customers could prove to be a differentiating asset in the future. A certain number of non-bank players could eventually take advantage of the situation. The risk of competition from new players such as Amazon, Uber, or even Apple is real today. In France, 1 in 4 customers say they could open an account with players such as Amazon, Uber,

An imperative for banks

improve the quality of their digital services. Among the 30 innovative services they could have on their smartphone and which were tested in the survey, customers favor those that rely on personalization (e.g. an application that advises customers on the financial investments to adopt according to their moments of life), proactivity (e.g. a system that alerts customers to the risk of overdrafts or that would offer day-to-day management recommendations) or even the speed and simplicity of access to their transactions or their purchases (for g. consolidate all their means of payment in a single application).
The fight against global warming, a new criterion in the choice of banking services. The survey also shows that interest in environmentally friendly financial products is becoming particularly strong for many French customers (but less than the European average). Moreover, in France as on the European continent, the vast majority of them say they have confidence in their bank's ability to offer financial and savings products that are more respectful of the environment. They therefore benefit from a real legitimacy to invest in it and are expected to do so: customers are indeed wondering about the real consideration by their banks of climate and environmental issues (less than 1 customer out of 2 in France considers that his bank takes this into account). Gold,

The key points to remember in France

In the relationship with their bank, customers switch to hyper-digitalization

80% of French customers consult their accounts at least once a week (79% in Europe) and almost 1 in 2 even do so at least once a day (45%). Admittedly, they interact with their bank first via the branch advisor (57%) but this channel is in direct competition with the website (54%) and the mobile application (41%). On average in Europe, the use of digital technology has even become the first channel of contact with one's bank (54% for the website and 53% for the mobile app) and the use of an advisor is much lower (only 46%) .

Only 60% of French customers would still absolutely need to speak to an advisor to subscribe to a service. In Germany, the need to use an advisor only concerns 1 in 2 clients (52%) and it is now in the minority in Great Britain (only 40%). In the United States, only 1 out of 2 customers declare that they would absolutely need an advisor to subscribe to a service (52%).

Hyper-digitalization calls for hyper-personalization

Customers expecting more proactivity and proximity

First, at important moments in their lives, only a very small minority of French customers say that their bank contacts them to offer them appropriate services. Whether it is to prepare a project to be financed (only 10% say they have been contacted by their bank), when they have built a project together (only 9%) or even encountered difficulties or hardships such as a separation, illness or death of a loved one (10%).

French customers express a moderate level of satisfaction with the quality of their interactions with their bank at important times in their lives. Only 1 in 4 customers who have been in contact with their bank consider that their bank has "really" treated them as someone who matters (24% of all customers, only 30% in Europe), Around 1 French customer out of 4 believe that it really offered him services adapted to his particular situation (25% and only 28% for European customers).

Only 1 out of 6 French customers feel that their bank has offered them really interesting services or products (17% compared to 21% for European customers). In the end, only 1 person out of 10 considers that their bank has worked to make them earn more money (13% compared to 16% in Europe).

Digital tools with which customers are now moderately satisfied

In all the European countries surveyed, even though digital channels are becoming one of the main vectors of communication with banks, only a minority of customers today say they are completely satisfied with the digital tools offered by their bank. . This is also the case in France. Among the services to be improved: the ease of finding information (only 20% are "completely" satisfied), the speed of response (22%), the security of exchanges and operations (23%) or the quality of the solutions offered (only 18% are “completely” satisfied). The level of personalization of the services offered by the banks' digital tools is also a source of dissatisfaction. Only 18% of French customers say they are fully satisfied with the personalized welcome they offer (19% in Europe) and the personalization of the response provided only meets the satisfaction of 18% of customers (18% also in Europe) . This very moderate customer satisfaction with the digital tools offered by their bank, even though these are now the main exchange channels used, creates an initial digital risk that other factors are likely to aggravate.

The new challenges for banks

The risk of banking data hacking, a reality for more than 1 in 4 French customers

For many customers, the ability of banks to better assure others of the cyber security of their money could ultimately no longer be an argument for loyalty.

Both in the world and in Europe, the hacking of banking data on the Internet to steal from their bank account now affects many customers (22% in the world were victims of an attempt, 21% in Europe and even 35% in UNITED STATES). In France, 26% of customers say they have been the subject of an attempt. Nearly 1 customer in 7 declares that the attempt of which he was the victim was successful (14%).

In addition, 16% of French customers say they have been victims of an identity theft attempt to steal their bank account (18% for European customers).

1 in 3 customers victim of a cyber attack on their bank account consider that their bank did not act as it should have

31% of French customers who are victims of a cyber attack on their bank account are critical of their bank's reaction, either because it intervened without being effective (20%), or because it did nothing does when the customer thinks she should have done it (11%).

In some countries, victims' dissatisfaction with their bank's reaction reaches particularly high levels, such as in Italy (50% of victims).

Amazon, Uber, Apple Alibaba, …: the potential attractiveness of non-bank players.

More than 1 in 4 French customers (26%) declare that they would be ready to have an account with the major players in the trade of goods or services online (Amazon, Alibaba, Uber, etc.) if they offered them products financial. In Europe, this attraction is even stronger and even concerns a third of respondents (33%).

This potential attractiveness is even higher in certain countries such as Luxembourg (51% of customers), Italy (47%) and the United Kingdom (42%). The potential is also particularly high in the United States (49%).

An imperative for banks: strengthen the quality of digital services

Ipsos and Sopra Steria tested nearly 30 innovative services that customers could use on their smartphone.
Among the solutions acclaimed by French customers, we find in particular those which would offer a very strong personalization of the service: an application which offers them credit products adapted to their current situation (52% of customers in France are interested against 49% of customers Europeans and 60% of customers in the United States). They are also interested in services on their smartphone which would allow them to have personalized advice in terms of financial investments to earn more money or save more (60% of French people are interested, 61% of European customers and 65% of Americans).
Proactive services also meet with strong interest from many French customers. This is the case of a device that would alert customers to a risk of overdraft or financial risk and would offer them day-to-day management recommendations (59% of French people against 57% of European customers). They are also interested in a smartphone service that would advise them on certain financial investments according to the moments in their lives (58% of customers in France would use it and even 61% in the United States).
Services allowing customers to simplify their lives, offering more practicality and speed in their operations are highly anticipated. Many customers are interested in a smartphone application that would consolidate all their means of payment in a single application (credit cards, payment by transfer, etc.). This is the case for 54% of French people. Many would also be interested in an app that would instantly allow them to pay in installments (54% of French customers, 61% in the USA and 86% in Africa).
Moreover, if the bank adviser is less solicited by customers today, on the other hand, they express the wish for a very high availability when the need arises.. And the important thing is that access to advice can be instantaneous, which is why French customers are showing interest in applications that would allow them to reach an advisor at any time, 24 hours a day, every day of the year (62% of French people). This is also the case of a service that would allow them to communicate with an advisor on the channel of their choice 24 hours a day, every day of the year by chat, email, video, social networks (55% of French customers ).

An opportunity: support in accessing cryptocurrency

1 out of 8 French customers have already invested in cryptocurrency (13%), less than what is observed in Europe (19% of customers have already done so). In the United States, this concerns 1 out of 3 bank customers (32%).
At a time when the cryptocurrency sector is experiencing severe disruption with the resounding bankruptcy of FTX, banks could assert their capital of trust and offer support services to some of their French customers who are interested in the investment in cryptocurrency: 30% in France (compared to 44% in the United States).
Admittedly, the vast majority of French cryptocurrency buyers say they now have confidence in the organization they went through to make this investment (89%). But the majority of French customers would trust their bank, not only to inform them about cryptocurrency (59%) but also to act as an intermediary for them to buy it (53%). `

The fight against global warming, a new criterion for choosing banking services

Customer interest in environmentally friendly financial products is becoming significant. Moreover, on the European continent, as everywhere in the world, the vast majority of customers say they trust their bank to offer them financial and savings products that are more respectful of the environment in the world (64% for French customers and for European customers).
They therefore have real legitimacy to invest in it, but are not considered mature at this stage. Customers are indeed dubious about the fact that climate and environmental issues are today sufficiently taken into account by their bank. Less than 1 in 2 customers consider that their bank takes this into account (47%).
However, the level of investment in the fight against global warming is becoming an important criterion for many French clients, particularly in the choice of their investments (51% against 53% in Europe). For 46% of French clients, this criterion takes precedence over the level of profitability of their investments (50% in Europe).
Finally, this criterion is taken into account in the choice of bank for 46% of French customers.

(Ipsos France)

January 4, 2023

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/fr-fr/pres-d1-client-sur-3-dispose-desormais-dau-moins-un-compte-dans-une-banque-en-ligne

776-43-17/Polls

Optimism For 2023, The Global Average Is 45% Around 36 Nations

At the other end, citizens who least expect salary increases are in Italy, Japan and Peru. In these countries, the rates were 19%, 22% and 28%, respectively. Among the Brazilians who believe in the increase, 26% of them think that the value will be higher or consistent with the inflation rate in the country. The other 31% believe that this increase will be lower than the inflation rate. Already 39% of respondents in Brazil also believe that the money left over after paying the bills will increase, at least a little, in 2023 – above the global average, which is 27%.

Inflation

The survey also measured citizens' perception of the rising cost of living. According to the survey, only 16% of the Brazilians interviewed believe that inflation will rise significantly in 2023. Only China, with 8%, had a lower rate. In this regard, the global average is 35%. At the other end, Argentines are the ones who most expect an increase in inflation next year (56%).

Interest rate

Brazilian people, however, are among the most concerned about interest rates among the countries surveyed. Eight out of ten (82%) believe that high interest rates in the country contribute to the increase in the cost of living - the country occupies the 2nd position, tied with Romania and South Africa. South Korea, with 85%, leads the ranking. The global average was 69%. Citizens least concerned about interest rates are in Saudi Arabia, China and the United Arab Emirates. In these countries, the rates were 32%, 42% and 46%, respectively.

The concern of Brazilians with the country's interest rates, however, is nothing new. In the first version of the survey, carried out by Ipsos between May and June of this year, 84% of Brazilians already indicated that interest rates in the country caused an increase in the cost of living.

(Ipsos Brazil)

5 January 2023

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/pt-br/otimismo-para-2023-57-dos-brasileiros-acreditam-que-vao-receber-aumento-salarial-no-proximo-ano-0

776-43-18/Polls

What Worries The World – December 2022, A Survey Among 29 Countries

The cost of living remains the biggest concern globally, however, for the first time since July 2020, worry has dropped compared to the previous month, down two percentage points (40%) from November.

Last month global concern about rising prices didn’t increase on October’s figure, after worry about inflation rose for 15 consecutive months. This raises the question of whether we’ve reached peak inflation worry globally.

Our monthly What Worries the World survey explores what the public thinks are the most important social and political issues, drawing on more than ten years of data to place the latest scores in context. This wave was conducted between November 25th, 2022 – December 9th, 2022.

Key findings

Last month saw no movement in concern for inflation and this month saw a decline, indicating that November wasn’t an isolated occurrence. A decrease in this issue hasn’t been witnessed since July 2020.
Still, inflation is the top global worry for the ninth month in a row: 40% say it is one of the top issues facing their country today (-2pp from November 2022).
11 countries - Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, GB, Poland, Saudi Arabia, the US, and Turkey - cite inflation as their top worry. This is down from 13 in November.
Across all countries, worry about inflation is followed by poverty & social inequality (31%), crime & violence (28%), unemployment (26%), and financial & political corruption (24%) which together make up the top five global worries.
Climate change remains joint seventh with worry about taxes in our list of 18 worries with a global average of 16% choosing it as a concern (-1pp).
Coronavirus concern is still at one of the lowest levels since it was added in April 2020. In December, just over one in ten (11%) globally chose coronavirus as a worry, up one percentage point from November. This time last year it was the top global concern with 32%.
Just over six in ten (62%) believe their country is heading in the wrong direction, rising to 89% in Peru and 85% in Argentina.

2022 highs & lows

Right/wrong direction
- High score: Saudi Arabia at 96% (June)
- Low score: Peru at 7% (April)
Inflation
- High score: Argentina at 71% (August)
- Low score: Sweden at 4% (January)
Climate change
- High score: France at 34% (September)
- Low score: Israel at 1% (December)
Covid-19
- High score: South Korea at 58% (January)
- Low score: Argentina at 1% (September/November)
Poverty & social inequality
- High score: 48% in Brazil (August)
- Low score: Saudi Arabia at 12% (November)
Crime & violence
- High score: Chile at 68% (November)
- Low score: Poland at 3% (January, November, and December)
Financial & political corruption
- High score: South Africa and Peru/Malaysia at 58% (March and September)
- Low score: Sweden at 5% (April)

Inflation

Inflation is the number one concern globally with four in ten (40%) choosing it as one of the biggest worries affecting their country. For the first time since 2020 however, concern has fallen (-2pp). In November there was no change in concern and now, it has declined – which raises the question of whether we have reached peak worry about inflation.

However, inflation is a significantly greater issue than it was at the beginning of 2022. This month's score is 20pp greater than January 2022 and 21pp higher than December 2021. This month's score is also 31pp greater than December 2020. Eight countries have more than or equal to one in two people choosing inflation, with two-thirds in Argentina citing it as a worry.

In December, 11 countries have inflation as their number one worry - Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, GB, Poland, Saudi Arabia, the US, and Turkey. The Netherlands (now poverty and social inequality) and South Korea (now unemployment) no longer have rising prices as their top concern. While in Hungary inflation is the joint highest worry along with healthcare.

Climate change

One in six (16%) say climate change is one of the biggest issues affecting their country, with no change from November and is only up 1pp from December 2021 to January 2022.

Australia is joint first at 29% with Germany again this month. Both countries declined 2pp from November. France has moved down 5pp and GB has escalated by 4pp.

In Australia, climate change is ranked second biggest concern and in Germany, it is ranked third, behind inflation and inequality.

Israel (1%) is now ranked last after subsiding 5pp. In January, Israel was at 9%; Argentina and Peru were at 2%.

Coronavirus

Coronavirus has increased by 1pp this month. It is still at one of the lowest levels of reported concern since it was added to the What Worries the World in April 2020. In December 2021, nearly a third (32%) globally ranked it as a top concern, topping our list. In January 2022, it ranked first again at 35%.

In December 2022 Japan (31%) remains the most concerned nation, up 3pp. It has overtaken worry for inflation and now sits second behind poverty and social inequality. Thailand (27%) has also seen a notable increase of 13pp.

Last month, Germany was third at 21% but now is 12th after reducing by 11pp. Latin American countries are experiencing heightened worry. Brazil (18%) has moved +13pp and Peru (17%) moved +14pp.

Poverty & social inequality

Almost one in three (31%) globally are worried about poverty & social inequality. It remains second on our list of 18 worries. It’s fluctuated slightly since January but remains second.

Indonesia has seen a decrease this month (-1pp) and still has the highest score. Hungary (42%) has knocked Brazil (41%) from second place by rising 5pp from November. Thailand has also risen by 1pp.

Brazil, Japan, Thailand, and now the Netherlands are the countries where inequality is their top concern.

Saudi Arabia has the lowest level of worry about inequality (13%) after a 1pp increase from November, followed by the US, where 17% say it is a concern. Poland (27%, +7pp) and Sweden (25%, +5pp) have moved up this month.

Focus on the economy

Globally, the proportion of people describing the current economic situation of their country as “good” has risen 2pp from last month to 34%.

On the individual country level, positivity has increased most in Malaysia (+9), Netherlands (+7), Great Britain, and India (both +6).

Only four countries have recorded a decrease in their “good” economic score: Thailand (-10), Sweden (-4), South Korea (-3), and Poland (-1).

December is a month of highs and lows as Saudi Arabia and India record a “good” score of 1pp and 5pp away respectively from their all-time highest scores. Meanwhile, Sweden records a new all-time low and South Korea’s score drops to 2pp away from its lowest-ever score.

(Ipsos Australia)

5 January 2023

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/en-au/what-worries-world-december-2022