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BUSINESS & POLITICS IN THE WORLD
GLOBAL OPINION REPORT NO. 778
Week: January 16
– January 22, 2023
Presentation:
January 27, 2023
China’s Pessimistic Gen Z Poses Challenge For Xi Post-COVID
Britons’ Views Of Qatar Remain Very Negative Following 2022
World Cup
Consumer Confidence Sees A Small New Year Bounce As Outlook
For Household Finances Improves
Support For Nurses’ Strikes Lower Than Last Month’s But Blame
Placed Mainly With The Government
Half Of Generation Z Would Prefer To Have Grown Up When Their
Parents Were Children
The Average Check Of Russians In December Increased By 7.5%
The Economic Confidence Of Russians Is In The Positive Zone
Pension Reform: The Majority Of French People Reject The
Project And Support The Strikes
The Propensity Of Italians Towards A Plant-Based Lifestyle Is
Growing
Americans Sour On U.S. Healthcare Quality
For Black History Month, A Look At What Black Americans Say Is
Needed To Overcome Racial Inequality
Canadians Becoming Increasingly Concerned And Regretful About
Their Debt
Canadians Unconvinced If Fining Airlines For Failed Service
Will Help Improve Future Outcomes
64% In Ecuador Do Not Feel Safe Walking Alone At Night
What Do Aussie Consumers Consider When Looking To Purchase
Consumer Electronics
Costs Of Living Increase Around The World, A Survey Across 36
Nations
Will Companies Adopt A Four-Day Working Day In 2023, A Survey
Across 36 Nations
Global Consumer Confidence On The Upswing As New Year Begins,
Among 23 Countries
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
This weekly report
consists of twenty-two surveys.
The report includes four multi-country studies from different
states across the globe.
778-43-23/Commentary: Half Of
Generation Z Would Prefer To Have Grown Up When Their Parents
Were Children
The report
provides a comprehensive outline of what we know currently about
Generation Z based on long-term and high-quality data sources
that allow us to track changing attitudes and values over time.
Key headlines include:
Technical note
(Ipsos MORI)
19 January 2023
SUMMARY OF POLLS
ASIA
(China)
China’s Pessimistic Gen Z
Poses Challenge For Xi Post-COVID
The first
weekend after COVID-19 restrictions ended last month, dozens of
young Chinese jostled in the dark at a heavy-metal concert in a
tiny Shanghai music venue that reeked of sweat and hard liquor.
After three years of lockdowns, testing, economic hardship and
isolation, many of China’s Generation Z--the 280 million born
between 1995 and 2010--had found a new political voice,
repudiating their stereotypes as either nationalist keyboard
warriors or apolitical loafers. Some 62% of China’s Gen Z
worried about job security and 56% worried about prospects for a
better lifestyle, far more than older generations, according to
the Wyman survey conducted in October and released in December.
(Asahi Shimbun)
January 18, 2023
(Singapore)
Chinese New Year Celebrations
Have Traditionally Been About Large Family Gatherings And Lots
Of Feasting
Chinese New Year
celebrations have traditionally been about large family
gatherings and lots of feasting – with delectable meats from
land and sea. But as mainstream awareness of the environmental and human health impact of eating
meat grows, how are attitudes towards meat consumption and
plant-based/vegetarian diets changing in Singapore? Singaporeans
who are trying to eat less meat are more likely to shop local
and in small quantities than the average consumer. Close to
three in five of this segment express a preference for buying
from local businesses (58%) and shopping “little and often” as
opposed to “big and less often” (59%).
(YouGov
Singapore)
WEST EUROPE
(UK)
Britons’ Views Of Qatar
Remain Very Negative Following 2022 World Cup
Now, a YouGov
Political Research survey has revealed that the World
Cup has done little to improve Britons’ opinions of the host
nation. A month before the opening fixture, two-thirds of
Britons (67%) had a negative view of Qatar, a figure which rose
to 72% after the tournament had finished. Only 12% of Britons
have a positive view of Qatar, about the same as before the
World Cup (9%). Among football fans, however, attitudes towards
Qatar have improved somewhat. While fans were more likely to
have an unfavourable opinion of Qatar than the wider population
before the start of the World Cup (78%), this figure has since
fallen slightly to 72%. Nevertheless, few football fans have a
positive view of the gulf state (18%, up from 8%).
(YouGov UK)
January 16, 2023
Consumer Confidence Sees A
Small New Year Bounce As Outlook For Household Finances Improves
Consumer
confidence saw a slight uptick in December 2022, according to
new analysis from YouGov and the Centre for Economics and
Business Research (Cebr). YouGov collects consumer confidence
data every day, conducting over 6,000 interviews a month.
Respondents answer questions about household finances, property
prices, job security, and business activity, both over the past
30 days and looking ahead to the next 12 months.
(YouGov UK)
January 17, 2023
Support For Nurses’ Strikes
Lower Than Last Month’s But Blame Placed Mainly With The
Government
Ipsos’ latest
poll shows 45% support the upcoming strike action by
nurses in England, which is lower than the 50% who supported
similar nurse strikes across the UK in December and 59% in
November. However, still only 3 in 10 (30%) oppose the strikes.
. Support is significantly higher among 2019 Labour voters, 65%
are in favour of the strikes while 2019 Conservative voters are
half as likely to say the same (32%).Support for ambulance
drivers is similar, with 45% in favour and 30% opposed. While
support for these strikes has fallen by 2ppt since December,
opposition has fallen by 7ppt.
18 January 2023
Half Of Generation Z Would
Prefer To Have Grown Up When Their Parents Were Children
Public awareness
of generations in the UK is high, with over nine in ten familiar
with at least one cohort. However, Generation Z have much lower
brand awareness than the Millennial or Baby Boomer generations
at present. Despite this, the sense of belonging to their cohort
is far stronger among Gen Z and the Millennials than it is for
older generations. Generation Z appear to be more financially
optimistic than Millennials when they were the same age.
(Ipsos MORI)
19 January 2023
(Russia)
The Average Check Of Russians
In December Increased By 7.5%
As part of a study of consumer behavior,
Romir calculated the index of the average check of a Russian
citizen (an index of the average value of total purchases and an
index of purchases of FMCG goods) for December 2022. The index
of the average check of a Russian in December increased by 7.5%
(50 rubles) compared to the previous month and amounted to 718
rubles. In annual dynamics, the index grew by 1.9% (14 rubles).
(Romir)
January 18, 2023
The Economic Confidence Of
Russians Is In The Positive Zone
As part of
regular monitoring of the impact of the socio-economic situation
on human behavior and moods, the Romir research holding assessed
the level of economic confidence of Russians. By mid-January
(between January 9 and 15) *the index of economic confidence of
Russians went into the positive zone and amounted to +1. More
positive moods were noted among TV viewers. The index was
+6. Among those who have YouTube as a source of information, the
index was -19.
(Romir)
January 19, 2023
(France)
Pension Reform: The Majority
Of French People Reject The Project And Support The Strikes
95% of French people have heard of the reform project, including
70% who even say they know exactly what it contains. This
notoriety concerns all categories of French people. If the
youngest are the least well informed, 89% of 18-24 year olds
have heard of it and almost one in two (48%) can clearly see
what the project contains. The French are therefore well
informed about the reform planned by the government.
(Ipsos France)
January 18, 2023
(Spain)
84% Of The Spanish Population Declares That The Increase In Energy
Prices Has A Significant Impact On Their Purchasing Power
Since the second
half of 2021 there has been a sharp increase in energy prices in
the EU and worldwide. The price of fuels has risen further as a
result of the war in Ukraine. After almost a year since the
start of the Ukrainian war and its direct impact on rising
energy prices, more than 80% of people in Europe now agree that
this rise has a significant impact on your purchasing power.
(Ipsos Spain)
19 January 2023
(Italy)
The Propensity Of Italians
Towards A Plant-Based Lifestyle Is Growing
In a research
conducted by BVA Doxa for Just
Eat, where it was highlighted that over
60% of those who tried to change their food style retraced their
steps after an average period of 6 months. The survey
provides us with a clear overview of the food habits of
Italians: most are omnivores (85%), however in the
younger age groups (18-30 years) a high share of
people emerge who have decided to undertake different food
styles including the vegetarian/vegan
regime or the flexitarian regime.
(BVA Doxa)
20 January 2023
NORTH AMERICA
(USA)
Americans Sour On U.S.
Healthcare Quality
For the first
time in Gallup’s two-decade trend, less than half of Americans
are complimentary about the quality of U.S. healthcare, with 48%
rating it “excellent” or “good.” The slight majority now rate
healthcare quality as subpar, including 31% saying it is “only
fair” and 21% -- a new high -- calling it “poor.” The latest
excellent/good rating for U.S. healthcare quality is just two
percentage points lower than in 2021; however, it is well below
the 62% high point twice recorded in the early 2010s. It also
trails the average 55% reading since 2001.
(Gallup)
JANUARY 19, 2023
For Black History Month, A
Look At What Black Americans Say Is Needed To Overcome Racial
Inequality
More than
six-in-ten Black adults (63%) say voting is an extremely or very
effective strategy for Black progress. However, only around
four-in-ten (42%) say the same about protesting.
There are
notable differences in these views across political and
demographic subgroups of the Black population.Black Democrats
and Democratic-leaning independents are more likely than Black
Republicans and Republican leaners to say voting is an extremely
or very effective tactic for Black progress (68% vs. 46%). Black
Democrats are also more likely to say the same about supporting
Black businesses (63% vs. 41%) and protesting (46% vs. 32%).
(PEW)
JANUARY 20, 2023
(Canada)
Canadians Becoming
Increasingly Concerned And Regretful About Their Debt
Consistent with
last quarter, nearly half (45%, -1) of Canadians report that
they are $200 away or less from not being able to meet all of
their financial obligations, including three in ten (30%,
unchanged) who say they already don’t make enough to cover their
bills and debt payments. While a those at risk of insolvency
remains steady, the average amount of money that Canadians have
left over at the end of the month has notably increased to $851,
up $197 from the previous quarter, as Canadians are likely to be
more cautious about their spending and reconsidering what they
think are necessities.
(Ipsos Canada)
16 January 2023
Canadians Unconvinced If
Fining Airlines For Failed Service Will Help Improve Future
Outcomes
New data from
the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds Canadians as likely to
blame the weather (70%) as the airlines and rail companies (68%)
for the holiday travel chaos. One-in-three (33%) point the
finger at the federal government. A similar number (30%) blame
the travellers for putting themselves in the situation. Those
affected are most likely to blame the weather (54%) for dumping
snow on their holiday plans, but they do so at a lower rate than
those who avoided the travel snarls completely (71%).
(Angus Reid
Institute)
January 18, 2023
(Ecuador)
64% In Ecuador Do Not Feel
Safe Walking Alone At Night
Ecuador now
ranks as the least safe country in Latin America, thanks to
escalating gang violence, drug trafficking and civil unrest in
2022. Nearly two in three (64%) Ecuadorians interviewed last
year said they do not feel safe walking alone at night where
they live, while just 35% said they do. This situation
represents a rapid and dramatic change in fortunes for the
Andean country. Just five years ago, Ecuador ranked among the
safest countries in the region, with a majority of its
population feeling safe (52%) walking alone at night.
(Gallup)
JANUARY 20, 2023
AUSTRALIA
Australian Unemployment
Increased To 9.3% In December In Line With The Usual Seasonal
Trends For This Time Of The Year
Unemployment in
December increased 46,000 to 1.38 million Australians (9.3% of
the workforce) although under-employment was down slightly, by
16,000 to 1.36 million (9.1% of the workforce). Overall
unemployment and under-employment was up 30,000 to 2.74 million
(18.4% of the workforce). Australian employment decreased by
12,000 to 13,568,000 in December. The decrease was driven by a
drop in full-time employment, down 97,000 to 8,771,000, although
part-time employment increased in line with the usual seasonal
trends, up by 85,000 to 4,797,000.
(Roy Morgan)
January 19, 2023
What Do Aussie Consumers
Consider When Looking To Purchase Consumer Electronics
Sustainability
and data safety have emerged as hot topics in the electronics
goods sector in recent years. Data from YouGov’s latest report, Consumer electronics: Safety and sustainability in 2023, indicates
that consumers in Australia are indeed placing an increasing
focus on them, with sustainability and data privacy moving up in
the purchase decision hierarchy. Three-quarters of Australian
consumers state price as the most important factor in future
electronics purchases (77%), however price is less of a priority
for younger age groups (under 34s).
(YouGov
Australia)
January 19, 2023
MULTICOUNTRY STUDIES
Costs Of Living Increase
Around The World, A Survey Across 36 Nations
The cost of
living has increased due to various factors, including COVID-19
and political and economic crises affecting many countries. Many
people struggle financially, so much so that only 25% of
citizens worldwide are living comfortably. People
between the ages of 35 and 44 are among the most affected ones, probably
because of the costs related to supporting a family.
On a country level, Argentina
(76%), Lebanon (69%) and Chile (65%) are among the countries
with the highest percentage of population expressing financial
difficulties.
(WIN)
16 Jan 2023
Source:
https://winmr.com/the-costs-of-living-increase-around-the-world/
Will Companies Adopt A
Four-Day Working Day In 2023, A Survey Across 36 Nations
Brazil's number
is in line with the global average, which is 37%. Residents of
the United Arab Emirates, with 68%, are the ones who believe
most in a reduction in working hours. India, with 63%, and
Indonesia, with 54%, complete the top of the list. At the other
end of the ranking are Japan (15%), Sweden (22%) and Argentina
(22%). Global data indicate that the debate on reducing working
hours is far from a consensus.
(Ipsos Brazil)
January 17, 2023
Global Consumer Confidence On The Upswing As New Year Begins,
Among 23 Countries
The Global
Consumer Confidence Index is the average of all surveyed
countries’ National Indices. This month’s installment is based
on a monthly survey of more than 17,000 adults under the age of
75 from 23 countries conducted on Ipsos’ Global Advisor online
platform. This survey was fielded between December 23, 2022 and
January 6, 2023. This month, Mexico (+2.0), Italy (+1.9), and
China (+1.5) are the only countries to show a significant
month-over-month gain in their National Index (i.e., 1.5 points
or more). However, for the second consecutive month, no country
shows a significant decline.
(Ipsos Canada)
19 January 2023
Source:
https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/global-consumer-confidence-upswing-new-year-begins
One Year In, Global Public
Opinion About The War In Ukraine Has Remained Remarkably Stable,
Survey Across 28 Countries
As the war in
Ukraine nears the one-year mark, nearly two-thirds (64%) of
adults across 28 countries still report closely following news
about it. A new Ipsos survey finds that global public opinion
about the conflict has not changed much since the weeks
following the country’s invasion and that citizens of most
western nations remain steadfast in their support of Ukraine.
However, the survey points to some risks of fatigue. At the
global level, fewer now agree that their country should take in
Ukrainian refugees (66%, down 7 points since March-April 2022)
and that “doing nothing in Ukraine will encourage Russia to take
further military action elsewhere in Europe and Asia” (63%, down
5 points). Also, slightly more now agree that “the problems of
Ukraine are none of our business and we should not interfere”
(42%, up 3 points).
(Ipsos Global)
20 January 2023
Source:
https://www.ipsos.com/en/war-in-ukraine-january-2023
ASIA
778-43-01/Polls
China’s
Pessimistic Gen Z Poses Challenge For Xi Post-COVID
It was the kind
of freedom young Chinese had demanded in late November in
protests against the zero-COVID policy that became the biggest
outpouring of public anger in mainland China since President Xi
Jinping took power a decade ago.
Pacifying a
generation faced with near-record youth unemployment and some of
the slowest economic growth in nearly half a century presents a
policymaking challenge for Xi, who is just beginning a
precedent-breaking third term. Improving young people’s
livelihoods without abandoning the country’s export-led growth
model poses inherent conflicts for a government that prioritizes
social stability.
This generation
is the most pessimistic of all age groups in China, surveys
show. While the protests succeeded in hastening the end of COVID
curbs, the hurdles Chinese youth face in achieving better living
standards will be harder to overcome, some analysts say.
“As the road
ahead for the youth gets narrower and tougher, their hopes for
the future evaporate,” said Wu Qiang, a former politics lecturer
at Tsinghua University who is now an independent commentator in
Beijing. Young people no longer had “blind confidence and
adulation” towards China’s leaders, he added.
Some Chinese
youth who spoke to Reuters reflected the sense of frustration.
“If they didn’t
change the policy, then more people would protest, so they had
to change,” said 26-year-old Alex, who declined to give her last
name for fear of retribution from the authorities, in an
interview before the Shanghai concert.
“But I don’t
think young people will go back to thinking that nothing bad
ever happens in China.”
‘EDUCATED PESSIMISM’
Young people,
especially in cities, are often at the forefront of protests
globally; students led China’s biggest pro-democracy uprising in
1989, which Beijing crushed in a military crackdown.
But China’s Gen
Z has its own characteristics that present a dilemma for Xi,
some analysts said.
In recent years,
some young Chinese social media users have drawn international
attention for their ferocity in attacking critical views about
China online, including of Beijing’s COVID policies. They became
known as “little pinks,” a term associated with the color of a
nationalist website, and drew comparisons with China’s
aggressive “wolf warrior” diplomats and the Red Guards of Mao
Zedong’s Cultural Revolution.
With the economy
slowing under the weight of pandemic restrictions, a
countertrend emerged, but not quite of the liberal type that
pushes against growing nationalism in the West. Many young
Chinese have been choosing to “lie flat,” a term used to
describe people who have rejected the corporate rat race by
adopting a minimalist lifestyle and doing just enough to get by.
There is no data
on how many Chinese are inclined towards those perspectives.
Brewing under the surface before the protests, however, was one
unifying factor: growing discontent with their perceived
economic prospects.
A survey of
4,000 Chinese by consultancy Oliver Wyman found Gen Z to be the
most negative about China’s economic outlook of all the age
groups. Their peers in the United States, by contrast, are more
optimistic than most preceding generations, according to a study
by McKinsey.
In the United
States, the study released in October showed 45% of
18-to-24-year-olds worried about job stability but scored better
on McKinsey’s gauge of perceptions of future economic
opportunities than all groups except those aged 25-34.
Earlier in the
Xi era, things were looking brighter.
In 2015, a Pew
Research Center study found seven in 10 of Chinese people born
in the late 1980s felt positively about their economic
situation. A whopping 96% felt their living standard was better
than their parents’ at the same age.
“It’s educated
pessimism. It’s based on the facts and the reality that they’re
witnessing,” said Zak Dychtwald, founder of research firm Young
China Group, which examines trends among Chinese youth, of the
mood among young adults.
“I don’t think
these protests would have happened ten years ago, but this young
generation believes they ought to be heard in a way that older
generations didn’t.”
He said further
unrest appeared unlikely in the near term, but the ruling
Communist Party was under pressure to offer “some hope and
direction” to the country’s youth at an annual legislative
meeting in March.
Failure to
deliver such solutions could reignite protests in the long term,
he said.
FIXING THE YOUTH
In a New Year
speech, Xi acknowledged the need to improve the prospects of
China’s youth, without mentioning the protests against his
zero-COVID approach.
“A nation will
prosper only when its young people thrive,” Xi said, without
elaborating on potential policies.
For China’s
stability-obsessed Communist Party, giving Gen Z more political
agency is unthinkable.
Instead,
analysts say Chinese policymakers need to create well-paid jobs
for young people and ensure they thrive economically, like their
parents’ generation, who accepted limited freedoms in exchange
for promised prosperity.
But achieving
that is harder in a slower economy, and some of the policies
that could improve living standards for younger Chinese are in
conflict with other priorities for the world’s second-largest
economy: ensuring the engines behind its 15-fold expansion over
the past two decades keep running, some political analysts and
economists say.
Meeting Gen Z’s
expectations for higher wages would make Chinese exports less
competitive. Making housing more affordable could mean allowing
a sector responsible for a quarter of China’s economic activity
in recent years to collapse.
Xi’s second-term
crackdown on tech and other private sector industries has also
led to job losses and fewer opportunities for young people.
For all the
government’s talk about “common prosperity,” levelling the
playing field for this new generation seems impossible, said
Fang Xu, an urban sociologist at the University of California,
Berkeley.
“Their parents
were able to accumulate such a massive amount of wealth from the
housing market, from private entrepreneurship, and that leap is
not likely to be repeated,” Fang said.
“Levelling the
playing field means devaluing the property market enough that
it’s not impossible for young people to buy a house, but that
would be a huge blow to older generations.”
URGE TO LEAVE
Given the risk
of arrest, most of those who took part in the protests against
COVID restrictions are laying low. It is unclear what their
hopes and plans are or how they vary. But some young people feel
driven to pursue their ambitions elsewhere.
University
student Deng, 19, who spoke to Reuters on the condition of
partial anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation,
has little hope that she will be able to thrive in China.
“If I want to
stay in China, I have these two choices: stay in Shanghai to
work and take an average office job or listen to my parents,
return to my hometown, take the public servant exam, lie flat,”
said Deng, adding she planned to emigrate instead.
Data from
internet giant Baidu shows online searches for studying abroad
were five times the 2021 average during the two-month lockdown
of Shanghai’s 25 million residents last year. Another spike
occurred during the November protests.
Neither Deng nor
Alex see much room for further dissent in the near future.
“You can either
accept the system or leave China. You can’t change the system
here, the authorities are too powerful,” Alex said.
A few days
later, at the Shanghai venue, Alex found a vantage point among
fellow metal fans for the first time since COVID rules eased.
She took in the sounds of the band, Rat King, her concerns for
the future put aside for one night.
January
18, 2023
Source:
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14817270
778-43-02/Polls
Chinese
New Year Celebrations Have Traditionally Been About Large Family
Gatherings And Lots Of Feasting
Chinese New Year
celebrations have traditionally been about large family
gatherings and lots of feasting – with delectable meats from
land and sea.
But as
mainstream awareness of the environmental and human health impact of eating
meat grows, how are attitudes towards meat consumption and
plant-based/vegetarian diets changing in Singapore?
What proportion of Singaporeans are looking to actively reduce
their meat consumption?
Latest data
from YouGov Profiles reveals
that as of January 2023, more than a third of Singaporean
consumers say they are actively trying to reduce their meat
consumption (34%). In contrast, just three in ten are not (30%),
while over a third are undecided about altering their level of
meat consumption (36%) – indicating that they may at least be
considering it.
Notably, about a
third of Singaporeans in each generation remain on the fence
when it comes to changing their amount of meat-eating.
Singaporeans who
are trying to eat less meat are more likely to shop local and in
small quantities than the average consumer. Close to three in
five of this segment express a preference for buying from local
businesses (58%) and shopping “little and often” as opposed to
“big and less often” (59%), compared to less than half of
Singaporean consumers in general (40% and 44% respectively).
How open are Singaporeans to substituting their meat products
for plant-based alternatives?
Data from YouGov
Profiles also shows that about a third of Singaporeans are open
to substituting meat products they consume with plant-based
alternatives (34%). On the other hand, about the same proportion
are currently undecided (34%), while three in ten say they would
not do so (30%).
Baby Boomers are
relatively more open to plant-based meat substitutes, with more
than two in five agreeing (43%) compared to 35-37% of younger
Gen Z, Millennial and Gen X consumers. On the flip side,
Millennials are least likely to be open to plant-based meat
substitutes, with nearly a third closed to the idea, compared to
around a quarter for other generations (24-27%).
Singaporeans who
are open to replacing traditional meat products with plant-based
alternatives are more likely to be early tech adopters and
prefer buying small quantities when shopping than the average
consumers. Over half of this segment say they are “usually
interested in trying the latest technology products, services
and apps” (55%) and prefer shopping “little and often” as
opposed to “big and less often” (56%), compared to less than
half of Singaporean consumers in general (both 44%
respectively).
(YouGov
Singapore)
Source:
https://sg.yougov.com/en-sg/news/2023/01/18/singapore-meat-eating-consumption-plant-based/
WEST EUROPE
778-43-03/Polls
Britons’ Views Of Qatar Remain Very Negative Following 2022
World Cup
Opinion of FIFA is now even more negative following their
handling of the tournament
The 2022 World
Cup in Qatar was mired in controversy before a ball had even
been kicked. The country’s human rights record, treatment of
migrant workers and position towards the LGBT community
dominated headlines. But on the field the tournament provided
football fans with arguably the
greatest final of all time as Argentina’s Lionel
Messi finally got his hands on the trophy.
Now, a YouGov Political Research survey has
revealed that the World Cup has done little to improve Britons’
opinions of the host nation. A month before the opening fixture,
two-thirds of Britons (67%) had a negative view of Qatar, a
figure which rose to 72% after the tournament had finished. Only
12% of Britons have a positive view of Qatar, about the same as
before the World Cup (9%).
Before the
tournament, 18% of the general public said it was acceptable for
Qatar to host international sporting events, that figure rising
marginally to 22% following the country’s handling of the World
Cup. Among football fans, the number who think it’s acceptable
for Qatar to host such events increased from 17% pre-World Cup
to 29% after the competition finished.
For both
football fans and the wider population, there is still a
majority (60% in both cases) who think it is unacceptable for
Qatar to host sporting events such as the World Cup.
FIFA’s reputation among Britons is worse now than it was before
the World Cup
Tournament
organisers FIFA threatened to book
any players who planned to wear the OneLove armband to
promote diversity and inclusion.
Two-thirds of
Britons (65%) have an unfavourable view of FIFA since the
tournament ended, down slightly from 69% following the OneLove
armband row on 21-22 November, but higher than the
pre-tournament figure of 54%.
Three-quarters
of football fans (73%) now have a negative opinion of football’s
governing body. While this is lower than the 79% who said they
had an unfavourable opinion of FIFA following the
early-tournament threat of sporting sanctions for those teams
wearing the rainbow armband, it is still significantly higher
than the 62% it was pre-tournament.
OneLove hit proves to be a blip for the FA
Closer to home,
while the FA’s reputation among English people took
a knock over the OneLove armband incident, their
reputation has since bounced back. Prior to the competition, 30%
said they had a favourable view of the FA and 35% an
unfavourable one. After the FA announced that England players
would not be wearing the rainbow armband, those with a positive
view of the organisation fell to 27% and the number with a
negative view increased to 43%. However, numbers have now
returned to pre-Qatar 2022 levels with the FA seen favourably by
33% and unfavourably by 38%.
Football fans in
England have a higher opinion of the FA with 60% holding a
favourable view of the organisation both before and after the
World Cup, although this number did fall to 50% in the fallout
from the OneLove armband row. The number with an unfavourable
opinion has fallen since the same incident from 39% to 33%.
Opinion towards the England team, Gareth Southgate and Harry
Kane is now even more positive
English people’s
opinion towards the England team is even higher post-tournament
than it was at the time of our mid-tournament survey (on 21-22
November, shortly after the England-Iran game). The proportion
of those with a favourable view of the Three Lions has increased
from 56% to 63%.
Similarly, both
Gareth Southgate and Harry Kane have also seen opinions towards
them improve during the World Cup. Those with a favourable view
towards the England manager have risen from 56% to 63% while his
captain has seen positive opinion towards him increase from 54%
to 60%. (There are no
pre-tournament comparison figures for the England team, Gareth
Southgate or Harry Kane).
English football
fans, too, are even more behind their team following their
efforts in Qatar. In our group-stage poll, 83% of fans said they
had a favourable opinion of the men’s national side, this figure
rising to 87% in our post-tournament survey.
Fans’ opinions
of both the team’s manager and captain also remain high with
eight in ten having a favourable opinion of Southgate (81%) and
Kane (80%) since the World Cup finished.
January 16, 2023
778-43-04/Polls
Consumer Confidence Sees A Small New Year Bounce As Outlook For
Household Finances Improves
The improvement
in overall consumer confidence can largely be attributed to a
rise in household finance measures. Retrospective scores saw an
increase of 3.3 points, increasing from 59.0 to 62.3, while
outlook jumped 8.8 points from 48.1 to 56.9. In December 2022,
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey suggested that inflation was lower than expected,
and had started to come down from its 41-year high. While the
mood around household finances is still sour – for perspective,
if these scores were recorded a year ago, they would have been
the worst in the history of the index – it nevertheless appears
to be moving in a more positive direction.
Other areas are
more of a mixed bag. Homeowners are a little more optimistic
about the value of their properties over the next 12 months,
with forward-looking measures increasing by 1.2 points from
103.9 to 105.1. But with six consecutive months of
deterioration, short-term measures are in freefall: December saw
a decline of 6.4 points, falling from 113.1 to 106.7.
Meanwhile,
perceptions of job security among employees saw little movement,
with short-term metrics falling by 0.7 points (from 92.6 to
91.9) and outlook by 0.3 points (from 118.5 to 118.2).
Perceptions of business activity over the past 30 days moved up
1.9 points from 106.9 to 108.8, while measures for the next 12
months inched up 0.4 points from 116.8 to 117.2.
January 17, 2023
778-43-05/Polls
Support
For Nurses’ Strikes Lower Than Last Month’s But Blame Placed
Mainly With The Government
From what they
know about the strikes, large majorities continue to feel
sympathy towards nurses (82%) and ambulance workers (80%),
however they are most likely to feel sympathy towards NHS
patients (90%). Around 3 in 5 (61%) are sympathetic towards
unions representing nurses and ambulance workers while just
under half say the same for NHS management (46%). Just a quarter
(26%) feel sympathy for the UK Government, compared to 7 in 10
(70%) who don’t.
As various
professions vote to start or continue striking, junior
doctors (47%) and teachers (41%) are most likely to be
supported, along with refuse collectors and street cleaners
(38%) and postal workers (36%). Those most likely to be opposed
are barristers working on criminal cases (41%), traffic wardens
(40%), railway workers (38%) and civil servants (38%).
Trade Union Power
Around a third
believe trade unions have too much power in Britain today (34%),
seeing little change on our tracker since June 2022. We have
seen more fluctuation in the proportion who say they have about
the right amount, now 33% believe this is the case, up from 25%
in June of last year. Meanwhile, after a significant drop last
month (30% in September to 19% in December), the proportion who
believe trade unions do not have enough power remains consistent
(19%).
In comparison,
32% say employers have too much power, 44% say they have the
right amount and 10% say they have too much. Only 1 in 10 (11%)
believe workers have too much power, 38% say they have the right
amount while the same proportion (38%) believe they have too
little.
A large majority
say it is important to have trade unions to protect workers’
interests (79%), falling slightly from 83% last September and
85% last June. Only 13% say they are not important.
18 January 2023
Source:
https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/support-nurses-strikes-lower-last-months-blame-placed-mainly-government
778-43-06/Polls
Half Of
Generation Z Would Prefer To Have Grown Up When Their Parents
Were Children
The report
provides a comprehensive outline of what we know currently about
Generation Z based on long-term and high-quality data sources
that allow us to track changing attitudes and values over time.
Key headlines include:
Technical note
19 January 2023
778-43-07/Polls
The
Average Check Of Russians In December Increased By 7.5%
The average check for FMCG purchases in
December amounted to 735 rubles, which is 7.8% higher (53
rubles) than in November. During the year, the indicator
increased by 1.0% (7 rubles).
In terms of federal districts, the Far
Eastern Federal District (+12.6%) showed the largest increase in
the average check compared to November. The indicator grew least
of all in the Volga and Ural Federal Districts (+6.5% each).
January 18, 2023
Source:
https://romir.ru/studies/romir-sredniy-chek-rossiyan-v-dekabre-vyros-na-75
778-43-08/Polls
The
Economic Confidence Of Russians Is In The Positive Zone
In 2022, the
highest average monthly economic confidence index was recorded
in July (+2). The lowest is in March (-18).
*The index of economic confidence is a
combination of Russians' assessment of the current economic
situation in the country and their expectations regarding the
prospects for its development. The scores are calculated as the
difference between positive and negative responses.
January 19, 2023
Source:
https://romir.ru/studies/romir-ekonomicheskaya-uverennost-rossiyan-nahoditsya-v-polojitelnoy-zone
778-43-09/Polls
Pension
Reform: The Majority Of French People Reject The Project And
Support The Strikes
Announced as the
major project of Emmanuel Macron 's second
five-year term , the pension reform project has sparked many
debates, since its presentation by Elisabeth Borne on January
10. In view of the importance of this project, the media
coverage was significant and consequently the vast majority of
French people have heard of it.
A general rejection on the part of the French of this pension
reform, but support from sympathizers of the presidential party
and the right
This pension
reform project is being rejected by the majority of French
people. 61% say they are
opposed to it, including more than a third (36%) who are even
completely opposed to the reform. While 39% say they
are on the contrary in favour, only 13% say they are completely
in favor of the reform project carried out by Elisabeth Borne.
Support for
reform varies greatly depending on the political orientation of
respondents. Left-wing
sympathizers are mostly opposed (70%). Nevertheless,
this opposition is not uniform in its proportion. Thus, 76% of
supporters of France Insoumise declare themselves opposed to the
reform, against 66% of those of the PS and 63% of those of EELV.
On the side of the National Rally, we also see a frank
opposition to the reform, 75% of the
sympathizers of the party of Marine Le Pen declaring themselves
opposed to the government project.
On the other
hand, Renaissance sympathizers
are overwhelmingly in favor (82%), as are Republican
sympathizers (73%). Emmanuel Macron and Elisabeth
Borne therefore seem to be able to benefit
from the support of their electoral base, extended to the right, in
what promises to be a difficult moment.
Beyond the
political categories , working people
directly affected by the reform are more opposed to it than the
average of the French respondents (67%). This is
particularly the case for manual workers (82%), who are the most
opposed to this project, ahead of employees and intermediate
professions (70% in both cases), while executives are very
divided, 51% between them being in favor of this reform and 49%
being opposed to it. Finally, retirees are mostly in favor of
the reform (57%).
Support for the principle of reforming the pension system, but
which would require reform and a different timetable
The French generally approve of the principle of a pension
reform, 81% considering that the pension
system must be reformed. However, only
23% believe that the pension reform proposed by the government
should be implemented as soon as possible. 15%
consider that this reform should be implemented, but disagree on
the timetable, preferring to wait until the economic and social
situation is better. More than 4 out of 10 French people (43%)
consider that the reform should be done according to
different methods from those proposed by the government, and
19% believe that it is not necessary to reform the pension
system.
Opposition to measures to extend working hours, but support for
certain aspects of the reform
In detail, we
observe that it is above all the measures to extend working
hours that arouse the rejection of the French. 62%
are thus opposed to the gradual postponement of the legal
retirement age from 62 to 64, a particularly strong
rejection among working people (66%). Same
observation for the extension of the contribution period to 43
years, which is opposed by 58% of French people and
62% of active people. Supporters of the left-wing parties and
the National Rally are, unsurprisingly, overwhelmingly opposed
to these two proposals.
Conversely, the
abolition of special pension schemes for new recruits is
approved by 65% of French people. If supporters of
the Republic in March (87%) and Republicans (83%) are largely in
favor, a majority of supporters of the RN also approve of this
measure (61%). Left-wing sympathizers, on the other hand, are
divided on this point. If those of the PS and EELV approve of
this measure (respectively 64% and 72%), those of France
Insoumise reject it (only 38% agree).
Finally, the
establishment of a minimum pension of approximately 1200 euros
gross per month creates consensus, the vast majority
of French people being in favor of it (86%), as are supporters
of all the major political forces.
Opposed to the reform, the French support at this stage the
mobilizations and the strike
While a first
day of mobilization was announced by the unions on Thursday
January 19, 2023, a clear
majority of French people approve of the upcoming mobilizations
against the pension reform (65%, including 40% who
totally approve of them). This support is stronger among
supporters of parties opposed to the pension reform, in
particular France Insoumise (90% support the mobilizations). The
same goes for the strike movement, supported by 59% of French
people (including 37% who fully support it) and which receives
particularly strong support from supporters of France Insoumise
(83%).
In this
context, one in five French
people (20%) declare that they have the certain intention of
demonstrating against the pension reform, while 22%
of working people and students also declare that they have the
certain intention of going on strike against this
reform. Supporters of left-wing parties and the Rassemblement
National are the most likely to want to demonstrate or strike
against government reform.
January 18, 2023
778-43-10/Polls
84% Of
The Spanish Population Declares That The Increase In Energy
Prices Has A Significant Impact On Their Purchasing Power
Since the second
half of 2021 there has been a sharp increase in energy prices in
the EU and worldwide. The price of fuels has risen further as a
result of the war in Ukraine. This has also
raised concerns regarding the security of energy supply in the
EU, and Russia's decision to suspend gas deliveries to several
member states has further affected the situation. The
European Commission has proposed the "REPowerEU" action plan,
which aims to make Europe independent of Russian fossil fuels
well before 2030.
Majority support for European measures to address energy
challenges
In this context
more and more people, eight out of ten, agree that the EU should
continue to take steps to reduce its dependence on Russian oil
and gas as soon as possible. Spain (86%) is among the countries
most in agreement with this idea.
While this
independence arrives, the EU has taken a series of measures to
guarantee the energy supply and mitigate the increase in energy
prices, measures that receive very high support from the
Europeans. More than eight in ten agree that the EU must protect
critical infrastructure such as oil pipelines and internet
cables, that the price of electricity should not depend on the
price of gas, that the war in Ukraine makes it more urgent than
the Member States invest in renewable energy, and that everyone
should make an effort to reduce energy consumption during peak
hours.
Where there is
not such a large majority (56%), is the idea that the recent
price rises are mainly due to aggressive behavior by Russia. For
its part, Spain shows greater agreement with this statement, 65%
of the population considers it so, ranking among the five
countries that most agree.
Home changes to reduce energy use and bills
The proportion
of people who are willing to take personal measures to mitigate
the effect of rising prices on their pocket is a vast majority
(95%). People are already or would be willing to turn off the
lights when they leave a room for a while, at home or at work,
unplug electronics when not in use, or lower the room
temperature at home or at work, which they already do. half of
the Spanish population (52%)
Approximately
four in ten already use or are willing to use alternatives to
getting around the car or motorbike, such as walking, cycling,
using public transport or carpooling, buying energy-efficient
equipment with a good energy rating, a much less welcome in the
case of Spain, where only 1 in 4 is or would be willing to do
so.
The most
expensive actions or those with the greatest impact on personal
life, although more efficient, are the ones that show the least
adoption, such as adding better insulation in the home, opting
for renewable forms of energy, installing equipment to control
and reduce their consumption of energy and take the train
instead of the plane to get around.
19 January 2023
778-43-11/Polls
The
Propensity Of Italians Towards A Plant-Based Lifestyle Is
Growing
The propensity of Italians towards a plant-based lifestyle is
growing, but for 60% implementing a new diet is difficult. Food
delivery is confirmed as an ally and a stratagem adopted above
all by young people to overcome the initial adaptation phase. On
the occasion of Veganuary, the largest vegan movement in the
world, the data from the BVA Doxa research for Just Eat presents
were presented to analyze how Italians approach new food regimes
such as the vegan diet, the motivations that drive them, the
difficulties they face and the tricks they use to stay on track.
CHANGE YOUR
LIFESTYLE - The beginning of a new year always brings with it a
long list of good resolutions and it is in January that new
goals are set, such as the strong desire to change one's
lifestyle. The need to get back in shape, thanks to the holidays
that have just ended, is the mantra that guides Italians in
choosing a healthier diet. In 2014, Veganuary, the largest vegan
movement, was born in this directionaround the world,
with the aim of inspiring people to try a plant-based diet not
only for their own personal well-being, but also for that of the
planet. A real challenge: if on the one hand the interest in a
plant-based diet is growing, on the other hand implementing new
habits in one's daily life represents a great challenge. The
confirmation comes from a research
conducted by BVA Doxa for Just
Eat, where it was highlighted that over
60% of those who tried to change their food style retraced their
steps after an average period of 6 months .
PLANT-BASED –
The survey provides us with a clear
overview of the food habits of Italians: most are omnivores
(85%), however in the younger
age groups (18-30 years) a high share of people
emerge who have decided to undertake different food styles
including the vegetarian/vegan
regime or the flexitarian regime
, i.e. an omnivorous diet, with a preference for veggie
solutions and the occasional consumption of animal-derived
products. The reasons are to be found above all in the growing
interest in the theme of sustainability , which leads
them to try to integrate low environmental impact solutions into
their diet as much as possible.
BENEFITS AND
DIFFICULTIES - If we look at the past year, 4
out of 10 Italians changed their diet in 2022 ,
mainly guided by the desire to improve their physical
well-being, and they are carrying it out with the intention of
making it a definitive choice. However, 61%
retraced their steps after a period of about 6 months ,
due to the difficulties encountered in the excessive
rigidity in terms of times and quantities of meals (40%) ,
as well as in the preparation
of the latter (34%) . Not only that, those who
reflect themselves within a modern profile and therefore
consider themselves worldly and busy people, believe that thedifficulty
reconciling one's eating style with the desire to order food at
home , may represent an important barrier in the
adoption of a new regimen.
The research
also reveals how for 6 out of
10 Italians these difficulties emerge both in the initial phase
of the path and in its maintenance . Only those who
identify with the portrait of the sportsman and who are therefore used to leading nutritional
lifestyles suitable for supporting performance and achieving
certain results, declare that they do not experience particular
difficulties when approaching new diets . Starting
a new food journey, on the other hand, is particularly tiring
for the 25-30 age group , but once the adaptation
phase has been overcome, maintaining the new nutritional plan is
carried out with extreme ease. This is also thanks to the
positive effectswhich manifest themselves over time,
as confirmed by as many as 88% of
the interviewees.
THE NEW FOOD
REGIME – Among the other difficulties encountered by those who
choose to start a new food journey, there is also the discipline
in respecting the very rules of the new regime, which
is particularly difficult for the 45-64
age group (53 %) , while the younger target (18-24
years), claims to experience some difficulties
in relating to their families and being able to combine food
style/dietary regimen with the family's daily habits (23%) .
The approach
towards a more balanced diet therefore involves a great spirit
of adaptation, which often leads to a twofold attitude: the
new rules are adopted immediately (57%) , especially
in the 45-64 age group and by those who decides to implement a
new lifestyle for health reasons, or
gradually (43%) , as happens in the 18-24 age group,
who gradually change some aspects of their daily menu.
STRATAGEMS AND
FOOD DELIVERY - To deal with the change, various stratagems are
also put in place , including the organization
of meals with care and attention to
eating only at certain times of the day, necessary to compensate
or avoid the mistakes that the 90% say they do when
implementing a new regimen. In particular, the youngest group
(18-24 years) declares that they do so often because they find
it difficult to control the
lack of certain foods , but the 45-64 age group is
the most "transgressive": 76% in fact declare that they eat
unexpected food.
Among the
stratagems adopted, a very interesting fact stands out: 6
out of 10 Italians in fact declare that they order food at home
to respect their diet . The 25-30 age group and those
who start a new path gradually declare that they often rely on
their trusted food delivery service, driven above all by the practicality of receiving the ready meal (50%) and by the possibility
of ordering food when I'm away from home/city (34%) . This
is especially true when you approach lifestyles that are often
very distant from your usual diet, as happens with veganism or
vegetarianism.
20 January 2023
Source:
https://www.bva-doxa.com/il-food-delivery-nel-mese-del-veganuary/
NORTH AMERICA
778-43-12/Polls
Americans Sour On U.S. Healthcare Quality
These findings
are from Gallup’s annual Health and Healthcare survey. The
latest update was conducted Nov. 9-Dec. 2, 2022.
A key reason
views of U.S. healthcare quality have been trending downward in
recent years is that Republicans’ positive ratings have been
subdued since President Donald Trump left office. Currently, 56%
of Republicans rate healthcare quality as excellent or good,
whereas 69% felt this way in 2020 and 75% in 2019. Republicans’
views of healthcare quality also dropped in 2014 after
implementation of the Affordable Care Act before rebounding
under Trump. Meanwhile, Democrats’ positive ratings have been
steady at a lower level (currently 44%).
Additionally,
since 2012, public satisfaction with healthcare has trended
downward among middle-aged and younger adults, while remaining
high among those 55 and older. Whether this change (seen across
party lines) stems from rising healthcare costs for those not on
Medicaid, perceived changes brought about by the ACA, or
something else isn’t clear. The more recent declines among young
adults may reflect changes to healthcare that have taken place
amid the COVID-19 pandemic or curtailed access to abortion since
the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision.
Positive Views of Own Healthcare Quality Also Shrink
Americans’
evaluations of the quality of healthcare they personally receive
are also at a low ebb -- albeit higher than their U.S. rating --
with 72% giving it excellent or good marks. This low reading has
been two years in the making, with the metric falling six points
to 76% in 2021 and another four points in the past year.
The initial
decline was seen about evenly across all age groups, while the
drop in 2022 is exclusively among adults 18 to 34. Barely half
of this younger age group (53%) is now upbeat about the quality
of care they receive, versus 72% of those 35 to 54 and 85% of
those 55 and older.
No Change in Views of Healthcare Coverage
The same poll
asks Americans to rate healthcare coverage -- both in the nation
and their own. The ratings gap between these is even wider than
that seen for healthcare quality, with 32% of Americans
considering healthcare coverage nationally to be excellent or
good versus 66% rating their own coverage this highly.
Unlike
healthcare quality, however, these are not the worst ratings for
healthcare coverage, historically. The national rating of 32% is
similar to 2021’s 29% and equal to the average from 2001 to
2021. And while Americans’ positive rating of their personal
coverage is down five points from 2021, the figure has been as
low as 63% previously (in 2005).
Cost Remains a Pain Point
Public
satisfaction with the total cost of healthcare in the U.S. is
fairly typical of what it has been over the past two decades,
with just 24% satisfied and 76% dissatisfied. The percentage
satisfied has averaged 22% since 2001, only once straying more
than a few points from that -- in 2020 during the pandemic, when
30% were satisfied.
Meanwhile, amid
high inflation in 2022, 56% of Americans report being satisfied
with the total cost they have to pay for healthcare -- the
lowest Gallup has measured since 2016. The lowest in the trend
was 54%, recorded in 2006.
Two-Thirds Still Diagnose System With Major Problems or Worse
Perhaps
reflecting their increasing concerns about healthcare quality,
Americans’ perception that the U.S. healthcare system is in a
state of crisis has grown to 20%, the highest since 2013.
However, the 68% overall saying it is in crisis or has major
problems is similar to the figure in most years from 2002 to
2021.
Bottom Line
For most of
Gallup’s tracking of Americans’ views on healthcare since 2001,
there was a clear distinction between the high regard people had
for the quality of care in the country versus the problems they
saw in healthcare administration, including coverage and cost.
That is no longer the case, with public praise for U.S.
healthcare quality dipping below 50% and the slight majority now
viewing quality as only fair or poor.
Some of this
shift reflects partisan positioning, because since
implementation of the ACA in 2013 under former President Barack
Obama, Republicans have been less likely to offer a positive
assessment of healthcare quality under Democratic presidents (as
they are now under President Joe Biden) than they were under
Trump or, before that, under George W. Bush. But the shifts by
age suggest additional factors are at work.
Even as they
lament the cost, a majority of Americans continue to have high
regard for the quality of their own healthcare and healthcare
coverage. Yet even their own healthcare quality ratings are not
what they once were. Should these continue to worsen, Americans
may be less resistant to rocking the U.S. healthcare boat. That
could, in turn, influence the types of policy changes they may
be willing to accept in the furtherance of improved public
health outcomes.
JANUARY 19, 2023
Source:
https://news.gallup.com/poll/468176/americans-sour-healthcare-quality.aspx
778-43-13/Polls
For
Black History Month, A Look At What Black Americans Say Is
Needed To Overcome Racial Inequality
Black History
Month originated
in 1926 as Negro History Week. Created by Carter G.
Woodson, a Black historian and journalist, the week celebrated
the achievements of Black Americans following their emancipation
from slavery.
Since 1928, the
organization that Woodson founded, the Association for the Study
of African American Life and History, has selected an annual
theme for the celebration. The theme for 2023, “Black
Resistance,” is intended to highlight how Black
Americans have fought against racial inequality.
Black Americans’
resistance to racial inequality has deep roots in U.S. history
and has taken many forms – from slave
rebellions during the colonial era and through the
Civil War to protest
movements in the 1950s, ’60s and today. But Black
Americans have also built
institutions to support their communities such as
churches, colleges and universities, printing presses, and
fraternal organizations. These movements and institutions have
stressed the importance of freedom, self-determination and equal
protection under the law.
Black Americans
have long articulated a clear vision for the kind of social
change that would improve their lives. Here are key findings
from Pew Research Center surveys that explore Black Americans’
views about how to overcome racial inequality.
How we did this
Most Black
adults see voting as
an extremely or very effective strategy for helping Black people
move toward equality, but fewer than half say the same about
protesting. More than
six-in-ten Black adults (63%) say voting is an extremely or very
effective strategy for Black progress. However, only around
four-in-ten (42%) say the same about protesting.
There are
notable differences in these views across political and
demographic subgroups of the Black population.
Black Democrats
and Democratic-leaning independents are more likely than Black
Republicans and Republican leaners to say voting is an extremely
or very effective tactic for Black progress (68% vs. 46%). Black
Democrats are also more likely to say the same about supporting
Black businesses (63% vs. 41%) and protesting (46% vs. 32%).
Views also
differ by age. For example, around half of Black adults ages 65
and older (48%) say protests are an extremely or very effective
tactic, compared with 42% of those ages 50 to 64 and 38% of
those 30 to 49.
Black Americans say Black Lives Matter has done
the most to help
Black people in recent years. Around four-in-ten
Black adults (39%) say this, exceeding the share who point to
the NAACP (17%), Black churches or other religious organizations
(13%), the Congressional Black Caucus (6%) and the National
Urban League (3%).
Black Democrats
are more likely than Black Republicans (44% vs. 26%) to say
Black Lives Matter has done the most to help Black people in
recent years. And Black adults with at least a college degree
are more likely than those with less education (44% vs. 37%) to
say Black Lives Matter has done the most.
Some Black adults see Black-owned
businesses and
Black-led communities as effective remedies for inequality. When
it comes to moving Black people toward equality, about
four-in-ten Black adults (39%) say having all businesses in
Black neighborhoods be owned by Black people would be an
extremely or very effective strategy. Smaller shares say the
same about establishing a national Black political party (31%)
and having all the elected officials governing Black
neighborhoods be Black (27%).
While none of
these strategies have majority support among Black adults,
certain groups are more likely than others to say they would be
effective. Those who say being Black is at least very important
to their identity are especially likely to say each of the three
strategies are effective, for example.
Those with a
high school education or less are more likely than college
graduates to say establishing a national Black political party
would be effective at achieving equality for Black people.
Meanwhile, younger Black adults (ages 18 to 49) are more likely
than older ones (50 and older) to say Black officials governing
Black neighborhoods would help make progress toward equality.
The vast majority of Black adults say the prison
system needs significant changes for
Black people to be treated fairly. That includes a
majority of Black adults (54%) who say the prison system needs
to be “completely rebuilt” in order to ensure fair treatment.
Groups especially likely to say this include Black Democrats and
those who say being Black is extremely or very important to how
they see themselves.
Far smaller
shares of Black adults say the prison system requires only minor
or no changes, though this view is more common among Black
Republicans and those who say being Black is somewhat, a little
or not at all important to their identity.
Clear majorities of Black adults say people of other races or
ethnicities could make
good political allies for
Black people. About four-in-ten Black adults (42%)
say White people would make good political allies only if they
experience the same hardships as Black people; another 35% say
White people would make good political allies even if they don’t
experience these same hardships. Around one-in-five Black adults
(18%) say White people would not make good political allies.
About
four-in-ten Black adults (37%) say Latinos would make good
allies only if they experience the same hardships as Black
people, while a similar share (40%) say Latino people would make
for good allies even if they don’t experience the same
hardships. Some 16% of Black adults say Latinos would not make
good political allies.
The views of
Black adults on this question are similar when it comes to Asian
people, though a somewhat higher share (23%) say Asian Americans
would not make good political allies.
JANUARY 20, 2023
778-43-14/Polls
Canadians Becoming Increasingly Concerned And Regretful About
Their Debt
The quarterly
MNP Debt Index has taken a drastic plunge to 77 points, down 15
points from the last quarter and marking an all time low since
the Debt Index was created over 5 years ago. The massive decline
in attitudes about personal debt reflects rising concerns about
interest rates, persistent inflation, and heightened
affordability concerns. The debt index traditionally
deteriorates in December, but this quarter’s decline is
unprecedented, underscoring the anxieties that Canadians have
about their debt situation.
Average Canadians Saving Money During Economic Crisis
All provinces
have experienced an increase in average finances at month-end,
most notably Alberta, with an increase of $404 and placing them
at the top for most leftover funds after essentials are taken
care of. However, Quebec is not far behind with an increase of
$297 to average at $919, followed by Atlantic Canada ($662,
+$262), and Ontario ($845, +$148). Saskatchewan/Manitoba ($753,
+$40) and British Columbia ($787, +$34) has seen a minor
increase, nevertheless any increase while inflation is rampant
is noteworthy.
A third of
Canadians say they plan on reducing their consumer expenses to
make ends meet (36%, +4). Canadians are clearly trying to create
a cushion for themselves by cutting back on their discretionary
spending, which is leaving more in the pockets of the average
Canadian, overall. However, this masks the fact that many are
still struggling as they’re unable to create a cushion, and
those struggles are intensifying as interest rates continue to
rise.
Canadians Personal Debt Rating Takes a Significant Dive
Canadians’ net
personal debt rating has decreased notably to 10 points, a
nineteen-point decrease from last quarter. The significant shift
is a result of fewer Canadians rating their personal debt
situation as ‘excellent’ (31%, -12) and more are rating it as
terrible (21%, +7). The impact of rising interest rates is
beginning to show in consumers’ current debt situation as
Canadians’ are feeling less confident about their current debt.
When Canadians
were asked about their current debt situation compared to one
year ago, a fifth perceive their current debt situation to be
better (21%, -2). However, more Canadians have rated their
current debt situation as much worse compared to a year ago, an
increase of 6 points from the previous quarter (20%). When asked
to forecast their expected debt situation year from now,
slightly fewer Canadians expect their debt situation to improve
(28%, -2) but more believe it will worsen (17%, +6). As
Canadians were asked to consider looking five years into the
future, four in ten (39%, -1) believe their debt situation will
be much better, while more believe that their debt situation
will worsen (14%, +4).
Further Interest Rate Hikes May Reach Breaking Point for Many
Canadians
With interest
rates rapidly rising, Canadians are feeling significantly worse
about their ability to absorb interest rates increases. When
asked their ability to absorb an interest rate increase of 1
percentage point, a fifth (20%, -5) say they are better equipped
to deal with this increase, while more (26%, +9) say their
ability to deal with this increase has worsened. A similar
outcome was observed when the question was rephrased to ask
their ability to absorb an interest rate increase of an extra
$130, one in six (16%, -5) say their ability to absorb this
increase is much better, while over a third (36%, +9) say it is
much worse.
Three in five
Canadians agree they are concerned about the impact of rising
interest rates on their financial situation (62%, +3), while
only half are confident with their ability to cover all
living/family expenses in the next year without going further
into debt (51%, -5). Furthermore, half of Canadians say they
regret the amount of debt they’ve taken on in life (49%, +7) and
that they are concerned about their current level of debt (47%,
+7).
As interest
rates continue to rise, more Canadians say that they’re already
beginning to feel the effects of interest rate increase (68%,
+11), which has triggered the majority of Canadians agree they
will be more careful with how they spend their money (87%, +3).
As Canadians are becoming more conscious with their money, more
Canadians say that as interest rates rise, they are more
concerned about their ability to pay their debts (64%, +9) and
if interest rates go up much more, they will be in financial
trouble (59%, +9)
Women and
Canadians ages 35-54 and 55+ are most likely to agree they will
be more careful with how they spend their money due to rising
interest rates. Canadians with less than $40K household income
and those ages 18-34 and 35-54 are most likely to feel the
effects of interest rate increases, concerned with their ability
to repay their debts, will be in financial trouble, and fear
that rising interest rates moving them close towards bankruptcy.
Canadians Struggling With Affordability Resort to Financial ‘Bad
Habits’ to Make Ends Meet
Canadians are
feeling the pressures of the rising costs of living which is
evident in net affordability for housing and savings continuing
to fall even lower. A growing proportion say it is becoming less
affordable for them to put money aside for savings, and one’s
ability to afford debt payments is also deteriorating. Among a
list of everyday essentials, over half Canadians has noted that
feeding themselves and their family (57%, +5) of and putting
money aside for savings (56%, +7) is less affordable, while
about half say that transportation (50%, +5), clothing or other
household necessities (51%, +6), and housing (45%, +8) is
becoming less affordable.
Canadians are
likely being forced to build more debt to make ends meet.
Compared to December 2021, more say they have paid only the
minimum balance on their credit card (26%, +5), borrowed money
they can’t afford to pay back quickly (18%, +7), paid minimum
balance on their line of credit (17%, +6). One in five say they
will use their savings to pay their bills (21%, +3), while 1 in
10 say they will use their credit card to pay their bills (14%,
+1) or borrow from friends or family (13%, +5).
16 January 2023
778-43-15/Polls
Canadians Unconvinced If Fining Airlines For Failed Service Will
Help Improve Future Outcomes
The snowstorms
that iced many Canadians out of their holiday travel plans,
continue to leave airline and railway executives and politicians
on the hot seat.
A similar number
(30%) blame the travellers for putting themselves in the
situation. Those affected are most likely to blame the weather
(54%) for dumping snow on their holiday plans, but they do so at
a lower rate than those who avoided the travel snarls completely
(71%).
The data also
indicate strong desire from Canadians for more government
regulation to protect consumers from cancellations (78% say
this), but a mixed belief that the regulation already in place
will have much effect. Two-in-five (44%) want the Canadian
Transportation Agency to levy fines against the airlines who
failed to uphold customer rights even if it means the companies
raise airfares to cover them. One-third (34%) want the CTA to
find other ways to hold airlines accountable for cancellations
and delays.
Travel troubles
have become an all-too-familiar phenomenon for Canadians. Last
summer saw persistent delays and long lines at Canadian
airports. To “learn lessons” from the summer, and prepare for
the holiday travel season, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra held
a summit with airlines and airports in
November. Still, two-in-five (39%) believe Transport
Canada failed to prepare for the holiday surge in travel.
Two-in-five (43%) are more likely to absolve the government
ministry and say the December travel mess was out of its
control.
More Key Findings:
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: Holiday travel chaos, who was affected and who or what
is to blame?
Part Two: 2023 outlook, Canadians looking to travel more
Part One: Holiday travel chaos, who was affected and who or what
is to blame?
It was a
disappointing holiday travel season for many Canadians.
Mid-December snowstorms cancelled and delayed flights at Pearson
Airport in Toronto and the Vancouver
International Airport – Canada’s
two busiest airports. The timing of the cancellations
meant many Canadians were delayed or unable to complete holiday
travel plans. Others – including
many passengers on Sunwing – were stuck in holiday
destinations for days after their intended departure.
The travel chaos
was not restricted to Canada’s airways. Train service in the
busy Windsor to Quebec City corridor was also affected by the
snowstorm which hit Ontario and Quebec, leaving hundreds of
passengers stuck
on VIA Rail trains for hours with limited food and
water. VIA
Rail customers, alongside those of Sunwing,
complained they received little to no information from the
companies as they suffered through extensive delays.
WestJet told the
House of Commons committee attempting to sort through the travel
mess that it had to cancel 1,600
flights from Dec. 16 to Jan. 8. “In my 22 years at
WestJet, this was the most significant weather-induced
disruption that I have experienced,” WestJet’s vice-president of
flight operations Scott
Wilson said. Sunwing, meanwhile, has received 7,000
complaints from its customers who were affected by
flight cancellations. Air Canada rebooked 107,000
customers over the holiday. On top of cancellations,
there were also numerous delays for the flights that did takeoff
during the holidays. Pearson Airport expected an average
passenger volume of 130,000
per day during the week of Christmas.
One-in-16 (6%)
Canadians say they were personally affected by holiday travel
issues. One-quarter (24%) say they know a close friend or family
member who faced travel difficulties over the holiday season.
Canadians in B.C., and the prairie provinces of Saskatchewan and
Manitoba – where travel often requires a connection through a hub
such as Toronto or Vancouver – are more likely than
those in other provinces to say they had holiday travel
challenges. Notably, on Dec. 29, Sunwing cancelled all
operations out of Regina and Saskatoon until
Feb. 3 as it continues to sort out the fallout from
the holiday travel season.
Quebecers are
the least likely to say they had holiday travel delays or
cancellations. Previous Angus Reid Institute data found Quebecers
were less likely to report having out-of-province friends or
family members.
More than
anything else, Canadians are most likely to blame the weather
(70%) and travel companies for the recent winter woes (68%).
One-in-three (33%) point the finger at the federal government;
nearly as many blame the travellers themselves (30%).
Women are more
likely than men to say the snowstorms deserve blame for the
travel chaos. Men blame federal government at much higher rates
than women.
Those affected
are most likely to blame the weather (54%), but they do so at
lower rates than those who didn’t have holiday travel plans
waylaid by the cross-country chaos (71%). Those who were
embroiled in the travel mess are also the least likely to place
the blame at the feet of the airlines and rail companies, though
more than two-in-five do (46%, see
detailed tables).
While those
affected were no more likely to blame the federal government
than those who weren’t, there is a significant political divide.
Half (53%) of those who voted Conservative in 2021 say the
federal government deserves blame for the holiday travel issues.
One-in-eight (14%) past Liberal voters, one-in-five (21%) past
NDP voters, and one-quarter (25%) of past BQ voters agree:
The House of
Commons Transport, Infrastructure and Communities committee is
hearing from key figures including airline and rail executives,
and Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, as it sorts out the chaos.
However, the holiday travel turmoil followed a rough summer
travel season, when Canadian airlines and airports were some
of the worst in the world at getting passengers to
their destinations on time. Following those issues, Alghabra
held a November summit to discuss the “lessons” of
the summer travel season with airlines and airports. “We
cannot go back to what we saw last summer,” he said
at the time.
With all this in
the background, Canadians are nearly as likely to blame
Transport Canada for failing to anticipate the holiday travel
surge (39%) as they are to believe the issues were outside of
the government ministry’s control (43%).
There is also a
sharp political divide on this question. More than half (55%) of
those who voted Conservative in the 2021 federal election
believe Transport Canada failed Canadians. Three-in-five (59%)
past Liberal voters disagree. Though the minority opinion among
past Liberal (22%), NDP (34%) and Bloc Québécois (33%) voters,
significant segments of each group say Transport Canada did not
prepare enough for the holiday travel season (see
detailed tables).
Those who faced
delays and cancellations as they tried to travel during the
holiday season say Transport Canada failed to properly plan for
the holiday travel surge at higher rates (50%) than those who
avoided the travel mess (36%):
While airlines
must compensate travellers for cancellations and delays, some
believe that does not go far enough. An
advocate for air passengers called for the federal
government to require airlines to automatically compensate
passengers for disrupted flights, instead of the current system
which requires passengers to make a claim. The federal NDP echoed
that call.
Four-in-five
(78%) Canadians believe there should be more government
regulation to protect travel customers in the event of
cancellations. A strong majority across all demographics believe
this (see
detailed tables).
The Canadian
Transportation Agency (CTA), a government regulator which
oversees airlines, can
fine airlines up to $25,000 per passenger in the
event the agency believes the airline violated air passenger
protection rights. Those rights include providing a refund or
alternate travel arrangements in the event of a cancellation, even
if the cancellation was outside of the airline’s control.
However, there is concern
that passengers will end up footing the bill eventually if
the CTA were to issue heavy fines, as airlines might raise
prices in response. In the past five years, only
one carrier has been fined by the CTA for provided
inadequate compensation to passengers.
More than
two-in-five (44%) Canadians believe the CTA should issue the
fines even if it means increased prices for consumers. One-third
(34%) believe airlines should be held accountable in some other
way. Men are more supportive of heavy fines than women, who are
more likely to believe the airlines should be punished in
another way:
Half of frequent
travellers (47%) believe the CTA should issue heavy fines to
airlines, even if it means increased ticket prices. Two-in-five
(42%) of Canadians who travel less frequently agree:
Three-in-five believe airlines, rail lines don’t care about
their customers
In the wake of a
year filled with delays, cancellations and customers stranded, a
majority (61%) of Canadians feel like travel operators do not
care about their customers. Older Canadians are more likely to
disagree, but still more than half of women (54%) and men (57%)
over the age of 54 say bus lines, airlines and rail lines do not
care about their customers (see
detailed tables).
Canadians who
travel frequently are more likely to believe the air, bus and
rail companies care about them, at 37 per cent. Still,
three-in-five (58%) of frequent travellers believe the opposite:
Perhaps those
who dealt with delays and cancellations during the holiday
season are feeling a bit burned by the travel operators.
Seven-in-ten affected by holiday season travel issues (70%)
agree, including 30 per cent strongly, that bus lines, airlines
and rail lines do not care about their customers. Three-in-five
(61%) who avoided scars from travel over the holidays say the
same:
Canadians want more airline competition
Canada’s airways
have long been dominated by two major players – WestJet and Air
Canada. Others – Flair and Lynx – have tried to undercut the
market as lower cost options. There are also smaller regional or
more holiday-focused – Sunwing, Air Transat – companies in the
mix. Overall, however, Canadians often have to choose between
the two major airlines when it comes to booking travel.
After a holiday
season filled with travel problems, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh called for
more competition in the airline industry, saying the lack of
competition makes flights less affordable for Canadians. The
CTA requires companies
that operate domestic routes in Canada to be majority-owned and
controlled by Canadians, which prevents foreign businesses from
entering the market.
Four-in-five
(78%) Canadians agree with Singh, including an overwhelming
majority of past CPC (84%), Liberal (78%), NDP (75%) and Bloc
Québécois voters (74%, see
detailed tables).
Those who travel
more regularly are more likely to believe there needs to be more
airlines competing in Canada’s skies than those who have not
travelled at all since March 2022:
Part Two: 2023 outlook, Canadians looking to travel more
Since March
2022, COVID-19 restrictions have been a thing of the past and
Canadians have started travelling more in response. In July,
Canadian airlines carried 6.7 million passengers, a number not
seen since
Feb. 2020. Still, the volume of traffic was below
comparable seasonal traffic seen in 2019, suggesting there could
be more volume headaches ahead for the nation’s airlines and
airports.
Indeed,
two-in-five (43%) Canadians say they plan to travel more in
2023. Three-in-ten (30%) are planning to take a similar number
of trips as they did in 2022, while one-in-eight (12%) are
planning to travel less. This travel enthusiasm is higher among
women than men, and younger Canadians than older ones:
As inflation
continues to drive up the cost of living, travel and vacations
are often left on the cutting room floor by Canadians trimming
their budget. In December, two-in-five (37%) of Canadians told
ARI that they had cancelled or scaled back planned
travel in recent months to save money.
Still, a
plurality across all income levels say they are planning to
travel more in 2023. Those in households earning $150,000 or
more annually are much more likely than lower income households
to say they are planning on taking more trips in the next 12
months:
January 18, 2023
Source:
https://angusreid.org/sunwing-via-canada-holiday-travel-chaos-snowstorm/
778-43-18/Polls
64% In
Ecuador Do Not Feel Safe Walking Alone At Night
Ecuador’s status
as the least-safe country in Latin America in 2022 was no easy
feat in a region where countries routinely rank among the least
safe in the world. Venezuela has ranked as the least
safe in the region -- and often the world -- in most years that
the World Poll has been conducted. However, the security
situation in Venezuela improved in 2022, with 53% feeling unsafe
walking alone at night, down from 67% the year before.
Why Has Ecuador
Vaulted to No. 1?
Over the past
couple of years, Ecuador has found itself to be a new nerve
center in the global drug trade. Situated between the world’s
two largest producers of cocaine -- Colombia and Peru -- Ecuador
has historically been fairly successful in limiting its exposure
to the worst effects of regional drug trafficking.
However, booming
cocaine production in Colombia, cuts to Ecuador’s prison budgets
and the elimination of the Justice Ministry, among other
factors, have meant that the state is now less able to control
the effects of the international drug trade.
Crime rates have
soared recently, as have prison populations. Hundreds of inmates
have been murdered, at least a dozen police have been killed
because of escalating gang violence, and some Ecuadorians have
witnessed decapitated bodies hanging from bridges.
As a result,
President Guillermo Lasso has introduced numerous states of
emergency to stem the violence, including in late June 2022,
just before World Poll fieldwork started.
Few Ecuadorians Anywhere Feel Safe
Western coastal
states -- the epicenter of recent violence and drug trafficking
-- have been hit hardest, and there, nearly three-quarters (73%)
of all adults don’t feel safe walking alone.
Perceived public
safety in western Ecuador is now at a level similar to what
Afghanistan experienced in 2021 (77% felt unsafe) when the
Taliban returned to power, or Chad in 2006 (74%) during an
attempted military coup.
Further, the
public safety crisis is affecting all Ecuadorians, but
particularly residents aged 50 and older (71% unsafe) and women
(72%), who feel less safe walking alone than men do throughout
the region.
Worryingly for
the government, the crisis is not limited to just feeling unsafe.
It is also linked to a rapidly waning faith in the state’s
ability to enforce public order.
Ecuadorians’
confidence in their local police and their faith in the judicial
system are the lowest the country has seen in over a decade.
Roughly two in five (41%) Ecuadorians in 2022 expressed
confidence in their local police force, and even fewer were
confident in the judicial system (24%).
Between 2011 and
2021, the majority of Ecuadorians had confidence in the police,
averaging 60% over that period.
Confidence in
local police falls to just 30% among those who feel unsafe
walking alone at night in their neighborhoods. The rapid fall in
overall confidence in the police demonstrates that vulnerable
Ecuadorians no longer have faith in the state to protect them.
Bottom Line
Ecuador finds
itself at the center of a perfect storm of factors that are
driving the public safety crisis today.
Gallup data show
that the Ecuadorian government is facing a huge challenge in the
oldest raison d’etre for state rule: protecting citizens from
violence.
This challenge
must be addressed immediately if Ecuadorians are once again to
enjoy the safer country they knew in years gone by. If not,
rising insecurity poses a profound obstacle to Ecuador’s
development.
Ecuador is one
of the few Latin American countries with a pro-U.S.
administration, and Lasso met with President Joe Biden in
December to strengthen relations and discuss migration flows to
the United States.
But with Ecuador
recently announcing a new free trade deal with China and its
security crisis at risk of deteriorating further in 2023, the
U.S.-Ecuador alliance could find itself under greater strain.
JANUARY 20, 2023
Source:
https://news.gallup.com/poll/468227/ecuador-dangerous-country-latin-america.aspx
AUSTRALIA
778-43-17/Polls
Australian Unemployment Increased To 9.3% In December In Line
With The Usual Seasonal Trends For This Time Of The Year
In December unemployment increased 0.3% points to 9.3%,
according to the latest Roy Morgan employment series data. The
increase in unemployment was in line with the usual seasonal
trends seen at this time of the year as school leavers and
university students joined the workforce but couldn’t all find
the jobs they were looking for.
1,384,000
Australians were unemployed (9.3%
of the workforce) in December, an increase of 46,000
from November with more people looking for full-time work, up
89,000 to 595,000 although there were fewer people looking for
part-time work, down 43,000 to 789,000.
The workforce in
December was 14,952,000 (up 34,000 from November) – comprised of
13,568,000 employed Australians (down 12,000) and 1,384,000
unemployed Australians looking for work (up 46,000).
In addition to
the unemployed, 1.36 million Australians (9.1% of the workforce,
down 0.1% points) were under-employed – working part-time but
looking for more work, down 16,000 from November.
In total 2.74
million Australians (19.4% of the workforce) were either
unemployed or under-employed in December, up 30,000 on November.
Compared to early March 2020, before the nation-wide lockdown,
in December 2022 there were more than 550,000 more Australians
either unemployed or under-employed (+2.8% points) even though
overall employment (13,568,000) is almost 700,000 higher than it
was pre-COVID-19 (12,872,000).
Roy Morgan’s under-employment figure of 9.1% is over 3% points
higher than the ABS
estimate of 5.8% for November. However,
the ABS figures for November show there were 520,600 workers who
worked fewer hours than usual due to illness, personal injury or
sick leave compared to an average of 414,300 for the month of
November over the five years from November 2017 – November 2021.
This difference
in the numbers of people who worked fewer hours due to illness,
personal injury or sick leave, which can be put down to the
Omicron variant of COVID-19 equates to a difference of 106,300
in November 2022 above the average for the month of November for
the previous five years. If these workers are added to the
approximately 827,000 workers, the ABS classifies as
under-employed this creates a total of 933,300 – equivalent to
6.5% of the workforce.
When the ABS
unemployed (3.4% of the workforce, 491,700 workers) and this
larger than usual level of under-employed (6.5% of the
workforce, approximately 933,300 workers) are combined these
figures add to 1.42 million workers, around 10.0% of the
workforce.
Roy Morgan Unemployment & Under-employment (2019-2022)
Source:
Roy Morgan Single Source January 2019 – December 2022. Average
monthly interviews 5,000.
Michele Levine, CEO Roy Morgan, says seasonal factors usually
lead to a rise in unemployment in December as school leavers
enter the workforce and this consistent trend continued in 2022
with the increase in line with the average increase over the
last decade of just under 50,000:
“The latest Roy Morgan employment estimates for December show
unemployment increasing by 46,000 to 1,384,000 (9.3%, up 0.3%
points) – the highest level of unemployment since April 2022.
“This level of increase is to be expected in December as school
leavers and university students enter the workforce after the
completion of their exams. Over the last decade (2013-2022)
there has been an average increase of unemployment of 47,000 in
December – right in line with this year’s figures.
“The usual seasonal trends in the employment market were also
seen with part-time employment increasing at the expense of
full-time employment as people took on casual jobs in the retail
and hospitality sectors and spent time on holidays.
“Full-time employment was down 97,000 to 8,771,000 in December,
in line with the average drop in full-time employment over the
last decade (2013-2022) of 102,000. However, the increase in
part-time employment of 85,000 to 4,797,000 was weaker than the
average over the last decade of 146,000.
“This weaker than usual increase in part-time employment meant
overall employment was down slightly, by 12,000 to 13,568,000
whereas an increase in line with the average of the last decade
would have led to a small increase.
“All-in-all seasonal factors were the main drivers of the
employment market in December as Australians enjoyed a
‘COVID-restriction free Christmas’ for the first time in three
years and retail spending in the pre-Christmas period set to hit
a new record high – forecast by Roy Morgan and the Australian Retailers
Association (ARA) at over $66 billion.
“Looking forward the consumer economy is expected to remain
strong with Roy Morgan and the Australian Retailers Association (ARA)
forecasting post-Christmas spending to hit a record high of
$23.5 billion, up 7.9% on a year ago.
“Although the Australian economy has weathered the challenges of
high inflation and energy prices and rising interest rates
during 2022 we expect these forces will start to impact the
economy throughout 2023 as the fixed rate mortgages many
Australians took out during the pandemic reset to far higher
rates and inflationary pressures continue to build on businesses
and workers alike.
“Australia out-performed most of the world during the pandemic
years of 2020-2022 and is well-placed to continue that
out-performance next year but there remains much uncertainty
around the global economic picture during the course of 2023.”
Roy Morgan Unemployed and ‘Under-employed’* Estimates
*Workforce includes those employed and those looking for work –
the unemployed.
January 19, 2023
778-43-18/Polls
What Do
Aussie Consumers Consider When Looking To Purchase Consumer
Electronics
Sustainability
and data safety have emerged as hot topics in the electronics
goods sector in recent years. Data from YouGov’s latest report, Consumer
electronics: Safety and sustainability in 2023, indicates
that consumers in Australia are indeed placing an increasing
focus on them, with sustainability and data privacy moving up in
the purchase decision hierarchy.
While price,
ease of use and features available emerged as the top three
reasons for both for past and future electronics purchases,
privacy and security moves from eighth (out of 10 priorities)
for previous purchases, to fourth for future purchases, and
sustainability moves from tenth for previous purchases, to
seventh for future purchase priorities. This suggests that
consumers are increasingly receptive to sustainability and
privacy when considering new electronics purchases and may be
more receptive to more environmentally friendly options and
products that offer enhanced data security measures.
YouGov’s Consumer electronics: Safety and sustainability in 2023 report
examines consumer buying behaviour of electronics goods,
identifies the factors that influence purchase, as well as
explores consumer attitudes to green technology, data privacy,
and the preferred security measures for device protection. Using
recent YouGov research across 18 international markets, this
study will help marketers and Original Equipment Manufacturers
(OEMs) gain a better understanding of consumer behaviour and
attitudes around these themes.
Focusing on the
key areas of importance by demographic groups, some interesting
differences emerge. Three-quarters of
Australian consumers state price as the most important factor in
future electronics purchases (77%), however price is less of a
priority for younger age groups (under 34s). Instead, those
between 18-24 are more likely to prioritise sustainability
(49%), integration with their other devices (42%) and design
(39%), with those aged 25-35 similarly focusing on design (37%).
Interestingly,
those above 55 are seen to be most particular about ease of use
(68%), data privacy (51%) and brand name (35%).
A further
challenge faced by consumer brands striving to be green is how
this impacts the cost of the product. Looking at attitudes
towards the cost of environmentally friendly products, close to
seven in ten (69%) consumers believe that products that are
better for the planet tend to be more expensive, with those aged
45-54 most likely to say so.
With cost a key
driver to purchase, it will be important for marketers and OEMs
to reassure electronics customers that they are not paying extra
to buy sustainable electronics to alleviate this as a potential
purchase barrier.
For more
insights and analysis, download the full Consumer electronics: Safety and sustainability in 2023 paper
here.
January 19, 2023
Source:
https://au.yougov.com/news/2023/01/19/what-do-aussie-consumers-consider-when-looking-pur/
MULTICOUNTRY STUDIES
778-43-19/Polls
Costs
Of Living Increase Around The World, A Survey Across 36 Nations
WIN
International, the world’s leading association in market
research and polling, has published the Annual WIN World Survey
– WWS 2022 – exploring the views and beliefs of 29,739
individuals among citizens from 36 countries across the globe.
The survey
analyzes views and opinions related to the current
financial situation of citizens and how they are
dealing with inflation and the increase in the cost of leaving.
Financial Situation
We find
significant differences according to the educational level of
respondents: more than half of the interviewed people (52%) who
have basic education or no education have difficulties in paying
their bills, while interviewees who have completed higher
educational levels (Masters, PHD, etc.) have less difficulties
in this regard (25% say they struggle financially).
The Rising Costs of Living
People around
the world have been forced to reduce expenses due to the rising
cost of living. In fact, 48%
of those surveyed have already reduced some expenses in previous
months, with the 45-54 age group being the most
affected ones (51%).
On the other
hand, 19% of the respondents
do not plan to make any changes in their monthly budget, a
percentage slightly higher among people over 65 years (24%).
Analyzing results by employment status, there is no evidence of
significant differences: both full-time employees and unemployed
have already made a reduction on their expenses or plan to do so
(77% and 79%, respectively).
However,
significant differences are registered within countries: for
example, people in Greece and
Ireland have already cut their spending (both 70%), while only
19% of citizens in Japan have done so.
16 Jan 2023
Source:
https://winmr.com/the-costs-of-living-increase-around-the-world/
778-43-20/Polls
Will
Companies Adopt A Four-Day Working Day In 2023, A Survey Across
36 Nations
Only 34% of
Brazilians believe that companies in the country will adopt a
four-day workday in 2023. This is what the "Global Advisor –
Predictions 2023" survey , carried out by Ipsos in 36 countries,
shows.
Unemployment
The survey also
asked respondents about unemployment. In Brazil, 41% of the
population believes that unemployment in the country will be
higher in 2023 than in 2022. The country is in last place in the
ranking among the countries surveyed. South Africa leads in this
respect, with 88%. The world average is 68%.
January 17, 2023
778-43-21/Polls
Global
Consumer Confidence On The Upswing As New Year Begins, Among 23
Countries
Ipsos’ Global
Consumer Confidence Index this month reads at 46.6, up 0.7 point
from last month. Sub-indices indicative of consumers’ sentiment
about investment, employment, and their expectations all show
comparable month-over-month gains. January is the second
consecutive month showing improvement in the global consumer
mood.
The Overall,
Expectations, and Investment index upticks bring them closer to
their level of a year ago, although all three still lag by two
or three points. In contrast, the Jobs Index, which did not
experience as much of a dip in 2022, is on par with its reading
of a year ago.
Also, trends
differ widely across regions. Overall consumer sentiment is
higher than one year ago on average across both Latin America
and Middle East-Africa, and only slightly lower in Asia-Pacific.
In all three regions, it is higher now than it was in January
2020, pre-pandemic. On the other hand, overall consumer
confidence is significantly lower in Europe and North America
than both a year ago (by 7 and 5 points, respectively) and
pre-pandemic (by 6 and 8 points).
As 2023 begins,
downward trends in overall sentiment remain starkest in European
countries, the United States, Canada, Japan, and South Korea. In
five of the G7 countries—the U.S., Canada, France, Great
Britain, and Japan—consumer confidence continues to sit near its
lowest levels in more than a year.
National Index Trends
China (73.6) and
Saudi Arabia (70.3) continue to hold the highest National Index
scores and are the only countries with a score above 70. India
(64.6) is the only other country with a National Index score
above 60.
The same four
countries show a National Index above the 50-point mark:
Australia (53.6), Brazil (53.4), Mexico (52.3), and the U.S.
(50.2). Mexico sits at its highest point since July 2019, and
Brazil is at its highest point since February 2014.
Six countries
now show a National Index below 40: South Korea (37.7),
Argentina (36.6), Poland (36.3), Japan (35.9), Turkey (34.0),
and Hungary (31.8). Consumer confidence in Belgium (40.2) and
Spain (40.4) have risen back above the 40-point mark after three
and two consecutive months below this mark, respectively.
Similar to last
month, just six countries have a National Index score that is
significantly higher than in February 2022, before the start of
the war in Ukraine: Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Mexico, China,
and India. In contrast, it is significantly lower than it was in
February 2022 in 15 countries.
Jobs, Expectations, and Investment Index Trends
Among 23
countries:
19 January 2023
Source:
https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/global-consumer-confidence-upswing-new-year-begins
778-43-22/Polls
One
Year In, Global Public Opinion About The War In Ukraine Has
Remained Remarkably Stable, Survey Across 28 Countries
Summary of findings
Key Findings
Large majorities
of citizens in every nation agree that their country must
support other sovereign countries when they are attacked (70% on
average globally, down 1 point on average in countries surveyed
in March-April 2022), but also that it should avoid getting
involved militarily in the conflict in Ukraine (71%, down 1
point).
More than half
still say paying more for fuel and gas because of sanctions
against Russia is worthwhile to defend another sovereign country
(53%, down 2 points). Even though Ipsos research finds inflation
to be the #1 worry across the world, more people think that
economic sanctions on Russia are necessary to support Ukraine
despite their impact on energy and food prices than feel the
sanctions on Russia aren't worth the economic impact they are
having in their country – by a difference of 15 percentage
points on average across the 28 countries surveyed (40% vs.
25%).
Nevertheless,
across the 13 countries surveyed that are part of the European
Union and/or NATO plus Australia (i.e., “the West”), two-thirds
agree that restrictions on Russian oil and gas imports are
important to maintain, even if it means they must limit our
heating this winter. This view is held by a majority in all 13
countries except Hungary.
Both in the U.S.
and on average across the same 13 countries, 57% favor
continuing to support Ukraine until all Russian forces have
withdrawn from territory claimed by Ukraine. Here too, support
varies greatly, ranging from 69% in Sweden to just 37% in
Hungary.
Among NATO
countries surveyed, full majorities in the U.S., Canada, Great
Britain, France, the Netherlands, and Poland support their
country’s providing weapons and/or air-defense systems to the
Ukrainian military.
Detailed Findings
The world is (still) watching
Nearly a year
into the war, an average of 64% of adults across all 28
countries surveyed say they closely follow news about the
Russian invasion of Ukraine. For comparison, 82% say they
closely follow news about inflation and increasing prices, and
70% those about climate change and severe weather.
Across the 25
countries already surveyed in March-April 2022, the proportion
of adults keeping tabs on the conflict in Ukraine has dropped by
only an average of five percentage points. It has not declined
by more than five points in the United States or any of the next
eight largest NATO countries. Latin America is the only region
where attention paid to the war has receded significantly.
A varying appetite for sanctions
The prevailing
view in most countries is that the invasion of Ukraine warrants
a response:
However, while
58% on average disagree that “the problems of Ukraine are none
of our business, and we should not interfere”, majorities in
many emerging countries across Asia and Latin America agree with
that view – and it has become notably more prevalent since
March-April 2022 in Turkey (up 13 points) and Germany (up 11
points).
Global opinion
is even more divided when it comes to economic sanctions against
Russia.
On average, 45%
support the idea their country should apply the most stringent
economic sanctions against Russia while 25% are opposed to it.
Majorities agree in the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan,
Britain, and every EU country except Hungary and Italy, but
nowhere else. In Turkey and Hungary, opponents of severe
sanctions against Russia outnumber supporters by double-digit
margins.
On average, 53%
agree that paying more for fuel and gas because of sanctions
against Russia is worthwhile to defend another sovereign
country, but again, agreement is very disparate, ranging from
34% in Chile to 72% in South Korea.
Concerns about the cost of supporting Ukraine
Nearly
two-thirds (64%) on average globally agree that “given the
current economic crisis”, their country “cannot afford to lend
financial support to Ukraine” – including a majority in every
nation surveyed except Sweden, the Netherlands, and Canada.
Since March-April 2022, agreement with this opinion has grown
significantly in many western countries, especially in France,
Germany, Poland, and Japan.
However, when
asked which of the two statements is closest to their opinion –
that “economic sanctions on Russia are necessary to support
Ukraine and encourage Russia to end the war, even if it means
energy and food price will remain higher for a while” or that
“the sanctions on Russia aren't worth the economic impact they
are having in [my country] on energy and food prices” – 40%
globally select the former vs. 25% the latter. The pro-sanctions
view leads by more than 30 points in Sweden, Poland, Britain,
Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Canada. Anti-sanctions
sentiment dominates significantly only in Hungary, Indonesia,
and Malaysia.
Willingness to take in Ukrainian refugees drops
Two-thirds (66%)
on average agree that their country should take in Ukrainian
refugees. Willingness to welcome Ukrainians fleeing the war is
highest in Britain (81%), the Netherlands (80%), and Sweden
(79%). However, since March-April 2022, support for taking in
Ukrainian refugees has dropped by at least six points in every
one of the 10 EU countries surveyed – most of all in Germany and
Belgium (by 14 points) – as well as in the U.S.
Support for lending military support to Ukraine prevails in most
NATO countries
Majorities in
every country surveyed continue to agree that their country
should avoid getting involved militarily (71% on average).
Furthermore, there is no country where a majority support
sending troops to Ukraine.
Yet only 40% on
average globally support their country maintaining diplomatic
ties with Russia – a proportion that has barely changed since
March-April 2022 (up just 2 points). Support for maintaining
diplomatic ties with Russia is expressed by a solid majority
only in Indonesia (73%), India (66%), and Turkey (62%). It is
lowest in Poland (21%) and below average in the U.S. (33%).
Furthermore,
public opinion in most western countries is more supportive of
lending military aid to Ukraine than not.
On average,
across the 12 NATO countries surveyed:
20 January 2023
Source:
https://www.ipsos.com/en/war-in-ukraine-january-2023
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