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BUSINESS & POLITICS IN THE WORLD GLOBAL OPINION REPORT NO. 802-804 Week: July 24 – August 30, 2023 Presentation: August 04, 2023 Survey: 57% Of Companies Foresee Price Hikes This Year 76% Of Corporate Leaders Say Japan’s Economy Is ‘Expanding’ Survey: Japan Inc. Bullish On AI, Already In Use At 41% Of
Companies Gallup Pakistan Analysis Of World Bank Enterprise Survey Views On Sustainability - KSA Edition Kenyans Want Government To Prioritise Environmental
Protection, Even At The Expense Of Job Creation Twitter Users Increasingly Negative About Elon Musk And The
Company Food Standard Agency's Flagship Survey Shows 1 In 4 People
Are Now Food Insecure One In Four Britons Think Climate Change Is Out Of Control On The Highway, 27% Of French People Admit To Throwing Waste
Out Of The Window Of Their Car Ahead Of U.S. Visit, About 6 In 10 Italians View Prime
Minister Giorgia Meloni Favorably Engagement For Boomers: What They Want, How To Give It Which U.S. Workers Are More Exposed To AI On Their Jobs Americans Name China As The Country Posing The Greatest
Threat To The U.S. ANZ-Roy Morgan New Zealand Consumer Confidence Down 1.8pts To
83.7 In July What Worries The World – July 2023, Survey Across 29 Nations Youth Outlooks: Life Quality And Economic Conditions, Survey
Across 12 MENA Countries China’s Approach To Foreign Policy Gets Largely Negative
Reviews In 24-Country Survey INTRODUCTORY NOTE This weekly
report consists of twenty-three surveys. The
report includes five multi-country studies from different states across the
globe. 805-43-24/Commentary: Pakistanis Oppose Two Educational Systems
In Their Country: Only 21% Of Pakistanis Support British Managed Education In
Pakistani Schools, 57% Oppose; Opposition Mounting Over A Decade, Reason
Cited: It Is Disruptive Of Social Cohesion
In a Gallup & Gilani Pakistan
National Survey conducted in the year 2013, a representative sample of adult
men and women from across Pakistan was asked the following question, “Some
people think parallel-running of the O/A levels and matriculation/FSC
education systems is generating a rift amongst the Pakistani youth whereas
others don’t think this is the case. What do you think about this?” In
response to this question, 44% said it was creating a rift, 38% replied that
that was not the case and 18% either did not know or did not respond.
Comparative Picture: This question was asked again in 2023 to allow a
comparison to be made across the years. In 2023, 57% said that it was
creating a rift, 21% replied that that was not the case and 22% either did
not know or did not respond. Trend Analysis: The proportion of people who
believe that parallel running these education systems is creating a rift has
increased by 13%, while those that believe that that it is not the case have
decreased by 17% between 2013 and 2023.
(Gallup Pakistan) July 25, 2023 Source:https://gallup.com.pk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/25.07.23-History-poll-2.pdf SUMMARY OF POLLS
ASIA (Japan) Survey: 57% Of
Companies Foresee Price Hikes This Year More than half of major companies plan
to raise prices for clients and consumers by the end of the year or believe
price increases may occur, a survey by The Asahi Shimbun found.Of 100
companies surveyed between July 3-14, 33 said they plan to increase the
prices of their products or services between July and December. A further 24
said increases are a possibility.Of the 57 companies, 53 have already raised
prices between January 2022 and June this year.Only 13 respondents said they
will not raise prices. This group included financial companies. (Asahi Shimbun) July 24, 2023 76% Of Corporate
Leaders Say Japan’s Economy Is ‘Expanding’ Business confidence has dramatically
improved after COVID-19 was downgraded to the equivalent of seasonal flu.An
Asahi Shimbun survey of business sentiment among 100 major companies
nationwide found that 76 viewed the domestic economy as “expanding” or
“gradually expanding.”The finding represents an increase of 30 companies from
the previous survey last November.Many corporate leaders are optimistic that
economic activity and personal consumption are on the rise now that the novel
coronavirus has lost its “scare” factor. (Asahi Shimbun) July 25, 2023 Survey: Japan Inc.
Bullish On AI, Already In Use At 41% Of Companies More than 90 percent of major Japanese
companies are considering using or have already adopted generative artificial
intelligence in their operations, but many cite data breaches and
authenticity as concerns, a survey by The Asahi Shimbun found.Of 100
companies surveyed, 41 said they are already using generative AI, while 50
said they are considering using it.The 91 companies using or considering
generative AI were asked to state why and could pick from a list of
activities. Multiple answers were allowed. (Asahi Shimbun) July 26, 2023 (Pakistan) Pakistanis Oppose Two
Educational Systems In Their Country: Only 21% Of Pakistanis Support British
Managed Education In Pakistani Schools, 57% Oppose; Opposition Mounting Over
A Decade, Reason Cited: It Is Disruptive Of Social Cohesion In a Gallup & Gilani Pakistan
National Survey conducted in the year 2013, a representative sample of adult
men and women from across Pakistan was asked the following question, “Some
people think parallel-running of the O/A levels and matriculation/FSC education
systems is generating a rift amongst the Pakistani youth whereas others don’t
think this is the case. What do you think about this?” In response to this
question, 44% said it was creating a rift, 38% replied that that was not the
case and 18% either did not know or did not respond.In 2023, 57% said that it
was creating a rift, 21% replied that that was not the case and 22% either
did not know or did not respond. (Gallup Pakistan) July 25, 2023 Gallup Pakistan
Analysis Of World Bank Enterprise Survey Only 3% of firms in Pakistan introduced
a new product or service, 8 times less than the regional average (25%) and 12
times less than the global average (36%). The use of innovation in business
practices helps make processes more efficient and operations smoother.Breaking
down the percentage of firms that have introduced a new product or service
according to firm size reveals interesting insights. The trend in South Asia
and the world shows that large firms are the most innovative (39% in South
Asia and 48% in Pakistan) followed by medium firms (32% in South Asia and 42%
globally), with small firms being the least innovative (22% in South Asia and
33% firms across the world). (Gallup Pakistan) July 25, 2023 MENA (Saudi Arabia) Views On Sustainability
- KSA Edition The vast majority (95%) of individuals
in Saudi Arabia are familiar with the term sustainability, where they
primarily associate it with the conservation of natural resources and
renewable energy sources.When it comes to actions taken to live more
sustainably, the majority of the population (9 in 10) have also taken steps
towards a more sustainable lifestyle although these tend to be actions that
require easy to medium effort such as using low-energy lightbulbs. While 4
out of 5 express a willingness to make lifestyle compromises to benefit the
environment, 3 in 5 are unclear about specific actions that could make a
difference in addressing climate change. (Ipsos Saudi Arabia) 27 July 2023 AFRICA (Kenya) Kenyans Want Government
To Prioritise Environmental Protection, Even At The Expense Of Job
Creation Half (49%) of Kenyans say pollution is a
“somewhat serious” or “very serious” problem in their community. o Citizens
say deforestation (31%), trash disposal (25%), pollution of water sources
(14%), and sanitation (14%) are the most important environmental issues in
their community. o Eight out of 10 citizens (79%) say plastic bags are a
major source of pollution in Kenya. More than half (55%) of respondents
say the primary responsibility for reducing pollution and keeping the
community clean rests with ordinary citizens. About one third would assign
this responsibility to their local (25%) or national governments (10%). (Afrobarometer) 27 July 2023 WEST EUROPE (UK) Twitter Users
Increasingly Negative About Elon Musk And The Company A new YouGov poll shows that two thirds
of Twitter users (67%) have reacted negatively to the new ‘X’ branding,
including 41% who feel “very negatively” about the change. These figures are
about the same among the platform’s most frequent users.Just 4% of all users
feel positively about the rebranding to ‘X’, while 21% are indifferent.Since
our first poll in April last year – shortly after Musk initiated his
acquisition of Twitter – recognition of the tech tycoon has increased
significantly. Back then, 63% of Britons had an opinion on Elon Musk; now 79%
do. (YouGov UK) July 27, 2023 Majority Of Britons
Support Government Regulation Of AI To Prevent Job Losses, With Few Expecting
It To Create More Job Opportunities Than Those That Are Lost New polling from Ipsos shows that only 1
in 8 (12%) think AI will create far more new job opportunities than the jobs
that are lost; over half (55%) disagree. To mitigate this, 2 in 3 (64%) agree
the government should create new regulations or laws to prevent the potential
loss of jobs due to AI, with just 14% disagreeing. Despite concerns about
loss of jobs without government intervention, nearly half (46%) agree that
businesses should embrace AI in the workplace if it saves time and resources
– a view more common amongst university graduates (60%) compared to
non-graduates (46%). (Ipsos MORI) 26 July 2023 Food Standard Agency's
Flagship Survey Shows 1 In 4 People Are Now Food Insecure Confidence in food safety and authenticity,
93% of respondents reported that they were confident that the food they buy
is safe to eat. 87% of respondents were confident that the information on
food labels is accurate. Confidence in the food supply chain, 76% of
respondents reported that they had confidence in the food supply chain.
Respondents were more likely to report confidence in farmers (88%) and shops
and supermarkets (85%) than in takeaways (62%), and food delivery services
(45%). (Ipsos MORI) 26 July 2023 One In Four Britons Think
Climate Change Is Out Of Control The latest Ipsos Political Monitor,
taken 19th to 23rd July, 2023 explored public attitudes towards climate
change, how the government is dealing with the issue and whether Labour would
do a better job. Three in four Britons think climate change is a serious
global threat (77%), with one in four (25%) saying it is out of control but
just over half (52%) saying there is still time to deal with it.More
generally, 77% of Britons are concerned about climate change / global warming.
This is down from 84% last July (during last summer’s heatwave). However,
concern is greater than ten years ago (60% in 2013). (Ipsos MORI) 27 July 2023 (France) On The Highway, 27% Of
French People Admit To Throwing Waste Out Of The Window Of Their Car Even though 88% of French people say
they are concerned about environmental issues, the 2023 edition of the survey
illustrates the difficulty of changing their behavior to limit their
environmental impact. For the second year in a row, 27% of them, or more than
1 in 4, say they throw their waste out of their vehicle window when driving
on the highway. Even more alarmingly, this practice is paradoxically
increasing among young people under 35, who are 42% to admit to doing so – up
6 points compared to 2022. (Ipsos France) July 28, 2023 (Italy) Ahead Of U.S. Visit,
About 6 In 10 Italians View Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Favorably s Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
travels to the United States to meet with President
Joe Biden this
week, Italians hold largely positive opinions of Meloni’s leadership. Nearly
six-in-ten Italians (57%) have a favorable opinion of Meloni, while 41% have
a negative one.Nearly nine-in-ten or more Italians who have a positive
opinion of these parties also hold a favorable opinion of Meloni. In
comparison, around 40% or fewer of those who have unfavorable views of these
parties support Meloni. (PEW) JULY 25, 2023 NORTH AMERICA (USA) Engagement For Boomers:
What They Want, How To Give It Millennials and Gen Zers get a lot of
attention in the workplace. And for good reason -- your younger workers are
your future leaders. As of the end of 2022, 35% of employees in the baby
boomer generation are engaged at work. That means boomers are slightly more
engaged than older millennials (33%) and Gen Xers (31%) but have the same
level of engagement as Gen Zers and younger millennials. (PEW) JULY 25, 2023 Which U.S. Workers Are
More Exposed To AI On Their Jobs Artificial intelligence (AI) recently
gained new attention with the release of ChatGPT and Dall-E. These tools and the broader array of AI-driven business
applications
represent a new reality for workers.In 2022, 19% of American workers were in
jobs that are the most exposed to AI, in which the most important activities
may be either replaced or assisted by AI.23% of workers have jobs that are
the least exposed to AI, in which the most important activities are farther
from the reach of AI. Other workers, nearly six-in-ten in all, are likely to
have varying levels of exposure to AI. (PEW) JULY 26, 2023 Americans Name China As
The Country Posing The Greatest Threat To The U.S. Negative views of China have become more common
in the United States in recent years, and a new Pew Research Center survey
shows that Americans also widely see China as the greatest threat facing
their nation.In an open-ended question allowing Americans to name which
country they see as the greatest threat to the U.S., 50% name China – almost
three times the share who name Russia (17%).Another 4% say no country poses
the greatest threat to the U.S.Only 2% of Americans name North Korea – and
the same share describe the U.S. itself as the greatest threat. (PEW) JULY 27, 2023 AUSTRALIA (Australia) 1.43 Million
Australians ‘At Risk’ Of ‘Mortgage Stress’ In June 2023 Representing 28.7% Of
Mortgage Holders New research from Roy Morgan shows an
estimated 1.43 million (28.7%) mortgage holders were ‘At Risk’ of ‘mortgage
stress’ in the three months to June 2023. This period encompassed two
interest rate increases of 0.25% taking official interest rates to 4.1% in
June.This is the equal highest number of mortgage holders considered ‘At
Risk’ of mortgage stress (the same as for the three months to May 2023) for
over 15 years since there were 1.46 million ‘At Risk’ in May 2008. (Roy Morgan) July 25, 2023 (New Zealand) ANZ-Roy Morgan New
Zealand Consumer Confidence Down 1.8pts To 83.7 In July ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence fell
1.8 points in July to 83.7, with the fall driven by the question of whether
it’s a good time to buy a major household item, which fell from a net figure
of -27% to -39%. That doesn’t bode well for retailers.Inflation expectations
bounced back almost completely from their sharp fall last month, rising from
4.3% back up to 4.7% – still trending lower, however, and well off their high
of over 6% in late-2021.The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Index eased
slightly in July, and remains at low levels. (Roy Morgan) July 28, 2023 MULTICOUNTRY STUDIES What Worries The World
– July 2023, Survey Across 29 Nations Our monthly What Worries the World
survey explores what the public thinks are the most important social and
political issues, drawing on more than ten years of data to place the latest
scores in context. This wave was conducted between June 3rd – July 7th,
2023.Inflation is still the highest concern this month. But this month sees a
further easing of 2pp to 38%.Across all countries, worry about inflation is followed
by crime & violence (31%, +2pp), poverty & social inequality (30%,
-1pp), unemployment (26%, -1pp), and financial & political corruption
(26%, +1pp) which together make up the top five global worries. (Ipsos Global) 24 July, 2023 Source:https://www.ipsos.com/en/what-worries-world-july-2023 Youth Outlooks: Life
Quality And Economic Conditions, Survey Across 12 MENA Countries MENA citizens can believe that
their quality of life in the future will be better, even if they
simultaneously have less faith in the economic situation improving in the
coming two to three years. Overall, women are more positive than men, with
young women being more positive in country-specific cases – Mauritania and
Sudan – than both men of their age cohort and older women. In nine countries,
young women are more likely than women ages 30+ to say that the quality of
their lives is better than their parents’. (Arabbarometer) July 25, 2023 Source:https://www.arabbarometer.org/2023/07/youth-outlooks-life-quality-and-economic-conditions-part-ii/ A Recent Yougov Survey
Across 18 Nations Shows That Globally The Majority Of Consumers Prefer To Buy
Products From Their Own Country A recent YouGov Surveys survey shows
that globally the majority of consumers prefer to buy products from their own
country: as many as 60% of these agree with this statement. 46% believe that,
overall, local products are of higher quality and 53% agree that it is a
patriotic duty to buy products of national origin whenever possible.While a
significant percentage of consumers say they are indifferent, very few are
opposed to any of these claims. For example, only 9% of these would be less
likely to buy goods produced by a local company. (YouGov Italy) July 25, 2023 Source:https://it.yougov.com/news/2023/07/25/global-i-consumatori-preferiscono-acquistare-prodo/ A New International
Yougov Survey, Conducted In 12 Countries, Looks At Favourability Towards
Having To Travel By Ten Forms Of Transportation A new international YouGov survey,
conducted in 12 countries, looks at favourability towards having to travel by
ten forms of transportation (including walking).Walking is the most
favourable way of getting about in most countries, although notably not in
the US where the 74% with a positive opinion of getting around on foot is
lower than the 77% for driving in a car or the 81% for being a passenger in a
car. This is also the lowest favourability score for walking of all the
countries in the study. (YouGov UK) July 26, 2023 China’s Approach To
Foreign Policy Gets Largely Negative Reviews In 24-Country Survey Views of China are broadly negative
across 24 countries in a new Pew Research Center survey: A median of 67% of
adults express unfavorable views of the country, while 28% have a favorable
opinion.Negative views extend to evaluations of China’s international
actions. Despite several high-profile diplomatic initiatives by Beijing over
the past year – such as brokering a peace deal
between Saudi Arabia and Iran and issuing a 12-point proposal for the
end of violence in Ukraine – a median of 71% think China does not contribute to
global peace and stability. (PEW) JULY 27, 2023 ASIA
805-43-01/Polls Survey: 57% Of Companies Foresee Price Hikes This Year
More than half of major companies plan
to raise prices for clients and consumers by the end of the year or believe
price increases may occur, a survey by The Asahi Shimbun found. Of 100 companies surveyed between July
3-14, 33 said they plan to increase the prices of their products or services
between July and December. A further 24 said increases are a possibility. "Increased raw material prices and
transportation costs have weighed heavily on our operations," Naomi
Ishii, executive vice president of Suzuki Motor Corp., told the survey.
"We cannot offset them by reducing expenses and cutting down on
costs." Tamotsu Hiiro, president of McDonald's
Holdings Co. (Japan), said, “The yen’s depreciation and the spike in raw
material prices, which started last year, are expected to stay.” Of the 57 companies, 53 have already
raised prices between January 2022 and June this year. Only 13 respondents said they will not
raise prices. This group included financial companies. The remaining 30 companies gave other
answers. The prices of resources and raw
materials rose sharply after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year. They
have been buoyed by a recovery in demand since the COVID-19 pandemic eased. The yen’s depreciation on the back of
interest rate hikes by U.S. and European central banks has also pushed up
prices of goods and services because imports are more expensive. The survey asked the 57 companies that
plan price increases or believe hikes may occur to say why. They could choose
up to two reasons for their answer. In all, 53 companies cited increased
energy and raw material costs. Twenty mentioned the weakening yen and more
expensive imports. Some cited human resources. Eleven
companies attributed the hikes to improvements in the treatment of their
workers. A further 10 companies cited advances in
quality and performance. Some companies said consumers are
embracing higher prices. “We feel that customers have taken a
break from their saving-oriented lifestyles and have come to accept price
increases,” said Naoya Araki, president of H2O Retailing Corp., whose
subsidiary operates the Hankyu and Hanshin department stores. Makoto Tani, chairman of Skylark
Holdings Co., said the company has differentiated prices at its restaurant
chains based on where the outlets are located. It has hiked prices in urban
areas but kept them low in rural areas where diners are returning only slowly. Tani said the average spending per
customer has risen overall. Kensuke Hosomi, president of FamilyMart
Co., said sales of fried chicken, coffee and other items have remained more
or less unchanged since the convenience store chain raised prices last year. “We are gaining customers’ understanding
for price increases,” Hosomi said. He added that products on the market
will be divided into two groups: high added-value items with higher price
tags, and items that are strategically kept at low prices. (Asahi Shimbun) July 24, 2023 Source:https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14964498 805-43-02/Polls 76% Of Corporate Leaders Say Japan’s Economy Is ‘Expanding’
Business confidence has dramatically
improved after COVID-19 was downgraded to the equivalent of seasonal flu. An Asahi Shimbun survey of business
sentiment among 100 major companies nationwide found that 76 viewed the
domestic economy as “expanding” or “gradually expanding.” The finding represents an increase of 30
companies from the previous survey last November. Many corporate leaders are optimistic
that economic activity and personal consumption are on the rise now that the
novel coronavirus has lost its “scare” factor. However, concerns remain about labor
shortages and a slowdown in overseas economies that could impact Japan. The Asahi Shimbun conducted the survey
from July 3 to 14. Seventy-five companies responded that
the domestic economy is “gradually expanding.” One company said it is
“expanding.” Twenty-two companies viewed the economy
as “at a standstill.” The figure was half that of the previous survey late
last year. When asked to choose up to two reasons
for their assessment, most companies, 71, cited “personal consumption.” Asked about the prospects for personal
consumption over the next three months, 74 companies expected a “gradual
recovery,” up from 44 in the previous survey. “The mindset of consumers toward
spending has improved,” said Taro Fujie, president of Ajinomoto Co. “We are
at the beginning of a cycle where wage increases are linked to appropriate
price hikes.” Chiharu Fujioka, managing officer of
Mitsui Fudosan Co., noted that hotel occupancy rates exceeded 80 percent, and
that “the average daily rate is higher than in 2019 before the pandemic.” In addition to the easing of
pandemic-related restrictions on social activities, the influx of foreign
visitors following the lifting of entry curbs is a positive factor. Tatsuya Yoshimoto, president of J. Front
Retailing Co., said that along with an increase in domestic travelers and
foreign tourists, “customer numbers and sales at department stores and
shopping centers have grown.” “Business activity at large-scale stores
near stations, which had been slow to recover, has also significantly
improved,” he said. Forty-three companies cited “capital
investment” as a reason for their assessment. Fifty-one companies answered that they
will increase their domestic capital investment in the current fiscal year
compared to the previous fiscal year. Ichiro Ozeki, president of Secom Co.,
said his company has received many inquiries about access control systems. “Investments in facilities aimed at
improving work efficiency and saving labor are increasing amid growing labor
shortages caused by the recovery from the pandemic,” he said. On the other hand, senior officials of
companies who view the domestic economy as “at a standstill” voiced concern
about labor shortages and the slowdown of overseas economies. “While demand for construction is
strong, there are delays in projects due to a lack of manpower,” said Nobuaki
Nara, president of Tokyo Steel Manufacturing Co. Turning to the global economy, 51
companies took a cautious view, saying it is “at a standstill.” Takahiro Mori, vice president of Nippon
Steel Corp., said, “There are also downside risks, such as the tightening of
monetary policy by central banks in the United States and Europe and the
downturn in the Chinese economy.” (Asahi Shimbun) July 25, 2023 Source:https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14965289 805-43-03/Polls Survey: Japan Inc. Bullish On AI, Already In Use At 41% Of
Companies
More than 90 percent of major Japanese
companies are considering using or have already adopted generative artificial
intelligence in their operations, but many cite data breaches and
authenticity as concerns, a survey by The Asahi Shimbun found. Of 100 companies surveyed, 41 said they
are already using generative AI, while 50 said they are considering using it. Two companies expressed a negative
stance on AI. They had either banned it or were considering banning its use. One company said it has no plans to use
the technology. The remaining six gave other responses. The poll was conducted between July
3-14. The 91 companies using or considering
generative AI were asked to state why and could pick from a list of
activities. Multiple answers were allowed. “Improving operational efficiency” was
the choice of 80 companies. In second place was “summarizing,
analyzing and correcting texts,” which was picked by 64. In all, 61 companies selected
“chatbots,” or automated services that answer questions. Generative AI entered mainstream
business use after the success of ChatGPT, which was released in November by
U.S. company OpenAI. “(Generative AI) will likely change our
business operations in a big way,” said Koji Nagai, president of Nomura
Holdings Co., the parent of brokerage Nomura Securities Co. The company is using generative AI to
draft emails and documents, and to summarize texts. Jun Ohta, president of Sumitomo Mitsui
Financial Group Inc., said the company released a generative AI tool to
domestic branches of subsidiary Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. in July. It
helps employees to gather information and write documents. Yoshinari Kitajima, president of Dai
Nippon Printing Co., said 30,000 employees began using generative AI at the
end of May. They use it to produce automated minutes of meetings from audio
recordings and to prepare schedules. At Asahi Group Holdings Ltd., which has
Asahi Breweries Ltd. and other companies under its umbrella, about 100
employees are participating in a trial project that started in May. The
project aims to improve the efficiency of company operations using generative
AI. FamilyMart Co. plans to introduce a
generative AI assistant at 5,000 convenience stores by the end of March to
help store managers order merchandise based on weather conditions and sales
records at other outlets. Meanwhile, the survey asked the
companies about what worries them about AI. Again, they chose from a list and
multiple answers were allowed. Ninety-five companies selected
“security, such as information leakages.” In all, 85 expressed concerns over
“verification of (information) authenticity and spread of false information.” “Copyright” was cited by 74 companies,
and “protection of personal information” was chosen by 71 companies. “The primary challenge is how much we
can ensure security and authenticity of contents,” said Ryuichiro Nishiyama,
president of Seibu Holdings Inc., whose subsidiaries operate Seibu Railway
and Prince Hotels. Takeshi Matsui, executive vice president
of Osaka Gas Co., said, “It is important that users are willing to ascertain
the authenticity (of information) and are capable of doing that.” Tokio Marine Holdings Inc. began using
generative AI in June to draft replies to inquiries from insurance agencies
on a trial basis. Kenji Okada, senior managing director, said employees
double-check the replies to ensure their accuracy. Some companies said it will take time
before generative AI brings about a real impact on business operations. “While (generative AI) holds potential
in many aspects, time is needed before governance and rules are established,”
said Masahiko Uotani, chairman and CEO of cosmetics maker Shiseido Co.
Shiseido plans to use ChatGPT in-house. “We should be ready to promptly respond
to future changes,” Uotani said. Fumiaki Koizumi, chairman of Mercari
Inc., said, “Technologies will improve rapidly next year or the year after.
Companies that can keep up with the changes will survive and those that
cannot will be eliminated.” (Asahi Shimbun) July 26, 2023 Source:https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14966290 805-43-04/Polls Pakistanis Oppose Two Educational Systems In Their Country: Only
21% Of Pakistanis Support British Managed Education In Pakistani Schools, 57%
Oppose; Opposition Mounting Over A Decade, Reason Cited: It Is Disruptive Of
Social Cohesion
In a Gallup & Gilani Pakistan
National Survey conducted in the year 2013, a representative sample of adult
men and women from across Pakistan was asked the following question, “Some
people think parallel-running of the O/A levels and matriculation/FSC
education systems is generating a rift amongst the Pakistani youth whereas
others don’t think this is the case. What do you think about this?” In
response to this question, 44% said it was creating a rift, 38% replied that
that was not the case and 18% either did not know or did not respond.
Comparative Picture: This question was asked again in 2023 to allow a
comparison to be made across the years. In 2023, 57% said that it was
creating a rift, 21% replied that that was not the case and 22% either did
not know or did not respond. Trend Analysis: The proportion of people who
believe that parallel running these education systems is creating a rift has
increased by 13%, while those that believe that that it is not the case have
decreased by 17% between 2013 and 2023.
(Gallup Pakistan) July 25, 2023 Source:https://gallup.com.pk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/25.07.23-History-poll-2.pdf 805-43-05/Polls Gallup Pakistan Analysis Of World Bank Enterprise Survey
1. Percent of firms that introduced a
new product/service Only 3% of firms in Pakistan introduced
a new product or service, 8 times less than the regional average (25%) and 12
times less than the global average (36%). The use of innovation in business
practices helps make processes more efficient and operations smoother. It
allows technological advancement to speed up and enables a business to stay
relevant. With an exponentially lower percentage of firms within Pakistan
introducing new products and services, the rate of growth could get impacted.
Innovation drives competition and is beneficial for both the suppliers and
the consumers, since novel solutions also see a surge in demand and
customers’ propensity to pay for a product or service.
A sector-wise breakdown reveals that the
services sectors of Pakistan and South Asia are both doing better compared to
the manufacturing sectors when it comes to introducing new products and
services. This could either be because the services sector is absolutely more
innovative than its counterpart, or since it is less developed relative to
the manufacturing sector, there is more room for innovation. The same
analysis could be applied to the services sector of South Asia. On the other hand, in all countries as a
whole, the manufacturing sector is 5% more innovative compared to the
services sector, given that the metric for innovation is introducing a new
product or service. This could be because manufacturing and retail businesses
typically have higher room for growth through diversification and tweaking
steps in different processes.
Breaking down the percentage of firms
that have introduced a new product or service according to firm size reveals
interesting insights. The trend in South Asia and the world shows that large
firms are the most innovative (39% in South Asia and 48% in Pakistan)
followed by medium firms (32% in South Asia and 42% globally), with small
firms being the least innovative (22% in South Asia and 33% firms across the
world). d However, in the case of Pakistan, it is
the medium sized firms that are more innovative than both small and large
firms. Only 2% of small firms and 4% of large firms have introduced new
products or services, but the number is 5% for medium sized firms. This could
be an indication of a growing number of medium sized firms that are valuing
innovation and new ideas. Such a sign is positive for the economy because as
these medium sized firms grow into larger businesses, the impact they will
have on innovation will become even greater. Regardless, the percentage of
firms in Pakistan engaging in introducing new products and services is still
much lower compared to the region and the world, and will require significant
time and effort to catch up. Catching up is important to ensure that the
products and services the country exports are up to the standards of a
growing global technological space and constantly improving
standards. 2. Percent of firms whose new
product/service is also new to the main market
There are no Pakistani firms, out of the
1300 surveyed, whose new product or service is also new to the main market.
This means that out of the 3% who have introduced new products or services,
none have been novel to the market itself, even if they were new for the
company. Compared to Pakistan, there have been 52% such firms in South Asia
and 68% in the world. These figures are particularly bleak because even if a
firm is innovative in its own capacity, those advances may eventually grow
redundant if the business is not contributing novel ideas to the market. Let
alone the world, Pakistan is also very behind in the South Asian region as
well.
Even in terms of firms that introduced
process innovations, Pakistan is very behind South Asia and the world in
general. In fact, South Asia is ahead of the global average as well,
indicating the rapid growth of technology and innovation in the region. Only
2% of the firms in Pakistan introduced process innovation, compared to 32% in
South Asia and 27% in the world. This means that for every Pakistani firm
that innovates its process, there are 16 firms in South Asia and more than 13
firms in the world doing so. This also adds extra pressure on the firms that
are being innovative in the first place.
A sector-wise breakdown of process
innovation for firms in Pakistan reveals that even within the small
percentage of firms doing so, the proportion of those in the services
industry is higher than those in the manufacturing industry. 2% of service-oriented
businesses have introduced new process innovations compared to 1%
manufacturing businesses. Processes are vital in manufacturing related
industries in order to make production more cost-effective while also
improving quality. Innovation in this regard gains and retains not only local
but also foreign customers. These numbers also imply that the services sector
is also strong in terms of innovation, and perhaps with more attention paid
to it, could make up for the deficit in innovative practices and processes by
the manufacturing sector in the short run. 3. Research and Development Only 2% of the firms in Pakistan spend
on research and development. 10 times more firms across the world do so
(20%). South Asia is somewhere in the middle with 12% of firms spending on
research and development.
Research and development is an aspect of
business that may not yield immediate profits and thus might get overlooked,
but its long term benefits can be attested by the percentage of firms
worldwide allocating parts of their budgets towards it. Even though
Pakistan’s economy is a growing one, shifting some focus on research and
development early on would ensure a sustained growth in businesses and may
contribute to lower costs as new methods are discovered and devised.
Of the 2% manufacturing firms that
invest in research and development, 6% of firms in the motor vehicles and
transport equipment industry claim to do so, followed by 5% in the food
industry. These are positive signs as investment in the transport industry
could lower transport costs as well as wear and tear on products. Similarly,
new innovations and research in the food industry has the potential to
mitigate health risks that may arise and can bring Pakistan’s food industry
to a position where it may start exporting as well. (Gallup Pakistan) July 25, 2023 Source:https://gallup.com.pk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/WES-PR6-Innovation-Technology.pdf MENA
805-43-06/Polls Views On Sustainability - KSA Edition
The vast majority (95%) of individuals
in Saudi Arabia are familiar with the term sustainability, where they
primarily associate it with the conservation of natural resources and
renewable energy sources. When it comes to actions taken to live
more sustainably, the majority of the population (9 in 10) have also taken
steps towards a more sustainable lifestyle although these tend to be actions
that require easy to medium effort such as using low-energy lightbulbs. While
4 out of 5 express a willingness to make lifestyle compromises to benefit the
environment, 3 in 5 are unclear about specific actions that could make a
difference in addressing climate change. In terms of corporate responsibility,
56% believe that companies in Saudi Arabia lack in terms of supporting
sustainability and ethical best practices but consider technology companies
and oil and gas companies to be the most active on sustainability. Moreover, when considering the overall
cost implications of sustainable practices, around half of individuals
believe that the responsibility for expenses should lie with governments. On
the other hand, 1 in 4 are open to personally bearing the costs themselves
showing their support and contribution to sustainability. (Ipsos Saudi Arabia) 27 July 2023 Source:https://www.ipsos.com/en-sa/views-sustainability-ksa-edition 805-43-07/Polls Kenyans Want Government To Prioritise Environmental Protection,
Even At The Expense Of Job Creation
Key findings On pollution and environmental
governance: Half (49%) of Kenyans say pollution is a
“somewhat serious” or “very serious” problem in their community. o Citizens
say deforestation (31%), trash disposal (25%), pollution of water sources
(14%), and sanitation (14%) are the most important environmental issues in
their community. o Eight out of 10 citizens (79%) say plastic bags are a
major source of pollution in Kenya. More than half (55%) of respondents
say the primary responsibility for reducing pollution and keeping the
community clean rests with ordinary citizens. About one third would assign
this responsibility to their local (25%) or national governments (10%).
An overwhelmingly majority (91%) of Kenyans say the government should do more
to limit pollution and protect the environment, including 74% who want the
government to do “much more.” Three-fourths (75%) of citizens say the
government should prioritise environmental protection over job creation and
income generation. On natural resource
extraction: Public opinion is evenly divided as to
whether the benefits of natural resource extraction, such as jobs and
revenue, outweigh associated environmental costs. o Respondents are also
divided on whether ordinary people have a voice in decisions about natural
resource extraction that occurs near their communities. o Only 35% think that
local communities receive a fair share of revenue from natural resource
extraction. A large majority (85%) of Kenyans want the government to
regulate natural resource extraction more tightly in order to reduce its
negative impacts on the environment. Pollution and environmental
governance Pollution: The scope of the
problem Half (49%) of Kenyans consider pollution
in their communities to be a “very serious” (28%) or “somewhat serious” (21%)
problem, while the other half (50%) think it is “not very serious” (31%) or
“not at all serious” (20%)1 (Figure 1).
Urban residents are significantly more concerned
about pollution than rural residents (63% vs. 43%) (Figure 2).
Concerns about pollution also increase
sharply with one’s experience of poverty, ranging from 35% among
well-off respondents to 59% among those with high lived poverty. Three out of every 10 Kenyans (31%) rank
deforestation as the most important environmental issue in their community,
followed by trash disposal (25%), human waste management (14%), pollution of
water sources (14%), and air pollution (6%) (Figure 3).
And despite a ban on single-use plastic
bags in place since 2017 (Kimeu, 2023), eight out of 10 citizens (79%) say
that plastic bags are a major source of pollution in Kenya (Figure
4).
Protecting the environment Efforts to combat pollution encompass a
wide spectrum of actions, ranging from increasing the use of renewable energy
and reusable shopping bags to the dismantling of the coal burning industry.
For Kenyans, protecting the environment starts with an individual
responsibility: More than half (55%) of respondents say ordinary citizens
have the primary responsibility for reducing pollution and keeping their
communities clean (Figure 5).
Aside from individual initiative, a
quarter (25%) of Kenyans would instead place that responsibility on the local
government, while 10% would look to the national government, 3% to business
and industry, and 3% to traditional leaders. Overall, Kenyans are almost evenly
divided in their assessments of the government’s performance on reducing
pollution and protecting the environment: Half (50%) think it is doing
“fairly well” or “very well,” while an almost equal proportion (47%) rate its
efforts poorly (Figure 6).
Urban residents offer less favourable
ratings of government efforts to reduce pollution and protect the environment
than rural residents (46% vs. 52%). And approval is notably lower among poor
respondents (38%) and those with no formal education (41%) than among their
better-off and more educated counterparts. While ratings of the government’s
performance are mixed, Kenyans overwhelmingly (91%) say the government should
do more to limit pollution and protect the environment, including 74% who
want the government to do “much more” (Figure 7).
Only about one in 10 think the
government should keep doing what it is currently doing (5%) or should do
less (4%) to protect the environment. Even if policies to protect the
environment come into conflict with job creation or income generation,
three-fourths (75%) of Kenyans say the government should prioritise
environmental protection, including 52% who “strongly agree” with this
approach (Figure 8).
Only 20% of respondents say the
government should focus more on creating jobs and increasing incomes even if
doing so leads to greater environmental damage. Support for prioritising
environmental protection over jobs and incomes is somewhat weaker among
citizens experiencing high lived poverty (70%) and those with no formal
education (65%). Natural resource extraction Mining of soda ash, limestone, gold, and
other minerals currently contributes only about 1% of Kenya’s GDP, but its
potential is estimated at 10% of GDP (Republic of Kenya, 2016; Onditi, 2022),
which would make it a major source of revenue but possibly also a significant
contributor to environmental pollution. Almost half (46%) of Kenyans say the
benefits that natural resource extraction brings to the economy in terms of
revenue and job creation outweigh the industry’s environmental costs, but
about the same proportion (44%) disagree (Figure 9).
Opinions are less divided when it comes
to regulating natural resource extraction: 85% of Kenyans want the government
to tighten regulation to reduce the industry’s negative impacts on the
environment. But respondents are divided again in
their assessments when it comes to the stake of ordinary citizens in natural
resource extraction (Figure 10).
While 44% of respondents say that people
have a voice in decisions about natural resource extraction that takes place
near their communities, 47% think they don’t. And only three out of 10
citizens think local communities receive a fair share of the revenues from
natural resource extraction, while a majority 54% disagree. Conclusion Survey results show that many Kenyans
are concerned about pollution and feel a personal responsibility to protect
the environment. But they also expect “much more” from the government on this
issue – even to the point of prioritising environmental protection over job
creation should the two goals be in conflict. As one step to safeguard the
environment, tighter regulation of natural resource extraction has
overwhelming public support. Poor citizens are particularly likely to see
pollution as a serious problem and to give the government poor marks on
protecting the environment, suggesting that mitigation of environmental
degradation may be especially urgent in less affluent communities. (Afrobarometer) 27 July 2023 WEST EUROPE
805-43-08/Polls Twitter Users Increasingly Negative About Elon Musk And The
Company
Almost half now say there is too much
freedom to post whatever you want on the platform Yesterday, Elon Musk announced that the
platform formerly known as Twitter was rebranding to ‘X’, replacing the iconic blue bird logo. Musk has
reportedly long had a fascination with the letter X, with his X.com being one
of first business ventures – while the company was later merged with PayPal,
he retained the domain name, which now redirects to Twitter. A new YouGov poll shows that two thirds
of Twitter users (67%) have reacted negatively to the new ‘X’ branding,
including 41% who feel “very negatively” about the change. These figures are
about the same among the platform’s most frequent users. Just 4% of all users feel positively
about the rebranding to ‘X’, while 21% are indifferent.
The British public, as well as Twitter
users, take an increasingly negative view of Elon Musk Since our first poll in April last year
– shortly after Musk initiated his acquisition of Twitter – recognition of
the tech tycoon has increased significantly. Back then, 63% of Britons had an
opinion on Elon Musk; now 79% do. This has been a case of familiarity
breeding contempt, however. While 40% of Britons had an unfavourable view of
Musk in April 2022, this figure had increased to 54% in December, and to 61%
now. About one in five Britons (19%) have a
favourable opinion of the Twitter owner, about the same as it was in December
(18%), but lower than his starting figure of 23% in April. Musk’s favourability among Twitter users
has likewise been declined. Among all users, 27% had a favourable view and
49% an unfavourable one in April 2022. Those figures now stand at 20% and 67%
respectively. Among daily users, Musk’s favourability
has dropped from 29% in April last year to 21% now, while the number with a
negative view has risen from 50% to 67%.
Twitter’s own reputation has declined
since Elon Musk started to acquire the platform Most Britons (54%) have a negative view
of Twitter itself, up from 50% in December and 45% in April 2022. The
proportion with a positive view remains the same as last time (21%), although
this is down from 26% in our first poll. Among daily Twitter users, two thirds
continue to have a favourable view of the platform (67%, from 72% in spring
2022), but the number with an unfavourable view has increased from 27% to
33%. Among all users, favourability has
fallen from 51% to 40%, while negativity has increased from 35% to 48%.
Twitter users increasingly say there is
too much free speech on the platform When Musk acquired Twitter, he made
clear his desire to promote greater freedom of speech on the platform. Even at the time, however, there was a
tendency among Twitter users to believe the platform gave people too much
freedom to post offensive and harmful content. One in three users in April
2022 (37%) said so, compared to only 14% taking the opposing view that
Twitter did not give people enough freedom to post what they want. A quarter
(27%) thought the platform got the balance right. Following 15 months with Musk at the
helm, Twitter users are even more inclined to think the platform gives people
too much leeway to post what they want, at 47%. Only 21% now think Twitter
gets the balance right, while 13% say freedom of speech is not strong enough
on the platform.
Most Twitter users say that Musk’s
takeover has been bad for the platform The public continue to think that Elon
Musk buying Twitter has been bad for the social network. More than four in
ten say so (44%), up from 38% in December. About the same number say it has
been neither good nor bad as last time (18%), while just 4% think Musk’s
ownership has been good for Twitter (from 8% in December). Twitter users are even more convinced
the takeover was a bad move: 55% of all users, including 59% of daily users
say so. In April 2022, only 30-32% had expected this would be the case.
How has Twitter usage changed in the
last year? Asked how frequently they used Twitter
12 months ago, and today, a quarter of people who say they were using Twitter
a year ago say they’re using it less today than they were at the time (25%).
They are partly counteracted by the 15% who say they are using it more than
before. Most (59%) say that they are using it about the same as they were.
Few (4%) say they no longer use the platform at all, again balanced by the 3%
of current Twitter users say they joined the platform in the last year. Eight in ten of those who used Twitter
on a daily basis last year (80%) say they continue to do so, with a further 10%
continuing to use the platform multiple times per week. Only 2% say they have
no longer visit the social network. (YouGov UK) July 27, 2023 805-43-09/Polls Majority Of Britons Support Government Regulation Of AI To Prevent
Job Losses, With Few Expecting It To Create More Job Opportunities Than Those
That Are Lost
·
2 in 3 (64%) Britons agree the
government should create new regulations or laws to prevent the potential
loss of jobs due to AI; 14% disagree ·
Half (50%) think their job will be
affected by AI in the next 12 months, increasing to 64% in the next 5 years ·
Only 1 in 8 (12%) think AI will create
far more new job opportunities than the jobs that are lost; over half (55%)
disagree ·
Graduates are more likely than non-graduates
to anticipate their job being affected by AI, and graduates are also much
more likely to agree that businesses should embrace AI in the workplace if it
saves time / resources (60%, vs 40% among non-graduates) New polling from Ipsos shows that only 1
in 8 (12%) think AI will create far more new job opportunities than the jobs
that are lost; over half (55%) disagree. To mitigate this, 2 in 3 (64%) agree
the government should create new regulations or laws to prevent the potential
loss of jobs due to AI, with just 14% disagreeing. Despite concerns about
loss of jobs without government intervention, nearly half (46%) agree that
businesses should embrace AI in the workplace if it saves time and resources
– a view more common amongst university graduates (60%) compared to
non-graduates (46%).
When presented with a list of sectors
and asked which, if any, they thought would be most likely to see reduced
work opportunities due to AI within the next 2-3 years, more than half
selected customer service sectors (61%) and manufacturing (55%). By contrast,
the least commonly selected sectors included the care sector (4%), healthcare
(10%), teaching (13%), and professional services (14%). Thinking about how they expect
improvement in AI to impact their own jobs, half of UK adults currently in
work (50%) anticipate their job being affected in some capacity within the
next 12 months, rising to 2 in 3 (64%) who expect to be impacted within the
next 5 years (mainly through AI helping them to do some aspects of their job,
but leaving their main work activities unaffected). By contrast, 4 in 10
(43%) expect AI to have no impact on their job within the same period, a
share that falls to 26% when looking ahead to 5 years from now. In each time
frame, graduates are much more likely than non-graduates to anticipate
changes to their job – though low numbers in either group expect their jobs
to cease to exist altogether.
1 in 5 (22%) in work have used an
Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot for work since April Among those in work, 1 in 5 (22%) say
they’ve used an AI chatbot (such as ChatGPT, Jasper, or Bard) to support
their work or business since the start of April, with a further 17% saying
they’ve used an AI chatbot for a non-work purpose. Graduates (27%) are more
likely than non-graduates (18%) to have used the tool in a work capacity. The
most common way AI chatbots have been used in a work capacity is to polish or
amend content someone has written, selected by 25% of those who have used an
AI chatbot for work. The least common task was analysing datasets (12%).
Trinh Tu, Managing Director of Public
Affairs at Ipsos, said: Generative AI has great potential to
impact UK workplaces, but at the moment public attitudes towards AI are still
feeling their way. While only a small minority expect their jobs to be made
redundant due to AI, there is scepticism that it will lead to a big net
increase in job opportunities, and most would welcome regulation or laws from
the government to prevent potential job losses. At the moment, use of AI
chatbots for work is not unusual but still a minority, and broadly workers
see it helping them to do their job rather than leading to substantial
change, but expectations are that it will grow in the future. Even so,
British businesses should be encouraged by the public’s pragmatic openness to
adopting the new technology, provided it allows for measurable benefits to
how businesses can operate. (Ipsos MORI) 26 July 2023 805-43-10/Polls Food Standard Agency's Flagship Survey Shows 1 In 4 People Are
Now Food Insecure
The key findings from Wave 6 of Food and
You 2 are outlined below. Food you can trust Confidence in food safety and
authenticity ·
93% of respondents reported that they
were confident that the food they buy is safe to eat. ·
87% of respondents were confident that
the information on food labels is accurate. Confidence in the food supply chain ·
76% of respondents reported that they
had confidence in the food supply chain. ·
Respondents were more likely to report
confidence in farmers (88%) and shops and supermarkets (85%) than in
takeaways (62%), and food delivery services (45%). Awareness, trust and confidence in the
FSA ·
90% of respondents had heard of the
FSA. ·
78% of respondents who had at least
some knowledge of the FSA reported that they trusted the FSA to make sure
'food is safe and what it says it is.' While 82% of respondents reported that
they were confident that the FSA (or the government agency responsible for
food safety) can be relied upon to protect the public from food-related risks
(such as food poisoning or allergic reactions from food), 82% were confident
that the FSA takes appropriate action if a food-related risk is identified
and 79% were confident that the FSA is committed to communicating openly with
the public about food-related risks. Concerns about food ·
82% of respondents had no concerns
about the food they eat, and 18% if respondents reported that they had a
concern. ·
When prompted, the most common concern
was food prices (65%). Other common concerns were food waste (62%), the
quality of food (61%), and the amount of food packaging (56%). Food Security ·
Across England, Wales and Northern
Ireland, 75% of respondents were classified as food secure (61% high, 14%
marginal and 25% of respondents were classified as food insecure (12% low,
12% very low). ·
80% of respondents reported that they
had made a change to their eating habits for financial reasons in the
previous 12 months. Eating out and takeaways ·
43% of respondents reported checking
the food hygiene rating of a business in the previous 12 months. ·
86% of respondents reported that they
had heard of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS). Over half (55%) of
respondents reported that they had heard of the FHRS and had at least a bit
of knowledge about it. Food allergies, intolerances and other
hypersensitivities ·
12% of respondents reported that they
had a food intolerance, 5% reported having a food allergy, and 1% reported
having coeliac disease. Most respondents (78%) reported that they did not
have a food hypersensitivity. ·
26% of respondents who had a food
hypersensitivity had been diagnosed by an NHS or private medical practitioner
and 5% had been diagnosed by an alternative or complementary therapist.
However, most respondents (74%) had not received any diagnosis. ·
56% of respondents who had a food
hypersensitivity reported that they had experienced a reaction in the
previous 12 months and 39% reported that they had not experienced a reaction.
90% of respondents who go food shopping and take into consideration a person
who has a food allergy or intolerance were confident the information provided
on food labelling allows them to identify foods that will cause a bad or
unpleasant physical reaction. Eating at home Cleaning ·
46% of respondents reported that they
always wash their hands before eating. ·
72% of respondents reported that they
always wash their hands before preparing or cooking food. 91% of respondents
reported that they always wash their hands immediately after handling raw
meat, poultry, or fish. Chilling ·
62% of respondents reported that their
fridge temperature should be between 0 to 5 degrees Celsius. ·
61% of respondents who have a fridge
reported that they monitored the temperature; either manually (49%) or via an
internal temperature alarm (11%). Cooking ·
89% of respondents reported that they
never eat chicken or turkey when it is pink or has pink juices. However, 9%
of respondents reported eating chicken or turkey at least occasionally when
it is pink or has pink juices. Avoiding cross-contamination ·
56% of respondents reported that they
never wash raw chicken, however 40% of respondents reported that they do this
at least occasionally. ·
76% of respondents reported that they
always cook food until it is steaming hot and cooked all the way through. Use-by dates ·
65% of respondents identified the
use-by-date as the information which shows that food is no longer safe to
eat. ·
64% of respondents reported that they
always check use-by-dates before they cook or prepare food. (Ipsos MORI) 26 July 2023 805-43-11/Polls One In Four Britons Think Climate Change Is Out Of Control
·
Public concern remains high. Two-thirds
say we are already feeling the effects of climate change ·
More than half say there is still time
to deal with the issue – but public confidence in Britain’s leaders is low. The latest Ipsos Political Monitor,
taken 19th to 23rd July, 2023 explored public attitudes towards climate
change, how the government is dealing with the issue and whether Labour would
do a better job. The results found strong levels of concern among the public,
although more than half still think there is time to deal with it. Yet faith
in Britain’s leaders appears low. 6 in 10 think the Conservative government
is doing a bad job dealing with it, yet less than three in ten think Labour
would do a better job. Concern about climate change
·
Three in four Britons think climate
change is a serious global threat (77%), with one in four (25%) saying it is
out of control but just over half (52%) saying there is still time to deal
with it. ·
More generally, 77% of Britons are
concerned about climate change / global warming. This is down from 84% last
July (during last summer’s heatwave). However, concern is greater than ten
years ago (60% in 2013). ·
41% are ‘very concerned’. Women (47%),
ABC1s (46%) and graduates (50%) are the most likely groups to be ‘very
concerned’. ·
23% are not concerned (up from 15% last
July but down from 34% ten years ago). ·
65% think we are already feeling the
effects of climate change. This is down 7 points from last July but similar
to the 67% in April 2022.
·
Turning specifically to the recent hot
weather in Europe. 35% think this is mainly caused by climate change as a
result of human activity. 47% think this was partly caused by natural weather
processes and partly caused by climate change as a result of human activity.
16% say this was mainly caused by natural weather processes and 3% say they
don’t know. Faith in Britain’s leaders ·
Just one in four think Rishi Sunak’s
government are doing a good job dealing with climate change (26%) and 59% say
they are doing a bad job. A year ago, Boris Johnson’s government registered
scores of 29% good job and 55% bad job. ·
However, less than three in ten think
Labour would do a better job (28%), with almost half (48%) saying they’d do
about the same and 15% saying they would do worse.
Gideon Skinner, Head of Political
Research at Ipsos, said: It may not be quite as high up the
public’s agenda as the cost of living or the NHS, but this data shows that
most Britons are still worried about the threat climate change poses to the
world. One in 4 think it is out of control – although while still
taking the threat seriously twice as many believe there is still time to deal
with it. Concern is shared across all ages, and among 2019 voters of
all parties - although more intensely among Labour than Conservative ones. People on balance believe the costs of
inaction will outweigh the costs of measures to reduce climate change, and
are looking for action from government as well as individuals and businesses.
However at the moment they don't think Rishi Sunak's government is doing a
very good job on it - although there isn't a lot of confidence that a Labour
government would do a better job either. (Ipsos MORI) 27 July 2023 Source:https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/one-four-britons-think-climate-change-out-control 805-43-12/Polls On The Highway, 27% Of French People Admit To Throwing Waste Out
Of The Window Of Their Car
Even though 88% of French people say
they are concerned about environmental issues, the 2023 edition of the survey
illustrates the difficulty of changing their behavior to limit their environmental
impact. For the second year in a row, 27% of them, or more than 1 in 4, say
they throw their waste out of their vehicle window when driving on the
highway. Even more alarmingly, this practice is paradoxically increasing
among young people under 35, who are 42% to admit to doing so – up 6 points
compared to 2022. The habit of throwing cigarette butts out the car window,
particularly worrying in this summer period with regard to the risk of fire,
is declining very slightly, but still concerns nearly 1 in 4 smokers (24%
down 2 points). These uncivil and dangerous behaviours have serious
consequences on the environment as well as on the safety of users and
intervention personnel, consequences that are too often neglected. Every day,
on average, 25 tons of litter are collected along highways by highway agents. Litter does not weaken... Whether on the highway or on the street,
the litter does not weaken, or even increases among those under 35. The
French, regardless of their age, say they are overwhelmingly concerned about
environmental issues (88%) and more than a third of them (35%) even say they
are very concerned. A declared concern that does not translate sufficiently
into the adoption of simple and environmentally friendly actions such as
putting waste in a garbage can.
A relaxation that goes hand in hand with
a lower awareness of the consequences of these behaviors The awareness that throwing waste
through the window of a car can lead to significant risks has decreased
significantly compared to 2022 with regard to: ·
The risk of water and soil pollution
(66%, -7 points); ·
Risks to biodiversity (65%, -6 points); ·
Fire risk (64%, -5 points); ·
The risk of accidents affecting
motorway staff who have to pick them up (59%, -9 points). On average, every
day, 25 tons of litter are collected by highway workers along highways; ·
Or the risk of accidents involving
another vehicle (50%, -7 points). Logically, the level of awareness of the
risks of throwing garbage out the window is even more worrying among those
who already admit to doing it on the highway. For example, 50% are not aware
that it can lead to fires, while 46% do not see how it can have risks for
biodiversity! Concern about wildfire risks grows More than 1 in 3 French people (35%) say
they have already been affected by forest fires (+5 points), either directly,
with the evacuation of their home, holiday resort or through a blocked road
(13%, stable), or indirectly, by the degradation of biodiversity, landscape
or living environment, or by air pollution around a place they frequent
(25%+6 points).
The challenge of waste sorting Although waste sorting is now one of the
most widespread eco-gestures, the share of French people who practice it in
their daily lives seems to have reached a ceiling: if they are 91% to sort
regularly, the increase has been only 3 points since 2015. In addition, the
relaxation observed as soon as the French leave their home is confirmed since
they are 86% (+3 points compared to 2015) to do so at their holiday
destination. On motorway service areas, this relaxation is even clearer, even
if the sorting gesture has been progressing since 2015. Thus, 78% of French
people say they regularly sort their waste on the areas (+7 points compared
to 2015), 13 points less than in their daily lives. However, all areas
(services and rest) of the concessioned motorway network are equipped for selective
collection. Increasing severity in the face of
incivility Faced with the incivility and
potentially dangerous behavior of some, the French are more inclined to
express their disapproval and advocate greater severity. Even if the French
feel guilty (57%) or ashamed (19%) of throwing garbage out of their car
window, in the street or in nature, these negative feelings are not enough to
change their behavior. On the other hand, the presence of a loved one seems
more effective since, according to them, it could lead them to refrain from
throwing away (82%).
(Ipsos France) July 28, 2023 805-43-13/Polls Ahead Of U.S. Visit, About 6 In 10 Italians View Prime Minister
Giorgia Meloni Favorably
As Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
travels to the United States to meet with President
Joe Biden this
week, Italians hold largely positive opinions of Meloni’s leadership. They
also have generally favorable views of the U.S. and its president, according
to a Pew Research Center survey conducted Feb. 20-April 30, 2023. Italians’ views of Meloni by party
Nearly six-in-ten Italians (57%) have a
favorable opinion of Meloni, while 41% have a negative one. Meloni, a member of the conservative
Brothers of Italy party, is much more popular among Italians who support right-wing populist
parties than
among those who do not support these parties. These parties include three
that make up the governing right-wing coalition: Brothers of Italy, Lega and
Forza Italia. Nearly nine-in-ten or more Italians who
have a positive opinion of these parties also hold a favorable opinion of
Meloni. In comparison, around 40% or fewer of those who have unfavorable
views of these parties support Meloni. (For more information on how we classify populist
parties, read
the appendix to our recent report “Large Shares See Russia
and Putin in Negative Light, While Views of Zelenskyy More Mixed.”) In contrast, supporters of the centrist,
populist Five Star Movement and the center-left Democratic Party are less
likely than those who do not support these parties to have positive views of
Meloni. Favorability of Italian populist parties
over time
The share of Italians who have a
favorable view of right-wing populist parties in the country has risen over
the past year. Some 44% of Italians currently have a positive opinion of
Meloni’s Brothers of Italy, up from 32% in 2022. (The 2022 survey was
conducted before Meloni took office in October.) Favorable views of Forza Italia have
also increased by 12 percentage points in the past year. Currently, 42% of
Italians have a positive opinion of the party – the highest share since we
first asked about Forza Italia in 2016. Italians are also more likely to support
Lega than they were in 2022: 30% now view the party favorably. However, that share
is notably lower than the 44% who expressed support for the party in 2019.
Between 2019 and 2020, support for Lega dropped by 15 points. Overall, this increasing positive
sentiment toward right-wing populist parties in Italy aligns with a wider
European trend. Populists, particularly on the right, have won higher vote
shares in recent legislative elections than in the past. In the Netherlands,
for example, right-leaning populist parties garnered around 16% of the vote
in 2021 – a high not seen in nearly a decade of parliamentary elections. In
the most recent Italian general elections in September 2022, about
four-in-ten votes went to Brothers of Italy, Forza Italia or Lega. About a
third voted for these parties in 2018, and three-in-ten did so in 2013. (For more information on rising vote
shares for populist parties, read “Populists in Europe –
especially those on the right – have increased their vote shares in recent
elections.”) Italians’ views of Biden and the U.S.
Six-in-ten Italians view the U.S.
favorably. This largely aligns with views of the U.S. in the nine other European
countries
included in the Center survey. Supporters of Meloni’s Brothers of Italy
party, as well as those of Forza Italia, are more likely than those who do
not support these parties to hold favorable views of the U.S. However, compared with their European
counterparts, Italians are among the least confident in Biden to do the right
thing regarding world affairs. Some 57% of Italians have no confidence in
him, while 42% have at least some confidence. Only Hungarians express lower
confidence in Biden across the European countries surveyed. Italians who support the Brothers of
Italy or Forza Italia are more likely than those who do not support each
party to have confidence in Biden. For example, 48% of those who favor
Brothers of Italy also have confidence in Biden, compared with only 39% of
those who do not support the party. (PEW) JULY 25, 2023 NORTH AMERICA
805-43-14/Polls Engagement For Boomers: What They Want, How To Give It
Let’s be honest: Millennials and Gen
Zers get a lot of attention in the workplace. And for good reason -- your
younger workers are your future leaders. Every organization needs to grow the
next generation of managers and executives if they want to survive. But organizations are also in the middle
of a tight labor market, intensified by the retirement of the largest
generation in the workforce. Companies may be looking to keep their most
veteran workers longer, along with their expertise, institutional knowledge
and customer relationships. At the same time, businesses may be
looking to attract retirees to fill part-time or entry-level positions. Those
retirees have specific wants: flexibility, social wellbeing, a sense of
purpose and supplemental retirement income. Subscribe to the Gallup at Work
newsletter to create an exceptional workplace. (*) Required Supplemental income is an acute need for
many nearing retirement today. According to Gallup’s latest survey, only 39% of nonretired
Americans aged 50 to 64 think they have enough money to live comfortably in
retirement. In general, nonretirees expect to rely on income sources other
than Social Security, including part-time work, in retirement. But even if older workers think they won’t
have to retire soon, they may not achieve the ideal retirement age they’d
hoped. The mean age at which
nonretirees expect to retire is 66 years, while the actual mean age that
retirees report having retired is 62. The bottom line is that being an older
worker near or after retirement is a complex transitional time in which
income, identity, purpose and legacy are significant factors. Employers looking to retain or attract
older workers need to recognize that engagement isn’t just for young people.
All people have a desire to thrive at work and in life, no matter their age
or career stage. So, how can employers engage older
workers in ways that make sense for their career stage and life goals? A Snapshot of Older Generation
Engagement Trends As of the end of 2022, 35% of employees
in the baby boomer generation are engaged at work. That means boomers are
slightly more engaged than older millennials (33%) and Gen Xers (31%) but
have the same level of engagement as Gen Zers and younger millennials. Millennials are more likely than Gen
Xers or baby boomers to say they have experienced: ·
someone talking to them about their
progress ·
opportunities for development ·
opportunities to learn and grow Gen Xers and baby boomers are more like
to say they: ·
know what’s expected of them ·
get to do what they do best ·
have the materials and equipment they
need to do their work We might generalize by saying that
younger workers are experiencing a lot of change at their stage of life,
while older workers are experiencing the perks of stability. Getting to do
what you do best may sound simple, but it can be a deeply rewarding and
satisfying part of a job. What Older Workers Need There are three general areas of
opportunity for the engagement of older generations: development, recognition
and friendship.
1. Development is different for
late-career workers. Everyone has a human need to develop,
grow and change. For older workers, development may look more like developing
others. Experienced employees can offer knowledge, experience and a model for
success. Developing others could look like
leading a training course or providing a written account of wisdom and advice
for future leaders. It could look like one-on-one mentoring or an independent
project that would improve the organization over the long term. The important thing is for employees to
take ownership of their own development in a way that makes sense to them and
benefits the organization. 2. Recognition looks different in
retirement. Frequent recognition is important at the
start of a job or a career. Beginners want to know, “Am I doing this right?”
But for experienced workers, recognition changes. Older employees may appreciate swapping
old “war stories” or storytelling that puts a lifetime of work into
perspective. Recognition programs or habits that may resonate with younger
workers may not invigorate older workers. Older workers may not need or want
constant praise, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to feel appreciated,
admired, respected and honored. As with all employees, recognition should be
personalized to be meaningful. 3. Friendships are different when you’re
older. Baby boomers and Gen Xers are less
likely to say they have someone at work who cares about them and less likely
to say they have a best friend at work. If they’ve been at an organization
for a long time, they’ve likely seen a lot of faces change. They may feel
more disconnected from individuals, even as their commitment to their
organization and its values remains strong. But those social connections remain a
big part of why older people continue to work. So, it’s important for
managers of older workers to support the social side of work, too. Managers
should encourage friendships -- and the time those friendships take to build
-- between older and younger workers. Manage to the Individual Reaching retirement today is
complicated. Retiring employees may be dealing with multiple generations of
loved ones -- older parents, children and grandchildren -- who need their
care and support. Managing one’s finances and health can be complicated as
well. Add to the mix adapting to a diverse, multi-generational workplace --
it’s a lot! There’s no stereotypical life; everyone has their own story. But the workplace remains a rewarding
place where many older workers and retirees can enjoy contributing their
talents to something meaningful each day. By meeting the unique needs of
employees at this stage of life, leaders can provide a supportive environment
where every generation can thrive at work. (PEW) JULY 25, 2023 Source:https://www.gallup.com/workplace/509021/engagement-boomers-give.aspx 805-43-15/Polls Which U.S. Workers Are More Exposed To AI On Their Jobs
Artificial intelligence (AI) recently
gained new attention with the release of ChatGPT and Dall-E. These tools and the broader array of AI-driven business
applications
represent a new reality for workers.
Historically, changes in technology have
often automated physical tasks, such as those performed on factory
floors. But AI performs more like human brainpower and, as its reach grows,
that has raised questions about its
impact on
professional and other office jobs – questions that Pew Research Center seeks
to address in a new analysis of government data. What we found § In 2022, 19% of
American workers were in jobs that are the most exposed to AI, in which the most
important activities may be either replaced or assisted by AI. § 23% of workers
have jobs that are the least exposed to AI, in which the most important
activities are farther from the reach of AI. Other workers, nearly six-in-ten
in all, are likely to have varying levels of exposure to AI. § Jobs with a high
level of exposure to AI tend to be in higher-paying fields where a college
education and analytical skills can be a plus. Certain groups of workers have higher
levels of exposure to AI § Those with more education:
Workers with a bachelor’s degree or more (27%) are more than twice as likely
as those with a high school diploma only (12%) to see the most exposure. § Women: A greater
share of women (21%) than men (17%) are likely to see the most exposure to
AI. This is because of differences in the types
of jobs held by
men and women. § Asian and White:
Asian (24%) and White (20%) workers are more exposed than Black (15%) and
Hispanic (13%) workers. § Higher-wage
workers: In 2022, workers in the most exposed jobs earned $33 per hour, on average,
compared with $20 in jobs with the least amount of exposure. Workers seem more hopeful than concerned
about the impact of AI on their jobs § A recent Pew
Research Center survey finds that many U.S. workers in more exposed
industries do not feel their jobs are at risk – they are more likely to say
AI will help more than hurt them personally. For instance, 32% of workers in
information and technology say AI will help more than hurt them personally,
compared with 11% who say it will hurt more than it helps.
Which jobs are more exposed to AI?
Work-related tasks vary in their exposure to AI. Some activities, such as
repairing equipment, may have low exposure to AI, while others may have a
medium or a high degree of exposure. Also, activities with different levels
of exposure may be equally important within many jobs. In our analysis, jobs are considered
more exposed to artificial intelligence if AI can either perform their most
important activities entirely or help with them. For example, AI could replace, at least
to a degree, the tasks “getting information” and “analyzing data or
information,” or it could help with “working with computers.” These are also
among the key tasks for judicial law clerks and web developers, and they are
more exposed to AI than other workers. However, AI alone cannot “assist and
care for others” or “perform general physical activities.” Thus, nannies –
for whom these are essential activities – are less exposed to AI. In our analysis, jobs that placed in the
top 25% when ranked by the importance of work activities with high exposure
to AI were judged to be the most exposed. Jobs that placed in the top 25%
when ranked by the importance of work activities with low exposure to AI are
the least exposed. The remaining jobs, such as chief executives, are likely
to see a medium level of exposure to AI. (Refer to the appendix for an extended list of examples of occupations
in each group.) Will exposure to AI lead to job losses?
The answer to this is unclear. Because AI could be used either to replace or
complement what workers do, it is not known exactly
which or how many
jobs are in peril. For this reason, our study focuses on the level of
exposure jobs have to AI. It sets aside the question of whether this exposure
will lead to jobs lost or jobs gained. Consider customer service agents.
Evidence shows that AI could either replace them with more powerful chatbots or it
could enhance their
productivity.
AI may also create new types of jobs for more skilled workers – much as the
internet age generated new classes of jobs such as web developers. Another
way AI-related developments might increase employment levels is by giving a
boost to the economy by elevating productivity and creating more jobs overall. Overall, AI is designed to mimic cognitive functions, and it is likely that higher-paying,
white-collar jobs will see a fair amount of exposure to the technology. But
our analysis doesn’t consider the role of AI-enabled machines or robots that
may perform mechanical or physical tasks. Recent evidence suggests that industrial robots may reduce both employment and
wages. Moreover, jobs held by low-wage workers, those without a high school
diploma, and younger men are more exposed to the effects of industrial
robots. What data did we use? This analysis
rests on data on the importance of 41 essential work activities in 873
occupations from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Information Network (O*NET, Version 27.3). We used our
judgment to determine which of these activities have low, medium or high
exposure to AI, but focus on the importance of low- and high-exposure
activities. For additional analysis, the 873 occupations were further grouped
to a total of 485 for which government data on
employment and earnings of workers were available. That allowed us to analyze
the potential impact of AI on different groups of workers. Other findings
about how workers feel about AI come from a Center survey of 11,004 U.S. adults conducted
between Dec. 12 and 18, 2022. (Refer to the text boxes and methodology for more details.) Our other key findings Jump to ·
Earnings of workers with
more, or less, exposure to AI ·
Workers’ views on the
risk of AI to their jobs ·
Skills needed in high-
and low-exposure jobs ·
Use of AI-related
technologies by U.S. businesses § Most workers are
more likely to work in jobs with less exposure to AI than in jobs with more
exposure. This is true among men, Black and Hispanic workers, younger
workers, and workers with less formal education, among others. § Asian workers and
college graduates are among the highest paid of workers most exposed to AI.
The most exposed workers earn more than the least exposed workers no matter
their demographic characteristic, and the gap is especially striking among
men, Asian workers and foreign-born workers. § Analytical skills
are more important in jobs with more exposure to AI. These skills include
critical thinking, writing, science and mathematics. Mechanical skills, such
as equipment maintenance, are more important in jobs with less exposure to
AI. § Scarcely any U.S.
businesses – fewer than 3% – reported using advanced technologies such as
machine learning or machine vision software to produce goods or services in
2020, according to the most recent available data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Still,
these were large businesses who accounted for about 11% to 16% of overall
employment. Sidebar: How we determined the degree to
which jobs are exposed to artificial intelligence In our analysis, we considered two major
questions when assessing the exposure of jobs to AI: 1.
What is the likelihood that a work
activity may be substituted for or complemented by AI at this time? Is the
likelihood high, medium or low? 2.
How important are activities with high
or low exposure to AI in any given job, relative to the importance of other
activities? Classifying work activities by exposure
to AI The O*NET database lists a set of 41
work activities in common across all occupations. Examples of these
activities are getting information, selling or influencing others, and
handling and moving objects (refer to the methodology for the complete list). We used our
collective judgment to designate each activity as having high, medium or low
exposure to AI. Consensus on some activities, such as performing general
physical activities or processing information, was reached quickly. The
former is judged as having low exposure to AI and the latter is judged as
having high exposure. In other instances, we used additional
details on a work activity to reach consensus. The question we asked
ourselves at this stage was the following: Are most of the detailed tasks that
comprise a work activity exposed to AI? For example, the job activity
“performing for or working directly with the public” is ambiguous on the
surface. But consider the list of detailed tasks that comprise this broad
activity: § Audition for roles § Perform for
recordings § Perform music for
the public § Collaborate with
others to prepare or perform artistic productions § Entertain public
with comedic or dramatic performances § Perform dances § Operate gaming
equipment § Conduct amusement
or gaming activities § Respond to
customer problems or complaints § Respond to
customer inquiries § Answer customer
questions about goods or services § Communicate with
customers to resolve complaints or ensure satisfaction § Resolve customer
complaints or problems § Correspond with
customers to answer questions or resolve complaints The consensus we reached was that most
of these detailed tasks, such as interfacing with customers or creating
music, had a high degree of exposure to AI. Only a few tasks – auditioning,
comedic or dramatic performances and dancing – were considered to have
relatively low exposure to AI. For that reason, the broad activity
“performing for or working directly with the public” is deemed to have high
exposure to AI. At the other end of the exposure scale
is the work activity “coaching and developing others,” entailing: § Coach others § Encourage patients
during therapeutic activities § Visit individuals
in their homes to provide support or information § Encourage students § Interact with
patients to build rapport or provide emotional support § Support the
professional development of others § Encourage patients
or clients to develop life skills The focus of most of these detailed
tasks involves personal interaction. So, we judged that the activity “coaching
and developing others” has low exposure to AI. Overall, 16 work activities were
assessed to have high exposure to AI, 16 more were judged to have medium
exposure, and nine were deemed to have low exposure. (Refer to the methodology for where each activity was
classified.) Determining the level of exposure of a
job to AI The 41 work activities listed in O*NET
are spread across all occupations in the O*NET database. That is to say, each
occupation is a mix of low, medium and high AI-exposure activities. The
question then is: Which work activities are relatively
more important in a job? Are high- or low-exposure activities more important
than other activities? To answer this, we first estimated the
averages of the importance ratings for high-, medium- and low-exposure
activities in each job, where the rating of each activity within a category
is taken from the O*NET database. The rating for each activity ranges from
one (not important) to five (extremely important). Overall, among the 873 occupations we
looked at, high-exposure activities were rated as being important to
extremely important in 77% of occupations, and medium-exposure activities
were similarly important in 72% of occupations. Low-exposure activities were
rated as important in 39% of occupations. This suggests that high, medium and
low exposure could simultaneously be important in a job. The final step was to estimate the
relative importance of high-, medium- or low-exposure activities in each job
– that is, to determine which tasks are more important than the others in any
given job. This procedure is described in the methodology. Occupations were then ranked two
ways, once by the relative importance of high-exposure work activities and
again by the relative importance of low-exposure work activities. In our analysis, jobs that are most
exposed to AI are in the top 25% of occupations ranked by the relative
importance of high-exposure activities. Jobs that are least exposed to AI are
in the top 25% of occupations ranked by the relative importance of low-exposure
work activities. The other jobs may be thought of as having a medium level of
exposure to AI. (Refer to the appendix for examples of occupations that are
among the most or least exposed or have a medium level of exposure.) To take an example, consider mechanical
drafters, who prepare detailed working diagrams of machinery and mechanical
devices. Mechanical drafters are among the workers most exposed to AI. For
them, high-exposure activities have an average rating of 3.28 but
low-exposure activities have an average rating of 2.36, where a rating of 3
means an activity is important. For nannies, among the least exposed
workers, high-exposure activities have an average rating of 2.36 but
low-exposure activities have a rating of 3.03.
Previous research on the impact of AI on
U.S. workers Our analysis follows in the footsteps of
other researchers who have recently examined the impact of AI on the
workplace. Eloundou, Manning,
Mishkin and Rock
(March 2023) conclude that about one-in-five U.S. workers may see an impact
on half or more of their job tasks. Felten, Raj and Seamans (April 2021) find that white-collar
occupations requiring advanced degrees are most exposed to AI, as are industries
providing financial or legal services. Webb (January 2020) reports that high-skill occupations,
highly educated and older workers will be more impacted by AI, but he does
not draw conclusions about the nature or the extent of the impact on workers.
Our findings are broadly consistent with the results of these analyses. (PEW) JULY 26, 2023 805-43-16/Polls Americans Name China As The Country Posing The Greatest Threat
To The U.S.
Negative views of China have become more common
in the United States in recent years, and a new Pew Research Center survey
shows that Americans also widely see China as the greatest threat facing
their nation. How we did this
§ In an open-ended
question allowing Americans to name which country they see as the greatest
threat to the U.S., 50% name China – almost three times the share who name
Russia (17%). § Another 4% say no
country poses the greatest threat to the U.S. § Only 2% of
Americans name North Korea – and the same share describe the U.S. itself as
the greatest threat. No other country apart from China,
Russia, North Korea or the U.S. itself is named by more than 1% of Americans
as the greatest threat facing their nation. Nearly a quarter of respondents
(24%) provided no response, which is not uncommon for
open-ended questions.
Over time, the Center has changed the
way we ask about the greatest threats to the U.S., making it difficult to
compare responses from year to year. Still, Americans have not always seen
China as the top threat to the United States. When we last asked a question
of this sort in 2019, equal shares of Americans pointed to China and Russia
as the greatest threat facing their country. In 2014, Russia was at the top
of Americans’ list as the greatest threat to the U.S., while in 2007, it was
Iran. Partisan differences Today, both Democrats and Republicans
identify China as the greatest threat facing the country, but there are
nonetheless significant partisan and ideological differences on this
question. Republicans and Republican-leaning
independents are more likely than Democrats and Democratic-leaning
independents to name China as the greatest threat to the United States (63%
vs. 40%). And conservative Republicans are much more likely than moderate and
liberal Republicans to say this (74% vs. 47%). The opposite pattern appears when it
comes to Russia: Liberal Democrats are the ideological group most likely to
see Russia as the greatest threat to the U.S., while conservative Republicans
are the least likely to say this.
Age, gender differences Some 61% of Americans ages 65 and older
name China as the greatest threat facing the U.S., compared with 36% of those
18 to 29. Men are also more likely than women to name China (59% vs. 42%). In the case of Russia, there are no
significant age differences: Americans ages 18 to 29 are about as likely as
those 65 and older to see Russia as the greatest threat to the U.S. (18% vs.
15%). When it comes to gender, women are slightly more likely than men to
name Russia (19% vs. 15%). Perceptions of China and Russia as an
economic and security threat
After asking respondents to name the
country they see as the biggest threat to the U.S., the survey asked
Americans two follow-up questions. These questions explore how much Americans
see each country as a threat to the U.S. economy and as a threat to U.S.
national security, respectively. Among those who name China as the
greatest threat facing the U.S., nearly all see China as posing at least a
fair amount of threat to both America’s economy and its national security. In
fact, around three-quarters say China poses a great deal of threat to both. In contrast, while many Americans see
Russia as posing at least a fair amount of threat to the U.S. economy and
national security, fewer say it poses a great deal of threat, particularly
when it comes to the U.S. economy. Only 36% of Americans who consider Russia
to be America’s primary international threat say it poses a great deal of
threat to the U.S. economy. Around two-thirds of Americans who see Russia as
the top threat (66%) say it poses a great deal of threat to U.S. national
security. Which country is the top ally of the
U.S.?
The survey also asked Americans in a
separate open-ended question which country is the most important ally to the
United States. Around half of respondents (48%) did not provide a substantive
answer. Among those who offered a substantive
response, one “special relationship” stands out: Around a fifth of
Americans (22%) name the United Kingdom as their country’s most important
ally. This is nearly four times the share who name America’s northern
neighbor, Canada (6%). Fewer name Israel (4%), Germany (3%), China (2%),
Japan (2%), the EU (1%), France (1%), Mexico (1%) or Russia (1%). Due to changes in the way we ask this
question, we’re unable to make direct comparisons to past surveys. But, when we’ve asked
Americans about national allies in the past, the public has consistently named the
UK above all other countries. Canada and Israel have also been frequently
mentioned since 2007, and the EU has also ranked highly. Partisan, age differences Partisan differences over which country
is the greatest ally of the U.S. are relatively muted. Republicans and
Republican-leaning independents are more likely than Democrats and
Democratic-leaning independents to name the UK (26% vs. 21%) and Israel (8%
vs. 1%). Over three-quarters of respondents who named Israel are conservative
Republicans (79%). Democrats are slightly more likely than Republicans to
name Canada (9% vs. 5%) and Germany (4% vs. 1%). Older Americans are much more likely
than younger Americans to see both the UK and Israel as America’s top ally.
Younger Americans are somewhat more likely than their older counterparts to
say the U.S. has no allies; they are also significantly less likely to offer
a response on this question. Perceptions of what makes for a strong
alliance The survey also asked Americans how
important each of the following are for America’s relationship with its allies:
security and defense ties, economic ties and shared values.
For each named country, defense ties are
seen as key. For example, 94% of those who name Israel as America’s top ally
say defense ties are very important to the U.S.-Israel relationship. At least
three-quarters of respondents say the same for each of the other countries
commonly named as America’s top ally. The public also sees economic ties as
relatively important. For most countries named, at least seven-in-ten
Americans say economic ties are very important for the United States’
relationship with that country. In the cases of Japan and Canada, Americans
say economic ties are about as important as defense ties. For three of the most-named countries,
Americans see shared values as less important than defense or economic ties.
For example, fewer than half of those who name Japan as America’s top ally
(46%) say shared values are very important for the U.S.-Japan relationship.
Israel, however, is a notable exception: More Americans see shared values as
very important to the U.S.-Israel relationship than say the same about
economic ties (79% vs. 68%). (PEW) JULY 27, 2023 AUSTRALIA
805-43-17/Polls 1.43 Million Australians ‘At Risk’ Of ‘Mortgage Stress’ In June
2023 Representing 28.7% Of Mortgage Holders
New research from Roy Morgan shows an
estimated 1.43 million (28.7%) mortgage holders were ‘At Risk’ of ‘mortgage
stress’ in the three months to June 2023. This period encompassed two interest
rate increases of 0.25% taking official interest rates to 4.1% in June. This is the equal highest number of
mortgage holders considered ‘At Risk’ of mortgage stress (the same as for the
three months to May 2023) for over 15 years since there were 1.46 million ‘At
Risk’ in May 2008. Over 530,000 more households at risk of
mortgage stress after a year of interest rate increases The number of Australians ‘At Risk’ of
mortgage stress has increased by 539,000 over the last year as the RBA
increased interest rates at twelve of the last fourteen-monthly meetings.
Official interest rates are now at 4.1% in July 2023, the highest official
interest rates since May 2012 over a decade ago. Despite the sharp increase during the
last year the number of Australians in mortgage stress (1,434,000, 28.7% of
mortgage holders) remains below the high reached during the Global Financial
Crisis in early 2008 of 1,455,000 (35.6%) – although this level is set to be
reached with further interest rate increases. The number of mortgage holders
considered ‘Extremely At Risk’, has now increased to 943,000 (19.6%) in the
three months to June 2023 which is now significantly above the long-term
average over the last 15 years of 15.4%. Mortgage Stress – Owner-Occupied
Mortgage-Holders
Source: Roy Morgan Single Source
(Australia), average interviews per 3 month period April 2007 – June 2023,
n=2,743. Mortgage Risk set to increase to over
1.51 million if RBA raises rates by +0.25% in August Roy Morgan has modelled the impact of
two potential RBA interest rate increases of +0.25% in both August (+0.25% to
4.35%) and September (+0.25% to 4.6%). In June 28.7% of mortgage holders,
1,434,000, were considered ‘At Risk’ and this would increase to over 30% of
mortgage holders by September 2023 if these two increases occurred. If the RBA raises interest rates by
+0.25% in August to 4.35% there will be 30.0% (up 1.3% points) of mortgage
holders, 1,515,000, considered ‘At Risk’ in August 2023 – an increase of
81,000. If the RBA raises interest rates by a
further +0.25% in September to 4.6% there will be 30.7% (up 2% points) of
mortgage holders, 1,551,000, considered ‘At Risk’ in September 2023 – an
increase of 117,000. Mortgage Risk at different level of
interest rate increases in August & September 2023
Source: Roy Morgan Single Source
(Australia), April – June 2023, n=3,656. Base: Australians 14+ with owner
occupied home loan. How are mortgage holders considered ‘At
Risk’ or ‘Extremely At Risk’ determined? Roy Morgan considers the risk of
‘mortgage stress’ among Mortgage holders in two ways: Mortgage holders are considered ‘At
Risk’[1] if their mortgage repayments are
greater than a certain percentage of household income – depending on income
and spending. Mortgage holders are considered
‘Extremely at Risk’[2] if even the ‘interest only’ is over a
certain proportion of household income. Unemployment is the factor which has the
largest impact on income and mortgage stress It is worth understanding that this is a
conservative model, essentially assuming all other factors remain the same.
And of course we are already seeing an increase in unemployment (Australian unemployment
increases to 10.3% in June – the highest since January 2023 – June 30, 2023). While all eyes are on interest rates the
greatest impact on an individual, or household’s, ability to pay their
mortgage is not interest rates, it’s if they lose their job or main source of
income. Michele Levine, CEO Roy Morgan, says
mortgage stress remained around its highest levels in over a decade in June
with 1.43 million mortgage holders considered ‘At Risk’ of mortgage stress as
the RBA’s interest rate increases early in 2023 flowed through to the wider
mortgage market: “The latest Roy Morgan data shows
mortgage stress in the Australian housing market has remained high with 1.43
million mortgage holders (28.7%) defined as ‘At Risk’ in June 2023, up
539,000 (+8.3% points) on a year ago just after the RBA began a
record-breaking series of interest rate rises. “The figures for June 2023 take into
account all twelve RBA interest rate increases which lifted official interest
rates from 0.1% in May last year to 4.1% by June. Since then, the RBA has
decided to leave interest rates unchanged at its most recent meeting in the
first week of July. “The ABS monthly CPI figures
for the year to May 2023 show Australian inflation dropping to 5.6%, down from 6.8% in the year to April
2023. This drop in CPI follows the ANZ-Roy Morgan Inflation
Expectations – which also fell in May. However, this monthly decline proved to be short-lived
with Inflation Expectations increasing substantially by 0.4% points in June. “The next ABS monthly, and
quarterly, CPI figures for the year to June 2023 are due to be released this
week on Wednesday July 26 2023 and will play a key role in the RBA’s determinations
about whether to increase interest rates again next week. “If the RBA does raise interest rates
again next week by 0.25% Roy Morgan forecasts mortgage stress is set to
increase to over 1.51 million mortgage holders (30.0%) considered ‘At Risk’
by August 2023. “Of even more concern is the rise in
mortgage holders considered ‘Extremely At Risk’, now estimated at 943,000
(19.6%) in June 2023 – the highest for over a decade since September 2011
(22.6%). This is an increase of over 400,000 mortgage holders from a year ago
(+7.8% points). “When considering the data on mortgage
stress it is always important to appreciate interest rates are only one of
the variables that determines whether a mortgage holder is considered ‘At
Risk’. The variable that has the largest impact on whether a borrower falls
into the ‘At Risk’ category is related to household income – which is
directly related to employment. “The latest figures show rising interest
rates are causing a large increase in the number of mortgage holders
considered ‘At Risk’ and further increases will spike these numbers even
further. If there is a sharp rise in unemployment, mortgage stress is set to
increase towards the record high of 35.6% of mortgage holders considered ‘At
Risk’ in May 2008 during the Global Financial Crisis.” (Roy Morgan) July 25, 2023 Source:https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/9289-mortgage-stress-risk-june-2023 805-43-18/Polls ANZ-Roy Morgan New Zealand Consumer Confidence Down 1.8pts To
83.7 In July
ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence fell
1.8 points in July to 83.7, with the fall driven by the question of whether
it’s a good time to buy a major household item, which fell from a net figure
of -27% to -39%. That doesn’t bode well for retailers. Inflation expectations bounced back
almost completely from their sharp fall last month, rising from 4.3% back up
to 4.7% – still trending lower, however, and well off their high of over 6%
in late-2021. The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence
Index eased slightly in July, and remains at low levels. Turning to the detail: ·
Perceptions of current personal
financial situations eased 1 point to a net -25%. ·
A net 11% expect to be better off this
time next year, unchanged. ·
A net 39% think it’s a bad time to buy
a major household item, a sharp 12-point fall, to be back around its lows
(excluding lockdowns). That’s the best spending indicator in the survey, and
suggests consumers are indeed “cooling their jets”. ·
Perceptions regarding the economic
outlook in 12 months’ time lifted 2 points to a net -32%. The 5-year-ahead
measure also lifted 2 points to a net +3%. ·
House price inflation expectations
lifted from 1.6% to 1.9%. Expectations are strongest in Canterbury (4.4%) but
are at least 1% everywhere. ·
Headline confidence would have fallen
by more were it not for a sharp lift in Canterbury, which saw a sharp lift
across all questions except for whether it’s a good time to buy a major
household item. ·
Two-year-ahead CPI inflation
expectations jumped back from 4.3% to 4.7%, but the trend remains downward. Households are being buffeted currently,
with headwinds outweighing tailwinds. The cost of living is an obvious
headwind, though this shouldn’t be overstated, insofar as average incomes
have broadly kept pace. The rapid rise in mortgage rates and the ongoing
rollover from lower rates is another clear headwind.
(Roy Morgan) July 28, 2023 Source:https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/9291-anz-roy-morgan-nz-consumer-confidence-july-2023 MULTICOUNTRY
STUDIES
805-43-19/Polls What Worries The World – July 2023, Survey Across 29 Nations
However, worry about rising prices now
seems to be on the decline, having dropped 2pp from June. Our monthly What Worries the World
survey explores what the public thinks are the most important social and
political issues, drawing on more than ten years of data to place the latest
scores in context. This wave was conducted between June 3rd – July 7th, 2023. Key findings ·
Inflation is still the highest concern
this month. But this month sees a further easing of 2pp to 38%. ·
This month’s level of inflation worry
is the lowest it’s been this year and the lowest score since June 2022. ·
Ten nations – Argentina, Australia,
Canada, Germany, Great Britain, India, Poland, Singapore, Turkey, and the US
– have rising prices as their biggest concern. One fewer than last month.
France is no longer on the list. ·
Across all countries, worry about
inflation is followed by crime & violence (31%, +2pp), poverty &
social inequality (30%, -1pp), unemployment (26%, -1pp), and financial &
political corruption (26%, +1pp) which together make up the top five global
worries. ·
In France, worry about crime and
violence has reached its highest level since June 2021, leaping 21pp this
month to 49%. ·
Climate change is still the seventh
biggest concern globally, with 17% worried, unchanged from last month. Canada
has over a quarter (27%) worried, increasing 5pp. ·
Coronavirus worry has dropped 1pp since
last month, and it remains at 17th out of 18, with less than one in 10 (5%)
picking it. This is the lowest level we have recorded since adding it to the
survey in April 2020. ·
The “Right vs wrong direction” monitor
is unchanged this month. Almost two-fifths (38%), on a global country
average, think their country is heading in the ‘right’ direction.
Inflation Just under two-fifths (38%) now put inflation as one of their top worries. This is a 2pp decrease from
June, making it the lowest level of concern seen this year and the lowest
score since June 2022. February 2023 saw the highest score of 43%. Argentina (68%) appears to be cooling
off gradually, despite being the most concerned country, and is down 3pp from
last month. This marks a further decline on May levels, when they broke
inflation worry records. Other highly concerned nations have
experienced similar drops, like Poland (59%) which is down by 6pp, and Hungary
(44%) which has decreased by 7pp. This month,10 nations (Argentina,
Australia, Canada, Germany, Great Britain, India, Poland, Singapore, Turkey,
and the US) have inflation as their biggest worry – one fewer than last
month. For more on public attitudes towards
inflation, see our recent 29-country Global Inflation Monitor.
Satisfaction with the economy Across 29 countries, 36% of people
describe the current economic situation in their country as “good”, unchanged
from last month. The top three most positive countries
about their country’s economic situation are all in Asia Pacific: Singapore
(79%), India (68%), and Indonesia (66%). But with Japan (14%) and South Korea
(16%) taking two of the bottom three spots in the rankings, positive economic
sentiment is not evenly spread throughout the region. The “good” economic score has risen most
from last month in Colombia (+12pts) followed by the US (+9pts). A 2pt rise
also sees Spain record a new highest-ever level of economic optimism (36%). Meanwhile, there are significant
decreases from last month in Turkey Crime & Violence Nearly a third have crime and violence
(31%) as their top worry. This is after a 2pp increase from June, making it
the second-highest worry. Following the riots in France, crime and
violence has leaped up from last month by 21pp to nearly half (49%). This is
the first time that this issue has been France’s biggest concern since June
2021. Five other countries currently have
crime and violence as their top concern: Sweden (61%), Chile (59%), Peru
(57%), Mexico (53%), and Israel (48%). The Netherlands previously had just over
a quarter worried about this issue last month. However, they have dropped
down the list after decreasing 6pp to 20%.
Poverty & Social Inequality Poverty & social inequality is now
third on our list of 18 worries with 30% saying it is an issue in their
country. This is after a 1pp fall and a 2pp rise for crime and violence. Brazil (41%), Japan (37%), and the
Netherlands (40%) all have inequality as their top concern. The Dutch are
particularly worried this month, seeing a 7pp hike, putting them in third. Indonesia (32%) was first last month but
has since tumbled down the list, experiencing a big drop-off, down 12pp. Turkey (28%) was in the top ten most
concerned countries last month but has since slipped out of that position
down our chart after falling 10pp. Coronavirus Coronavirus remains ranked 17th out of
18 worries between maintaining social programmes and access to credit,
dropping 1pp to 5% – it’s the lowest ranking since records began in April
2020. This time last year, the pandemic score was double at 14%. Just two years ago (July 2021) the issue
scored 36% (a 31pp difference from this month) where it was the biggest
concern, with 10 nations citing it as their single greatest worry. Indonesia (5%) and Thailand (13%) were
the two most concerned nations last month, respectively. Now, Thailand is
third after a 5pp fall and Indonesia is 11th after a 13pp decrease. Climate Change Climate change ranks seventh out of 18
global concerns in our What Worries the World survey, between healthcare and
taxes. This month’s worry has not moved. We will be monitoring this measure
carefully in next month’s release, bearing in mind the very high temperatures
being experienced in many parts of the world. Singapore is still the most concerned
country about climate change, with 31% choosing it as an issue in the
country, up 1pp. It’s the country’s third biggest concern, behind inflation
and unemployment. Italy was the fourth most worried
country last month but has now fallen off the top ten after losing 8pp to
20%. Canada has now entered the top five,
with just over a quarter (27%) worried – a 5pp increase. It is the country’s
joint fourth-highest concern, alongside taxes.
(Ipsos Global) 24 July, 2023 Source:https://www.ipsos.com/en/what-worries-world-july-2023 805-43-20/Polls Youth Outlooks: Life Quality And Economic Conditions, Survey
Across 12 MENA Countries
What drives differences in future
optimism in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region? Part I of this
series suggested that there is no perfect correlation between quality
of life and evaluations of economic conditions. MENA citizens can believe
that their quality of life in the future will be better, even if they
simultaneously have less faith in the economic situation improving in the
coming two to three years. Furthermore, age alone was not a factor in
explaining differences. With few exceptions, opinions of youth ages 18 to 29
did not differ significantly from older cohorts ages 30 and over. Part II of this series suggests that
rather than age alone, it is the intersection of age and gender that
crystallizes significant differences between young and older MENA citizens.
It additionally reveals country-specific patterns, with the youth in Sudan
and Mauritania being significantly more positive than their older
counterparts. Introducing gender as a factor highlights that young women are
more positive, especially in Mauritania and Sudan, and particularly in
questions about quality of life. This offers insight into perhaps a gendered
socialization of future outlooks, where women, especially young women, tend
to exhibit more positive attitudes than their older and male
counterparts. Overall, women are more positive than
men, with young women being more positive in country-specific cases –
Mauritania and Sudan – than both men of their age cohort and older women. In
nine countries, young women are more likely than women ages 30+ to say that
the quality of their lives is better than their parents’. The gap is
particularly large (10+ percentage points) in Tunisia, Algeria, Jordan,
Mauritania, and Iraq. Young women in six countries are also more likely than
women aged 30+ to say that their children’s lives will be better than theirs,
showcasing more optimism. In addition to gaps among different
cohorts of women, there are also significant differences between young men
and young women. Young women in seven countries are likelier than young men
to say their quality of life is better than their parents’. In six countries,
young women are likelier than young men to believe the quality of their
children’s lives will be better than their own. This positive pattern among young women
compared to older women does not robustly hold when asked about the state of
their country’s economy. Regarding the current state of their
countries’ economies, only in Iraq (+13 points) and Sudan (+5 percent) are
young women more positive than older women. On the future state of their
countries’ economies, Algeria and Egypt are the only countries where young
women are significantly more positive compared to women aged 30+ (Algeria: +
6 points, and Egypt at + 5 points). When compared to men, young women are
more positive than young men about the future of their countries’ economies
in six countries, and women ages 30+ in five countries compared to men ages
30+.
In Mauritania, young people and
especially young women are more positive compared to older women,
particularly on questions covering life quality. Youth in Mauritania are more
optimistic about questions on life quality compared to older generations.
Mauritanian youth show the largest difference when it comes to their quality
of life, with a + 7-point percent gap between the two age-groups. The
difference between age-groups is also substantial when asked about their
children’s quality of life, with a + 13-point gap. Young Mauritanian women
are especially more optimistic than older age cohorts about life quality, at
+ 10 points higher than older women on their current life quality, and at +
23 points higher on the future of their children’s life quality. Mauritania’s population is predominantly young with more than
60 percent of the total population being under the age of 25. While there
isn’t much that speaks to the attitudes of Mauritanian youth, an interesting
avenue of exploration is their social and political participation and whether
this contributes to the particular positivity on the topic of life
quality.
Similarly, the youth in Sudan, both men
and women, are more optimistic compared to older generations across both
topics. The youth are +5 percent more likely to report positive perceptions
about their quality of life compared to their parents, and +10 percent more
likely to say their children’s quality of life will be better. Sudanese youth
show more positive opinions about the economy, with a +5 percent gap when
asked about the current economic state and a +6 percent gap on the future of
the economy. Young Sudanese women are also more positive than women ages 30+
on all matters except for the future state of Sudan’s economy. They are more
positive by + 5 points on the current quality of their lives and the current
state of Sudan’s economy, and by + 9 points about the quality of their
children’s lives. Sudanese men also notably show some positivity compared to
older men. They are more positive by + 11 points on the future of their
children’s lives, and by + 6 points on the future of their country’s economy.
Across most categories, the youth in
Sudan have showcased more positivity than their older counterparts, and
particularly young women in Sudan. This is maybe indicative of the youth’s, and especially
young women’s, prominent and essential social and political participation in
Sudan,
considering that the age segment between 15 and 30 years old constitutes 60
percent of the country’s total population. From organizing and driving
demonstrations against Al-Bashir’s rule in 2019, to leading protests against
the military rule in 2021, youth are at the
forefront of demanding reform and change for the future of the country, but are often
not included in the governmental processes. Notably, the Arab Barometer Wave
VII survey in Sudan was fielded between the 30th of January and the 11th of
April 2022, one year before the most recent violence that first broke out on the
15th of April.
As such, the results don’t take into account current attitudes, and need more
nuancing in light of current conflict and the displacement of
thousands.
Findings from the seventh wave challenge
notions that the youth across the region are different in perceptions and
attitudes from other age groups, calling for a further understanding and
investigation of how they vary in different countries and across gender.
Young women are ultimately more positive in their attitudes about quality of
life and the economy, with a focus on Mauritania and Sudan. Especially
in Sudan, and in the midst of the conflict and the displacement of thousands
of people, a nuanced approach is needed; one that centers Sudanese voices and
efforts at this juncture. (Arabbarometer) July 25, 2023 Source:https://www.arabbarometer.org/2023/07/youth-outlooks-life-quality-and-economic-conditions-part-ii/ 805-43-21/Polls A Recent Yougov Survey Across 18 Nations Shows That Globally The
Majority Of Consumers Prefer To Buy Products From Their Own Country
A recent YouGov Surveys survey shows
that globally the majority of consumers prefer to buy products from their own
country: as many as 60% of these agree with this statement. 46% believe that,
overall, local products are of higher quality and 53% agree that it is a
patriotic duty to buy products of national origin whenever possible. While a significant percentage of
consumers say they are indifferent, very few are opposed to any of these
claims. For example, only 9% of these would be less likely to buy goods
produced by a local company. In all 18 markets analyzed, the tendency
to prefer local production prevails, thus confirming a strong propensity
towards Made in, albeit for different reasons and with different percentages.
In Italy and France, there is a greater
propensity to favour national companies. Analyzing the Italian scenario, 69%
of consumers say they are more inclined to buy products made in Italy, 61%
think that local products are of higher quality and 60% believe that buying
from local companies is a patriotic duty. Nordic consumers are in the middle, with
62% of Swedes and 60% of Danes saying they are more likely to buy from
domestic companies. In both markets, purchases of local products tend to be
considered less than the world average as a patriotic duty. Finally, in Great Britain, despite the
exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union, the protectionist
attitude does not seem to prevail clearly. In fact, among the markets
considered, it remains one of the least likely to favor domestic companies:
just over half of respondents (54%) say they buy from British companies and
only 31% say that products made in their country are superior to those
imported. (YouGov Italy) July 25, 2023 Source:https://it.yougov.com/news/2023/07/25/global-i-consumatori-preferiscono-acquistare-prodo/ 805-43-22/Polls A New International Yougov Survey, Conducted In 12 Countries,
Looks At Favourability Towards Having To Travel By Ten Forms Of
Transportation
A new international YouGov survey,
conducted in 12 countries, looks at favourability towards having to travel by
ten forms of transportation (including walking). Walking is the most favourable way of
getting about in most countries, although notably not in the US where the 74%
with a positive opinion of getting around on foot is lower than the 77% for
driving in a car or the 81% for being a passenger in a car. This is also the
lowest favourability score for walking of all the countries in the study. That Americans are less likely to favour
walking than other countries is perhaps unsurprising when you account for how
difficult it is to get anywhere by walking in American cities. According to
the organization Walk Score, out of the 130 American cities with populations
of 200,000 or more, 90 are branded ‘car
dependent’,
with most daily errands requiring a car to complete. Americans aren’t the only country where
walking doesn’t top the transport list: in Singapore people have slightly
more positive attitudes towards being a car passenger (86%), or taking the
train (85%) or bus (82%) than walking (80%). As well as having the lowest
favourability towards walking, Americans are also the least likely to have a
favourable view of travelling by public bus (32%), subway or metro (35%),
coach (or ‘charter bus’ to Americans, 39%) and train (59%). Indeed, Americans
are the only nationality to have a net negative view of subway travel (-8)
and particularly so for having to use a public bus (-23).
The 77% of Americans who have a
favourable view of driving a car is among the highest of the survey -
slightly behind Australia’s 81%, and similar to Canada’s and Italy’s 77%,
Spain’s 76%, and Sweden and Poland’s 74%. Singaporeans, by contrast, have a far
less positive view of having to drive in a car than all the other countries
surveyed, with 54% expressing a positive opinion at the prospect and 29% a
negative one. This is no surprise given the city-state’s frequent traffic
jams, expensive car ownership system, and aggressive drivers. On your bike… but not in Britain Britain has the most negative view of
travelling by bicycle, being the only country with a net negative view
overall, although at -4 this means Britons are effectively divided (43%
positive vs 46% negative). This is a far cry from the 80% of Poles who have a
favourable view of getting around by bike, making them the most pro-cycling
country. Britons are also only country to have a
negative opinion overall of coach travel. While the 42% with a favourable
view of having to catch a coach isn’t quite the lowest level, it is
outbalanced by the 48% who have an unfavourable view – the highest of any
country.
Despite perennial grumbling about train
services in Britain, the nation does not rate bottom for the form of
transport. That honour goes to Germany, where 59% of people have a favourable
view of trains compared to 33% a negative one. The same number of Americans
have a favourable view of train travel (59%), although they are less likely
to have an unfavourable view (23%). In Britain, 65% of people have a positive
opinion of taking the train, compared to 28% with a negative opinion. Germans join Americans in having the
lowest proportion of people who have a favourable view of walking (74%),
although unlike in the US this score makes it the most popular way of getting
around.
Germans and French people have the least
favourable opinion of travelling by car as a passenger. Seven in ten in each
country (70% and 71%, respectively) have a positive view, but 20% in Germany
and 23% in France have a negative view.
(YouGov UK) July 26, 2023 805-43-23/Polls China’s Approach To Foreign Policy Gets Largely Negative Reviews
In 24-Country Survey
Views of China are broadly negative
across 24 countries in a new Pew Research Center survey: A median of 67% of
adults express unfavorable views of the country, while 28% have a favorable
opinion. Negative views extend to evaluations of
China’s international actions. Despite several high-profile diplomatic
initiatives by Beijing over the past year – such as brokering a peace deal
between Saudi Arabia and Iran and issuing a 12-point proposal for the
end of violence in Ukraine – a median of 71% think China does not contribute to
global peace and stability. Most people also think China does not
take into account the interests of other countries in its foreign policy
(76%) and a median of 57% say China interferes in the affairs of other
nations a great deal or fair amount. Still, attitudes toward China are
somewhat rosier in middle-income than high-income countries. Across eight middle-income
countries – places Pew Research Center has not surveyed since 2019 due to the
challenges of conducting
face-to-face interviews during the pandemic – India stands out as the only
middle-income country in which a majority has unfavorable views of China. And
in three middle-income countries – Kenya, Mexico and Nigeria – a majority
even gives China a positive rating.
Fewer in these middle-income countries
also criticize China’s global behavior, and many more see China’s “soft
power” appeal. Indeed, publics in these middle-income countries offer
relatively favorable ratings for China’s entertainment products, its universities
and its standard of living – while few in most high-income countries agree. Across all 24 countries surveyed,
however, there is more agreement about China’s technology. A median of 69%
describe China’s technological achievements as the best or above average
relative to other wealthy nations, with similar shares in high- and
middle-income countries. A median of 54% also see China’s military as among
the best in the world. But views of the country as the world’s
foremost economic power have faltered somewhat in recent years. More people now name the United
States as the top economic power than China (a median of 42% vs. 33%,
respectively). Much of this shift has come in high-income countries, where
the share naming China has fallen in nearly every surveyed country –
including by double digits in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden. In the U.S., where equal shares (43%)
called China and the U.S. the world’s leading economic power in 2022, views have shifted
significantly over the past year; now, Americans are 10 percentage points more likely to
name the U.S. than China (48% vs. 38%). (For more on American views of China,
read “Americans are Critical of
China’s Global Role – as Well as Its Relationship With Russia”.) These findings come from a new Pew
Research Center survey conducted from Feb. 20 to May 22, 2023, among more
than 30,000 people in 24 countries. Below are some of the other findings
regarding China’s overall image, views of Chinese foreign policy, ratings of
President Xi Jinping, opinions about Chinese soft power and its economic
power. Overall ratings for China Across many high-income countries
surveyed, which are in North America, Western Europe and parts of the
Asia-Pacific region, a large majority has unfavorable views of China, as has been the case for
multiple years.
Indeed, in almost every high-income country surveyed, negative views
currently stand at or near historic highs. In most countries, this does not
reflect a significant increase over last year; rather, negative views have
simply remained high in recent years. One notable exception is Poland, where
negative views have increased 12 points during a period of strained
bilateral relations, perhaps related to China’s handling of the war in
Ukraine.
Views of China in middle-income
countries are relatively more positive. Still, negative ratings in most of
these countries have also grown since the countries were last surveyed,
pre-pandemic. In South Africa and Mexico, for example, opinions have turned
somewhat more negative since 2019, and in Argentina, Brazil and India,
negative views have even reached historic highs. In India, military conflicts along a contested border may have contributed to the 21
percentage point increase in unfavorable opinion. China’s role on the world stage Majorities in most countries do not
think China takes into account the interests of countries like theirs. In
Canada, France, Israel, Spain and Sweden, around half or more say China
doesn’t consider them at all. Only in the three sub-Saharan African countries
surveyed, as well as in Indonesia, does around half or more of the public
feel like China listens to their country. A median of 71% also think China does
little or nothing at all to contribute to global peace and stability,
compared with a median of 23% who say it is doing a great deal or a fair
amount. Australians, Canadians, Indians, Israelis and South Koreans are
particularly likely to say China is doing nothing at all to help with global
peace and stability. Most also see China as an
interventionist power. A median of 57% say China does interfere a great deal
or a fair amount in the affairs of other countries, while a median of 35% say
it does not do so much or at all. Around seven-in-ten or more in Australia,
Canada, Japan, South Korea, Spain and the U.S. see China getting involved in
the affairs of other countries – and many of these places also stood out for
the high share who said China’s involvement in domestic politics in their own
country was a very serious problem in a 2022 Pew Research Center
survey. But the country which is most likely to
see China interfering in the affairs of other countries in this year’s survey
is Italy (82%). Italy, which was the only G7 country to join
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), was debating leaving the
initiative at
the time that the survey was conducted, but treading delicately for fear of stoking possible Chinese
retribution against Italian businesses. Attitudes toward Xi Few in the 24 countries surveyed have
confidence in Chinese President Xi Jinping to do the right thing regarding
world affairs. Across most of Western Europe, the U.S., Canada and much of
the Asia-Pacific region, around half in each country say they have no
confidence in him at all. Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa stand
out as the only countries where a majority or plurality have confidence in
his leadership. Confidence in Xi is closely related to
views of China more broadly. In each country surveyed people with unfavorable
views of China are more likely to have little confidence in the Chinese
president, and vice versa.
Chinese soft power
When it comes to elements often
considered part of a country’s “soft power,” China’s technological
achievements receive high marks, though fewer say the same about its
universities, entertainment products or standard of living. In fact, outside of South Korea, nearly
half or more in every country say Chinese technological advancements are the
best in the world or above average relative to other wealthy nations. And in
many of the middle-income countries, around four-in-ten call Chinese
technology the best in the world. Middle-income countries – many of which
are increasingly reliant on
Chinese companies like Huawei for components of their 4G and 5G systems – were also asked specifically about
technology such as phones, tablets or computers made by Chinese companies.
Across these eight countries, there is a relatively widespread sense that
these products are well-made. Middle-income publics are more divided when it
comes to their cost: A median of 50% describe them as inexpensive, while 44%
call them costly. They are also somewhat divided when it
comes to whether technological products made by Chinese companies protect
people’s personal data (a median of 45%) or make their data unsafe (40%).
(Americans were asked a different but related
question about
Chinese social media companies; large majorities have little confidence that
they will use personal information responsibly or follow privacy policies.) In every country, at least a plurality –
and often a majority – also see China’s “hard power,” its military, as one of
the best in the world or above average. Chinese economic power Fewer name China as the world’s leading
economic power than the U.S. (a median of 33% vs. 42%). And, in many
countries, the share naming China as the world’s leading economy has gone
down in recent years.
Interestingly, China’s image as an
economic superpower is stronger in high-income countries than middle-income
ones. Italy, for example, is the only country where a majority (55%) calls
China the leading economic power. Still, people in middle-income countries
do recognize economic benefits from their relations with China. A different
survey question, asked only in these countries, finds that around half or
more in six middle-income countries say their nation’s economy has benefited
a great deal or a fair amount from Chinese investment. In Nigeria, Kenya and
South Africa, around seven-in-ten or more say this. In the U.S., Americans were also asked
to name the country which poses the top threat to the U.S. Not only was China
the top answer, by far, but Americans see it as both an economic and a
national security threat – in sharp contrast to Russia, which is primarily
seen as a security threat. To read more about this related analysis, see “Americans name China as
the top threat facing the U.S.” (PEW) JULY 27, 2023 |
