Gilani’s Gallopedia© Gallopedia From Gilani Research Foundation December 2021, Issue # 721-722* Compiled on a weekly basis since January 2007
Gilani’s Gallopedia is a weekly Digest of Opinions in a globalized world
This issue scores 73 out of 100 on Gilani-Gallopedia's Globality Index, showing coverage of world population, and 87 out of 100 on the world income (prosperity) Index. Click for Details
Contact Details: Natasha Amir Research Executive, Gallup Pakistan Email: natasha@galluppakistan.com This WEEKLY REPORT consists of 40 national & multi country surveys 7 polling organizations have been represented. Asia And MENA: Turkey (Family, Consumer Confidence), Libya (National Image) – 03 national polls Africa: Eswatini (Performance Ratings, Elections) – 02 national polls Euro Americas: UK(Consumer Confidence, Governance, Health, Environment , Well-Being , Health , Family , Social Problems , Health), France(Social Problems , IT & Telecom), Germany (Gender Issues), Italy (Environment, Lifestyle), USA(Health, Ethnicity, US Image, Performance Ratings, Governance, Social Problems, Health), Canada(Health, Health), Australia(Well-Being, Well-Being , Consumer Confidence) – 26 national polls	Multi-Country Studies: YouGov UK – 16 Countries (Nuclear Issues) Ipsos Brazil – 17 Countries (Consumer Protection) Ipsos MORI – 33 Countries (Inflation) YouGov Singapore – 8 Countries (Consumer Confidence) Arabbarometer – 27 Countries (Muslim World) PEW – 4 Countries (Perceptions on Performance) Ipsos Canada – 4 Countries (Health) Ipsos Spain – 4 Countries (Inflation) YouGov UK – 4 Countries (Economic Globalization) Topic of the Week: Positive Attitudes Towards China In Arab World, A Study In 12 MENA Countries Gilani-Gallopedia Globality Index
ASIA AND MENA Regions
721-722-01 The Tendency To Cook At Home Increased By Approximately 40%, And Has Not Been Regressed Much Even After Normalization (Click for Details) (Turkey) According to the consumption behavior data compiled from the Ipsos Household Consumption Panel; Despite the rising prices, food and beverage purchases for the home increased compared to the pre-pandemic period. Consumers have become accustomed to cooking the food they consume at the restaurant at home during the quarantine period. Realizing that a meal out might cost 2-3 times more than at home, they began to devote more of their shopping budget to some of the higher-priced items at the grocery store. Because at the end of the day, they can still save money by cooking and eating that meal at home. (Ipsos Turkey) 13 December 2021 4.2 Society » Family (Top)
721-722-02 In January-October 2021, Households In Turkey Spent 38% On FMCG Compared To The Same Period Of The Previous Year (Click for Details) (Turkey) Households went shopping an average of 194 times in the first 10 months of 2021 and spent 45 TL on each purchase. An average household spent 54 TL on branded products, 26 TL on open products and 20 TL on market branded products out of every 100 TL expenditure. Households spent more this year in Discount Markets and Independent Supermarkets, as in the previous year, compared to other channels. An average household spent 31 TL of each 100 TL of expenditure in Discount Markets and 23 TL in Independent Supermarkets. (Ipsos Turkey) 14 December 2021 3.2 Economy » Consumer Confidence (Top)
MENA
721-722-03 Libya Country Report, 2021 (Click for Details) (Libya) COVID-19, related challenges, and vaccine hesitancy While most countries were focusing all their resources on the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, Libya was facing another challenge that significantly threatened the livelihood of its people: the civil war. It was, therefore, unsurprising, that in October 2020, internal instability and foreign interference were seen as the two most important challenges facing the country (30 percent and 26 percent, respectively) followed by the economic situation (20 percent), while only 12 percent named COVID-19. (Arabbarometer) December 14, 2021 1.5 Domestic Politics » National Image (Top)
AFRICA Regions
AFRICA
721-722-04 Only About A Quarter (27%) Of Emaswati Say Their Country Is A Full Democracy Or A Democracy With Minor Problems (Click for Details) (Eswatini) Only about a quarter (27%) of Emaswati say their country is “a full democracy” or “a democracy with minor problems”. The share who describe the country as “not a democracy” or “a democracy with major problems” has increased by 6 percentage points since 2013.Fewer than two in 10 citizens (16%) say they are “fairly satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the way their democracy is working. (Afrobarometer) 13 December 2021 1.2 Domestic Politics » Performance Ratings (Top)
721-722-05 Most Citizens (81%) In Eswatini Say They Are Free To Vote As They Please (Click for Details) (Eswatini) More than three-fourths (78%) of Emaswait say people “often” or “always” have to be careful about what they say about politics, up by 14 percentage points compared to 2018. Only about one-third (35%) of respondents believe that the media in Eswatini is “somewhat” or “completely” free from government interference. (Afrobarometer) 20 December 2021 1.1 Domestic Politics » Elections (Top)
EURO-AMERICA Regions
EUROPE
721-722-06 YouGov Friendship Study Part Two: Friendship Circles And Types Of Friends Britons Have (Click for Details) (UK) More than a third of Britons (37%) report having friends they don’t really bother to see, with this being more the case for men (41%) than women (34%). Younger Britons are the most likely to report having friends which they don’t bother seeing - 43-46% of 16-39-year-olds. Nearly one in ten Britons (9%) has a friend they don’t really like. This is mostly the case with 16-24-year-olds, where 18% have friends they’re not very fond of. (YouGov UK) December 16, 2021 3.2 Economy » Consumer Confidence (Top)
721-722-07 At Least 2 In 3 Britons Think Government Doing A Bad Job On Managing Immigration, The NHS And Levelling-Up (Click for Details) (UK) When asked whether Boris Johnson’s government has done a good job or bad job across 10 key areas, clear majorities think the government is doing a bad job across a range of issues. These include managing immigration (73%), improving the NHS (70%), reducing regional inequalities (or “levelling-up”) (66%), crime (59%), tax and spending (58%), handling Brexit (57%) and improving the education system (55%). (Ipsos MORI) 16 December 2021 1.3 Domestic Politics » Governance (Top)
721-722-08 New YouGov Research For The Times Reveals That Over Half Of Britons Are Taking Regular Lateral Flow Tests (57%) (Click for Details) (UK) New YouGov research for The Times reveals that over half of Britons are taking regular lateral flow tests (57%). This includes one in six (18%) who are using lateral flows regularly, irrespective of what plans they have. One in eight (12%) say they are regularly using lateral flow tests if they have come into contact with someone who may have Covid. A further 9% say they take a lateral flow test if they’re going into work, although this may be lower because of recent work-from-home guidance, while 8% say they use rapid testing if they’re going to socialise with friends or family and 5% test if they’re going somewhere busy. (YouGov UK) December 17, 2021 4.11 Society » Health (Top)
721-722-09 Three In 10 (29%) Britons Say They Will Only Use Recyclable Wrapping Paper This Year, To Help The Environment (Click for Details) (UK) To help the environment, Britons are most likely to avoid buying plastic presents this year, 36% say they will buy fewer while a third (33%) will buy fewer presents in general. Three in 10 (29%) say they will only use recyclable wrapping paper this year and 2 in 10 (21%) will avoid wrapping altogether by gifting experiences rather than physical presents. Forty-three per cent say they have less money to spend on Christmas presents this year compared to previous years while only 23% agree they will buy whatever they want irrespective of cost. (Ipsos MORI) 17 December 2021 4.14 Society » Environment (Top)
721-722-10 UK Public’s Predictions For 2022 (Click for Details) (UK) Given recent events, it may come as little surprise that a majority of UK adults think it likely that Boris Johnson will not be Prime Minister by the end of 2022. Six in ten (62%) predict this compared with a quarter (25%) who think it unlikely. Even 58% of 2019 Conservative voters think he will have left (31% believe it unlikely). In comparison, opinions are split when it comes to Keir Starmer’s position as Leader of the Labour Party. Thirty-eight per cent think he will not hold the position by the end of the year while 36% disagree. (Ipsos MORI) 20 December 2021 3.1 Economy » Well-Being (Top)
721-722-11 Many Britons Self-Policing To Save Their Christmas From Covid As Just Over 4 In 10 Say Current Measures Aren’t Strict Enough (Click for Details) (UK) As the Omicron variant continues to spread throughout the country, it seems as though most Britons are taking matters into their own hands and self-policing in order to avoid catching COVID before the festive weekend. Nine in 10 (89%) say they have already or plan to wear their face mask more while the same proportion are already or will start sanitising/washing their hands more regularly. (Ipsos MORI) 21 December 2021 4.11 Society » Health (Top)
721-722-12 Three In Ten Britons Are Stressed About Christmas 2021 (Click for Details) (UK) Three in 10 Britons (31%) say they’re currently feeling stressed about Christmas, including 6% who say they’re “very” stressed. Parents of young children, 25 to 44-year-olds and women are feeling most stressed about Christmas this year. Two in five (41%) parents with children aged between 5 and 11 years old say they’re feeling stressed about Christmas, compared with a quarter (25%) of parents of children over 18 and a third (32%) of non-parents. (YouGov UK) December 22, 2021 4.2 Society » Family (Top)
721-722-13 Only A Third Of Britons (35%) Say They Think They Know What Cancel Culture Means (Click for Details) (UK) As we found with our earlier study on another American political import – being ‘woke’ – Britons don’t know what the political elite are on about when they bring up cancel culture. Only a third of Britons (35%) say they think they know what cancel culture means. Almost two thirds don’t know what it means (65%), including close to four in ten who’ve never heard the expression in the first place (38%). Young people are more familiar with cancel culture, with 45% of 18-24 year olds saying they know what it is, compared to 40% of 25-49 year olds, 31% of 50-64 year olds, and 26% of those aged 65 and above. (YouGov UK) December 22, 2021 4.13 Society » Social Problems (Top)
721-722-14 Latest Findings Show Cases Of Omicron Rising Fast, While Highlighting Success Of Booster And Teenage Vaccination Programmes (Click for Details) (UK) The latest findings from Imperial College London and Ipsos MORI, covering 23 November – 14 December 2021 (round 16 of the Study), detected 11 cases of the Omicron variant for data sequenced up to and including 11 December, with further sequencing underway for the remaining samples.All other positive cases where a lineage was determined have been confirmed as the Delta variant or sub-lineages of Delta, but the proportion of Omicron cases in the results was increasing rapidly at the time reporting was stopped. (Ipsos MORI) 23 December 2021 4.11 Society » Health (Top)
721-722-15 Online Harassment Is A Very Serious Problem According To 68% Of French People (Click for Details) (France) Cyberbullying is considered a serious problem (97%) (including very serious for 68%) and which will increase in the coming years (76%). Its seriousness should be taken seriously as well as other forms of harassment for 93% of French people, who believe that the consequences of online harassment for victims can be just as serious as in “real life” harassment situations”. Moreover, half of French people are afraid of cyberstalking for their relatives (50%) and 3 in 10 are worried about being directly victims. (Ipsos France) December 13, 2021 4.13 Society » Social Problems (Top)
721-722-16 48% Of Civil Servants Believe That The Lack Of Equipment Is An Obstacle To The Practice Of Teleworking (Click for Details) (France) The shift from the public service to remote work is slower than in the private sector . Public officials are two times less likely (8%) than private sector employees (16%) to telework more than two days a week - even though they have an inter-union agreement which allows them to request it. A large majority of public sector workers (69%) also feel that the public service is lagging behind the private sector in terms of teleworking. (Ipsos France) December 1, 2021 3.12 Economy » IT & Telecom (Top)
721-722-17 For Almost Every Second German Woman, Women's Rights Do Not Go Far Enough (Click for Details) (Germany) Almost half of all respondents (48 percent) say that women's rights in Germany have not yet gone far enough; 57 percent of women say that. A third of Germans say that women's rights in Germany have gone as far as they should go (34 percent); men say this more often than women (42 percent vs. 25 percent of women). Seven out of ten Germans find it unacceptable for a man to whistle after a woman he doesn't know on the street (70 percent). The distinction between men and women is rather small (71 percent of women vs. 68 percent of men). (YouGov Germany) December 27, 2021 4.5 Society » Gender Issues (Top)
721-722-18 Christmas, DIY Wins Again: 1 Italian Out Of 2 Will Give Something Made With Their Own Hands (Click for Details) (Italy) The Christmas holidays are fast approaching, but the Italians seem to have prepared themselves: 88% are in fact ready to enjoy the Christmas holidays, a figure even more true for the younger segment of the population (92% between 18-34 years) who seems to feel the spirit of the holidays even closer. In fact, it is no coincidence that it is the youngest who try their hand at hand-made gifts personally (52% of 18-34 vs 42% of 55+). In any case, this trend extends to almost half of Italians, who declare that they want to prepare handmade gifts personally (47%), especially among women (51% women vs 43% men). (YouGov Italy) December 16, 2021 4.14 Society » Environment (Top)
721-722-19 Charity At Christmas: Better In December, But Those Who Donate More Don't Forget The Other Months (Click for Details) (Italy) The conventional wisdom has it that at Christmas it is more good . By virtue of this tradition, for associations Onlus Christmas time it is often an important opportunity for raising funds , often through ad-hoc initiatives and proposals for "gift ideas" during the Holidays. YouGov explored how Italians respond to this idea of Christmas generosity . Donations for charitable causes to non-profit organizations (Onlus) of any kind involve almost half of the Italian adult population: 44% declare that they have donated a sum of money to charity during the calendar year 2021 . (YouGov Italy) December 24, 2021 4.7 Society » Lifestyle (Top)
NORTH AMERICA
721-722-20 Increased Avoidance Of Care, Drugs Due To Cost Amid Pandemic (Click for Details) (USA) Amid sharply rising inflation, the percentage of U.S. adults who report forgoing treatment for a health problem in the prior three months due to the cost of care has increased to 30%, according to a major new study by West Health and Gallup. Reports of being unable to pay for prescribed medicine in the prior three months, in turn, have risen to 14% during the same time span. Amid substantial levels of worry about costs brought on by the pandemic, nearly half of Americans (48%) report that COVID-19 has worsened their view of the U.S. healthcare system, while 7% say COVID-19 has improved it. (Gallup) DECEMBER 14, 2021 4.11 Society » Health (Top)
721-722-21 Racial And Ethnic Differences Stand Out In The U S Gig Workforce (Click for Details) (USA) From delivering groceries to driving others where they need to go, some Americans are turning to gig jobs to earn money. In fact, 16% of U.S. adults have ever earned money through an online gig platform, including 9% who have done so in the past year, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in August 2021. But there are racial and ethnic differences when it comes to who takes on these jobs and the negative experiences some gig platform workers say they face. (PEW) DECEMBER 15, 2021 4.3 Society » Ethnicity (Top)
721-722-22 Overall, About Half (52%) Of Americans Say The U S Is One Of The Greatest Countries, Along With Some Others (Click for Details) (USA) Young people in the United States express far more skeptical views of America’s global standing than older adults. They are also more likely to say it would be acceptable if another country became as militarily powerful as the U.S., according to a Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults conducted in July. Overall, about half (52%) of Americans say the U.S. is “one of the greatest countries, along with some others.” Nearly a quarter say instead that the U.S. “stands above all other countries” (23%), while an identical share (23%) says “there are other countries that are better than the U.S.” (PEW) DECEMBER 16, 2021 2.6 Foreign Affairs & Security » US image (Top)
721-722-23 About Four-In-Ten Republicans And Republican-Leaning Independents (42%) Say Reagan Has Done The Best Job As President Over The Past 40 Years (Click for Details) (USA) Around six-in-ten Democrats and Democratic leaners (59%) say Obama has done the best job as president of any president of the past 40 years. Far fewer name Bill Clinton (19%) or Joe Biden (5%), who will complete his first year in office next month. Seven presidents have served in the last 40 years, four Republicans and three Democrats. Among U.S. adults overall, 35% say Obama has done the best job over this period, followed by Reagan (23%), Trump (17%) and Clinton (12%). (PEW) DECEMBER 20, 2021 1.2 Domestic Politics » Performance Ratings (Top)
721-722-24 43% Approve Of The Way President Joe Biden Is Handling His Job (Click for Details) (USA) President Joe Biden's job approval remains entrenched in the low 40s, having registered 42% or 43% in four separate Gallup polls since September, including 43% in a new December survey. Biden began his term with relatively strong approval in the high 50s and stayed above the 50% mark through June. In July, when U.S. coronavirus cases surged, his approval fell to 50% and stayed at about that level in August. Then, after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, it dropped to the low 40s, where it has remained since. (Gallup) DECEMBER 21, 2021 1.3 Domestic Politics » Governance (Top)
721-722-25 Overall, About Half Of U S Adults (48%) Say That Most Things In Society Can Be Clearly Divided Into Good And Evil (Click for Details) (USA) Overall, about half of U.S. adults (48%) say that most things in society can be clearly divided into good and evil, while the other half (50%) say that most things in society are too complicated to be categorized this way. However, there are stark differences in opinion based on respondents’ religious affiliation and how religious they are. By comparison, only around half of U.S. Catholics (49%) and White Protestants who do not identify as evangelical (47%) say that most things in society can be clearly divided into good and evil. (PEW) DECEMBER 21, 2021 4.13 Society » Social Problems (Top)
721-722-26 Many U S Workers Are Seeing Bigger Paychecks In Pandemic Era, But Gains Aren’t Spread Evenly (Click for Details) (USA) Almost two-thirds of U.S. private sector payroll workers (63.6%) work in industries where the average weekly wage in the second quarter of 2021 was at least 5% higher than it was in the second quarter of 2020, according to the most recently available data from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, a product of the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. The two sectors with the next biggest wage gains were information (which includes, among other industries, software publishing and “internet publishing and web search portals”) and company management. These are also the highest-paying sectors overall. (PEW) DECEMBER 22, 2021 4.11 Society » Health (Top)
721-722-27 Majority (56%) Of Canadians Support Another Lockdown To Stop The Spread Of Omicron (Click for Details) (Canada) With the Omicron variant of COVID-19 spreading quickly and stoking worries of a sharp rise in case counts and hospitalizations, a new Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of Global News reveals that a majority (56%) of Canadians agree (20% strongly/36% somewhat) that we should have another lockdown to help stop the spread of the Omicron variant. Conversely, 44% oppose (18% strongly/26% somewhat) another round of lockdowns. Support is highest in Quebec (62%), British Columbia (61%), Atlantic Canada (60%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (59%) and lower in Ontario (53%) and, especially, Alberta (44%). (Ipsos Canada) 17 December, 2021 4.11 Society » Health (Top)
721-722-28 Only Half (50%) Of Canadians Currently Working From Home Say They Expect To Return To The Office Regularly In 2022 (Click for Details) (Canada) As the end of the year approaches, the future of the workplace remains uncertain heading into 2022 as only one half (50%) of Canadians currently working from home envision themselves returning to the office with any regularity in 2022, according to a new Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of Global News. The poll also asked working Canadians about their experiences in 2021 and what their expectations and feelings are about 2022, given the ever-changing contextual situation in Canada. (Ipsos Canada) 26 December, 2021 4.11 Society » Health (Top)
AUSTRALIA
721-722-29 Eight In Ten Australians Expect A Better Year In 2022 (Click for Details) (Australia) Of the nine questions where Ipsos has trend data since 2020, four show significant change in attitudes among respondents, indicating a more optimistic view of what 2022 will bring. Nonetheless, concerns about the environment and rising prices persist. And while most expect greater COVID vaccination rates around the world, half (47%) expect a new deadly strain of the virus to appear. (Ipsos Australia) 19 December 2021 3.2 Economy » Consumer Confidence (Top)
721-722-30 Only 37% Of Australians Expect 2022 Will Be ‘Better’ Than 2021 – Down 22% Points On A Year Ago (Click for Details) (Australia) A special Roy Morgan web survey taken in late November shows only 37% of Australians think 2022 will be ‘better’ than 2021, down a large 22% points from when the same question was asked a year ago in late 2020. However, fewer than a quarter of Australians, 23%, think 2022 will be ‘worse’ than 2021, although this is up 13% points on a year ago. Nearly a third of Australians are hedging their bets on next year with 31% (up 14% points on a year ago) who say 2022 will be ‘the same’ and 9% (down 5% points) don’t know. (Roy Morgan) December 20, 2021 3.1 Economy » Well-Being (Top)
721-722-31 Over A Third Of Australians, 37%, Say 2022 Will Be A Year Of Economic Difficulty While 19% Expect Economic Prosperity (Click for Details) (Australia) A special Roy Morgan web survey taken in late November shows over a third of Australians, 37%, think next year will be a year of ‘Economic difficulty’, although this is down 11% points on a year ago when nearly half of Australians, 48%, predicted ‘Economic difficulty’ for 2021. For the second straight year there are only 19% of Australians who think next year will be a year of ‘Economic prosperity’. Nearly half of all Australians think next year will either ‘Remain the same’ (37%) or don’t know 7% how the economy will perform. (Roy Morgan) December 21, 2021 3.1 Economy » Well-Being (Top)
MULTICOUNTRY STUDIES
721-722-32 A New YouGov Euro Track Survey, Conducted In 7 European Countries And USA, Shows There Is Clear Confusion About How Clean Nuclear Energy Is (Click for Details) Nuclear is embraced very differently by governments across Europe. In France, nuclear accounts for 70.6% of the country’s electricity generation. Next door, Germany is trying to phase out nuclear entirely. The EU itself is split on how to treat nuclear energy, with debate in Brussels about whether to classify it alongside renewable sources of power as an "environmentally sustainable economic activity”. Doing so would be seen as a direct recommendation to financial markets to invest in nuclear plants, according to German newspaper Die Welt. (YouGov UK) December 13, 2021 3.10 Economy » Nuclear Issues (Top)
721-722-33 A Survey Carried Out In 28 Nations Shows That 82% Of Global Average Believes That World Is More Dangerous (Click for Details) More than eight out of ten Brazilians think that the world is more dangerous compared to the previous year, according to the World Affairs survey, by Ipsos. In this survey, citizens of 28 countries assessed the global relations of their nations and what they considered to be the greatest threats to the planet. Colombians top the list of people who believe they live in a more dangerous world, with a rate of 91%. Next are Peru (90%), South Korea (88%) and the United States (85%). At the other end is China, with 68% of affirmative responses, followed by Germany, Malaysia and Italy – all with 77%. (Ipsos Brazil) 14 December 2021 3.2 Economy » Consumer Protection (Top)
721-722-34 In 30-Country Survey, Two-Thirds Say They Now Pay More For Transportation, Food And Drink, And Utilities Than They Did Six Months Ago (Click for Details) A new Ipsos survey finds about two-thirds of consumers across 30 countries saying the prices they are now paying for transportation, food and drink, and utilities seem higher than they were six months ago. About half report a rise in the cost of clothing and shoes, housing, medical and health care, and entertainment. On average globally, as many consumers expect their household spending will increase in the next three months (42%) as expect it will stay the same (41%). Increased spending expectations are closely correlated with perceptions of paying higher prices. (Ipsos MORI) 14 December 2021 3.4 Economy » Inflation (Top)
721-722-35 The Obamas Remain World’s Most Admired Public Figures, A Study In 38 Countries Unanimous (Click for Details) Former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama remains Singapore’s most admired woman for the fourth year running. Other world leaders also feature prominently in the top ten. Queen Elizabeth II remains in second, as does Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern in fourth. Burmese politician Aung San Suu Kyi and the first female Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel move up the list to third and seventh, respectively. (YouGov Singapore) December 15, 2021 3.2 Economy » Consumer Confidence (Top)
721-722-36 Positive Attitudes Towards China In Arab World, A Study In 12 MENA Countries (Click for Details) In recent years, China’s engagement in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has been rapidly increasing. At least 17 MENA countries have signed agreements as part of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In nationally representative face-to-face surveys conducted in 2018-9, about half or more said they wanted their country to increase their economic ties with China in nine of twelve countries. A stronger economic relationship with China was most favored by Jordanians (70 percent), Libyans (63 percent) and Sudanese (62 percent). Among the countries surveyed, only in Algeria (36 percent) and Egypt (30 percent) did fewer than four-in-ten citizens favor strengthening economic ties with China. (Arabbarometer) December 15, 2021 2.7 Foreign Affairs & Security » Muslim World (Top)
721-722-37 Striking Findings From 2021, 16 Countries (Click for Details) A growing share of childless Americans say it is unlikely they will ever have children, an October survey found. Some 44% of non-parents ages 18 to 49 say it is not too or not at all likely that they will have children someday, an increase from the 37% who said the same in 2018. Meanwhile, 74% of adults younger than 50 who are already parents say they are unlikely to have more kids, virtually unchanged since 2018. (PEW) DECEMBER 17, 2021 3.1 Economy » Perceptions on Performance (Top)
721-722-38 32% Say That Coronavirus Is One Of The Biggest Issues Facing Their Country Today, A Survey In 28 Countries Tells (Click for Details) 32% on average say that Coronavirus is one of the biggest issues facing their country today (+4 vs. last month) – making it once again the world’s number one worry. The largest month-on-month increases in concern about Covid-19 are seen in Germany (+23 points), the Netherlands (+19) and Belgium (+16). Poverty & Social Inequality is the second top issue this month, just behind Covid-19 with 31%. Inflation sees record-high levels of concern, ranking 7th out of 18 possible issues with 19%. (Ipsos Canada) 21 December 2021 4.11 Society » Health (Top)
721-722-39 Globally, 59% Of The Population, On Average, Consider The Cost Of Living To Be Higher Now Than It Was Six Months Ago, Among 30 Countries Analyzed (Click for Details) The upward trend of inflation in recent months, due to the increase in the price of goods necessary for the consumption of families such as electricity, fuel or food, is beginning to be noticed in the pockets of consumers around the world. This is confirmed by the data from the latest survey conducted from the Ipsos Global Advisor online platform. On average, 59% of the world's population believes that the cost of living has increased in the last half year. (Ipsos Spain) December 22, 2021 3.4 Economy » Inflation (Top)
721-722-40 How Many People Have Been Hit By The Global Supply Chain Crisis In 7 European Countries And The U S (Click for Details) In all countries surveyed, most people are aware that a global supply chain crisis is taking place. In most nations, between 83% and 95% have heard at least something about the problems facing the international supply network. The exception is Italy, where only 57% say they have. By contrast, people in the UK are noticeably more likely to have experienced key supply problems. A majority of Britons (56%) say they have personally experienced food shortages in shops, a figure slightly higher than in the US (49%) but substantially higher than all the continental European nations surveyed (6-18%). (YouGov UK) December 22, 2021 3.6 Economy » Economic Globalization (Top)
TOPIC OF THE WEEK: Positive Attitudes Towards China In Arab World, A Study In 12 MENA Countries uThis page is devoted to opinions of countries whose polling activity is generally not known very widely or where a recent topical issue requires special attention.
Positive Attitudes Towards China In Arab World, A Study In 12 MENA Countries In recent years, China’s engagement in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has been rapidly increasing.  At least 17 MENA countries have signed agreements as part of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).  Meanwhile, in response to the COVID pandemic, Chinese vaccines have been secured by a number of countries across the region while China has promised aid to help address the challenges caused by the pandemic. In short, China has taken several steps to try to win the hearts and minds of ordinary citizens across the region. Before the start of the pandemic, views of China were relatively positive across much of the region. Public opinion surveys conducted by Arab Barometer, a non-partisan research network seeking to understand the views of ordinary citizens in the region, show that many citizens favor stronger economic relations with China. In nationally representative face-to-face surveys conducted in 2018-9,  about half or more said they wanted their country to increase their economic ties with China in nine of twelve countries. A stronger economic relationship with China was most favored by Jordanians (70 percent), Libyans (63 percent) and Sudanese (62 percent). Among the countries surveyed, only in Algeria (36 percent) and Egypt (30 percent) did fewer than four-in-ten citizens favor strengthening economic ties with China. Support for stronger relations with China tends to be higher among elites. Those who have a university degree or above are at least ten percentage points more likely to favor strong ties with China in Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq, and Egypt, for example.  However, there is no consistent difference by generation, with views of China being similar among those who are younger and older in most countries. Beyond closer economic relations, citizens across MENA were also largely supportive of foreign aid from China in 2018-9. In the eleven countries and territories where this question was asked, half or more favored assistance from China in nine cases, including at least six-in-ten in Jordan, Sudan, Yemen, and Palestine. The key exceptions are Libya and Algeria, where fewer than half favor Chinese foreign assistance. Following the onset of COVID, Arab Barometer conducted its sixth wave by phone given health concerns related to in-person interviews.  Surveys were conducted from summer 2020 to spring 2021 in seven countries every few months. Views of China remained relatively high by spring 2021 in most of the countries surveyed, with majorities saying they had a favorable view in seven of the countries surveyed: Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, and Iraq.  Only in Lebanon (38 percent) and Jordan (34 percent) did fewer than half say they viewed China very or somewhat favorably. In Lebanon, these relatively low views are more likely the result of political than economic considerations. Following the financial crisis, Hezbollah sided with a bailout from China as opposed to other political parties that favored working with the IMF. Despite China’s efforts at vaccine diplomacy and promises of foreign assistance to the region, views did not change dramatically during the survey period. For example, in Tunisia, China’s favorability was 55 percent in summer 2020 compared with 59 percent in spring 2021 while in Jordan there was a similar difference of four points over a similar period of time.  Despite China’s overtures to the region and provision of vaccines to many countries, popular attitudes appear relatively unaffected. Although popular views of China are relatively positive across MENA, evidence from Arab Barometer suggests they are not particularly deeply held.  As part of the sixth wave, Arab Barometer included a question about the degree to which China’s developing economic power represents a critical threat to MENA.  In none of the six countries where the survey was asked does more than about a quarter see China’s economic power as a critical threat.  Lebanese (26 percent) are the most concerned, but only 15 percent in Jordan and Morocco and 13 percent in Algeria hold this view.  Given the influx of largely cheap goods from China, this result may be counterintuitive, especially given that the U.S. is viewed as an equal or more substantial economic threat in all countries surveyed. Even though relatively few citizens view China as a threat, there is also not a preference for Chinese economic engagement in MENA.  In the sixth wave, Arab Barometer asked citizens what foreign country of origin they would prefer for a company who was contracted to construct an infrastructure project in their country.  In all seven countries surveyed, a company based in Germany was seen as the most likely to build a project of the highest quality, including by as many as half in Algeria and Libya. In contrast, in no country did more than one-in-five say that China would build the best quality project.  Meanwhile, when asked about the company that would pay the best salaries to the local workforce, citizens were split between picking the U.S. (four countries) and Germany (three countries) as the most preferred country of origin.  In all countries except Iraq, one-in-ten or fewer say a Chinese company would pay the best salaries. Finally, when asked the country of origin for the company they would most prefer to get the contract, in no country is a Chinese company most preferred. In four countries, a German company is most preferred, with an American company preferred in two (including a tie with Turkey in Jordan), and France preferred in one. Meanwhile, only in Iraq (22 percent) is a Chinese company preferred by more than 15 percent of citizens.  In other words, support for “China, Inc.” appears to be relatively limited in MENA. Overall, these results imply that the future of China in MENA is still to be written. As a non-colonial power in the region, there appears to be an openness of those living in MENA toward China. In a region with many citizens looking for a rapid model for economic development, China could also represent hope given the dramatic transformation the country has undergone since the 1980s.  Many MENA citizens hope for a similar transition in their own countries. Yet, the results also suggest that, at least to date, there is little more than hope and projection being placed on China. In 2019, Arab Barometer asked citizens in Kuwait whether they thought Chinese were good people.  Fully 42 percent said they didn’t know.  Notably, Kuwait is the first country in the Arab Gulf region to establish relations with Beijing, the first to sign up to its Belt and Road Initiative, it has a joint strategic partnership with China, and has more than US$14 billion annually in bilateral trade with China.  Despite these links, the survey results reveal that nearly half of Kuwaitis have no clear image of Chinese citizens. Although this question did not appear in other countries, given their weaker linkages, it is unlikely that their populations would have a substantially clearer view of Chinese citizens. In short, China has an opportunity in the region but also faces risks to its popularity in the years ahead. As citizens in MENA come into more direct contact with China and its policies in the future, their views are likely to become more entrenched. Elsewhere, support from China has alienated publics, such as in countries like Sri Lanka and Malaysia, where foreign aid projects have not always been viewed as benefiting the local populations.  China’s continuing popularity will depend in large part on its ability to convince MENA publics that its foreign policy and assistance is working for their benefit.  If not, then it is likely that popular support for China will begin to fade in the years to come. (Arabbarometer) December 15, 2021 Source: https://www.arabbarometer.org/2021/12/fragile-popularity-arab-attitudes-towards-china/ (Top)
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