BUSINESS &
POLITICS IN THE MUSLIM WORLD
Global Opinion
Report No. 395
August
23 - 29, 2015
Presentation: September 02, 2015
M. Zubair Khan
Contents
Uncertainty
over a successor: What if President Abbas does not run for president again
Malaysian
public split on BERSIH 4 Rally.
Supportive
but dissatisfied: Ugandans’ views on multipartism
Russians
have much to be proud of
Russia:
Crisis Survival Techniques
Emigrants
From Russia: Who Are They? How Many Are They?
Russia:
Religious Feelings Vs Freedom Of Speech
EU
citizens hold Greek government responsible for debt crisis (Multi-country survey)
Europeans
think UK is toughest on immigration (Multi-country survey)
Catholics
for gay marriage; Protestants for euthanasia
Public
expect Chinese market crash to impact British economy
Greeks
Oppose Economic Sanctions Against Russia
Ratings
of U.S. Banking Industry Level Off
Americans'
Satisfaction With Job Aspects Up From 2005
Higher
Support for Gender Affirmative Action Than Race
Three in
10 U.S. Parents Worry About Child's Safety at School
As World
Markets Drop, U.S. Economic Confidence Index at -14
Declining
Ratings for Mexico’s Peña Nieto
Latin
Americans Lead World in Emotions
Internet
Industry Nets Record Positive Rating
Americans’
Views on Mobile Etiquette
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
This week report consists of twenty four surveys.
Three of these are multi-country surveys while the rest are national surveys
from different states across the globe.
395-43-25 Commentary: Russians have much to be proud of
Russians have much to be
proud of
New
project of Romir “Russia 10 years later”
Research holding Romir is about to launch a new project called “Russia 10 years later”. Over the period of development of New Russia the country has changed a lot. We witnessed many different events both happy and sad. The generations are changing and the world itself is changing too. All this certainly affected the Russian peoples’ mindset. A period of 10 years is a good opportunity for holding new public opinion survey and see what has changed in people’s minds.
Romir addressed the same questions to the Russians that they were answering at certain periods from 2000 to 2005 and got quite interesting dynamics. Some questions showed significant changes and other maintained the overall trend.
Thus, one of the first questions concerned country’s achievements that make Russian people feel proud of. The similar survey was conducted in 2003. If we compare the results we’ll see that the results have changed dramatically. (see Diagram 1).
Diagram 1. What national achievements make you feel proud? (%)
Source: Romir, July 2015
Twelve years ago 25% of the respondents claimed that Russian people had nothing to be proud of and it was the top answer in the rating list but today the top lines appear to be completely different. The first rank is shared by the “President” and “People” with 34% and 32% of votes correspondingly. The second rank again with close rates is taken by traditions (25%) and natural resources (24%). According to 19% of the surveyed the third rank is held by the achievements in weapons and sport.
The above Diagram 1 shows that in 2003 the same answers were given by much fewer respondents: 16% were proud of the Russian people, 12% took pride in the Russian President, 11% mentioned traditions, 7% – sports 7%, and only 1% of respondents were proud of the weapons and military equipment.
The share of those who is proud of Russian space technologies has increased tenfold in the last 12 years - 1% in 2003 vs. 10% this year. The share of Russians who acknowledge our achievements in science and technology again has grown from 1% to 8%. However, the share of respondents who are proud of the Russian crop yields remain the same 6%.
No significant differences were found in the context of different socio-demographics groups. But still it is noteworthy that there are more women than men, as well as youngsters under 24 years old and seniors 60+ among those who are proud of the Russian President. Young respondents and million-plus residents stressed that they feel proud of the Russian achievements in sport more often than on average across the sample. Older people and small town residents take much more pride in the Russian people.
High-income group of respondents stands out from the overall picture. In general, the rating of achievements that make people feel proud overlaps the all-Russia results. However, the number of answers is much lower and the top rankings are taken by the President, Natural resources and Sport.
Still it should be noted that results for such answers as development of democracy, economic success and achieving a free society haven’t changed since the last poll was held, These results remained at the level of 2-3%.
“These findings clearly demonstrate that the patriotism has lately increased and people strongly supports the President, We also see that the situation in military sector and sport has changed for the better. But at the same it proves that we haven’t achieved any economic success, haven’t advanced in development of democracy and building of free society. While these attributes are as important as pride in the people and the president demonstrating the comprehensive national program and national idea that remained unclear for so many years”, - said Andrey Milekhin, president of the research holding Romir.
* July survey covered the sample of 1,500 respondents aged 18-60+ y.o. residing in urban and rural areas in all Russian federal districts. The sample represents the Russian adult population.
395-43-26 Russia
SUMMARY OF POLLS
MENA
Palestine:
Uncertainty over a successor: What if President Abbas does not run for
president again
A public opinion
poll conducted by JMCC showed interesting results in Palestinian public opinion
circles, including contradictions and several surprises. Perhaps the most
significant of these was the absence of a real successor to President Mahmoud
Abbas if he does not run for the presidency. The results also
showed a setback in the popularity of Palestinian forces and factions and a
lack of any sympathy or support for ISIS or its sister movements. (JMCC)
September 01,
2015
SOUTHEAST ASIA
Malaysian
public split on BERSIH 4 Rally
A survey carried
out between 15th and 21th August 2015 found that 43% of the respondents view
the BERSIH4 favorably while 47% of the respondents unfavorable. The survey
found that supporters of the rally were distinguished along gender, ethnicity,
urban-rural as well as socio-economic lines. (Merdeka Center)
August 28, 2015
Philippines: Record-low 32% of executives have
personal knowledge of
corrupt transaction with government in the last 3 months
The 2014/15 SWS Survey of
Enterprises on Corruption, fielded from November 14, 2014 to May 12, 2015,
found a record-low 32% of Filipino managers saying they have personal knowledge
of a corrupt transaction with government in the last three months in their line of business. This surpasses the previous
record-low of 33% in 2012. (SWS)
August 27, 2015
SUB-SAHARAN
AFRICA
Supportive
but dissatisfied: Ugandans’ views on multipartism
Ugandans support
multipartism as a viable political system of governance but many are not
satisfied with the way multi-party politics work in Uganda, the latest
Afrobarometer survey shows. (Afrobarometer)
August 25, 2015
EAST EUROPE
Russians
have much to be proud of
Research holding
Romir is about to launch a new project called “Russia 10 years later”. Over the
period of development of New Russia the country has changed a lot. We witnessed
many different events both happy and sad. The generations are changing and the
world itself is changing too. All this certainly affected the Russian peoples’
mindset. A period of 10 years is a good opportunity for holding new public
opinion survey and see what has changed in people’s minds. (Romir)
August 2015
Russia:
Crisis Survival Techniques
The main strategies Russians choose
to survive the crisis are to buy cheaper products or fully abandon certain
items.
(VCIOM)
August 19, 2015
Emigrants
From Russia: Who Are They? How Many Are They?
Over a year the number of Russian
emigrants has increased, according to every fourth respondent. Those who leave
Russia permanently are mainly young people with high income, living in
metropolitan area and employed in the private sector. (VCIOM)
August 14, 2015
Russia:
Religious Feelings Vs Freedom Of Speech
Most of Russians consider
unacceptable any display of disrespect towards the believers, both in everyday
life and in artistic sphere. (VCIOM)
August 13, 2015
IRI
Ukraine Poll: Support for Reforms Strong amid Frustration over Lack of Progress
in Their Implementation
On Ukrainian
Independence Day, a new
poll released by IRI found that Ukrainians continue to support the
pro-European government’s reform efforts, but they also expressed growing
impatience with the pace of change in Ukraine. (Rating Group Ukraine)
AUGUST 24, 2015
EU
citizens hold Greek government responsible for debt crisis (Multi-country survey)
An Ipsos survey of citizens of nine
European Union countries finds most people hold the Greek government
responsible for the ongoing debt crisis. Some 88% say the Greek government is a
great deal, or a fair amount, to blame for the crisis –rising to 94% among
German respondents. The German government was mentioned by 46%, attracting less
blame than the Greek populace, the IMF and the European Commission overall. (Ipsos Global)
August 28, 2015
Europeans
think UK is toughest on immigration (Multi-country
survey)
The UK has the
reputation across Europe of being the most tough on immigration
UK net
migration reached an all-time high this week, at 330,000 for the year to
March, up 28% from last year and 10,000 higher than the previous peak in 2005.
(YouGov)
August 28, 2015
Catholics
for gay marriage; Protestants for euthanasia
YouGov Profiles
data comparing religious Catholics and Protestants in Britain reveals
strikingly different approaches to key moral issues. (YouGov)
August 27, 2015
Public
expect Chinese market crash to impact British economy
British people
tend to think sharp falls in Chinese markets will have a large effect on the
British economy – but view another global financial crash as less likely than
in 2014. (YouGov)
August 26, 2015
Greeks
Oppose Economic Sanctions Against Russia
The United
States' and European Union's economic sanctions against Russia are finding
little support in Greece, where the country remains popular, and the loss
of trade has hurt the already fragile economy. The majority of Greeks (62%)
surveyed shortly before the EU extended sanctions in late June say they do not
back the United States' and EU's punitive measures against one of Greece's
major trade partners. (Gallup USA)
August 25, 2015
NORTH AMERICA
Ratings
of U.S. Banking Industry Level Off
After two
consecutive years of improvement in Americans' ratings of the banking industry,
climbing from a low of 25% in 2012 to 40% in 2014, perceptions have leveled
off. Now, 37% view the industry positively. The banking industry's image
remains better than it was during the economic downturn but is still not back
to the more positive levels seen from 2001 to 2007. (Gallup USA)
August 28, 2015
Americans'
Satisfaction With Job Aspects Up From 2005
Employed
Americans' satisfaction with 13 aspects of their current jobs has largely
improved in the last decade. The percentages of workers "completely
satisfied" with their health benefits and vacation time have increased the
most since 2005, each rising at least 10 percentage points. (Gallup USA)
August 28, 2015
Higher
Support for Gender Affirmative Action Than Race
A majority of
Americans say they favor affirmative action programs. However, support is a bit
higher for programs aimed at helping women (67%) than for those focused on
helping racial minorities (58%). (Gallup USA)
August 26, 2015
Three
in 10 U.S. Parents Worry About Child's Safety at School
Twenty-nine
percent of U.S. parents say they fear for their child's safety at school. This
is down from the 33% found immediately after the Sandy Hook school shooting in
Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012, but still above the 25% measured a few
months before that incident occurred. (Gallup USA)
August 25, 2015
As
World Markets Drop, U.S. Economic Confidence Index at -14
Gallup's
Economic Confidence Index was -14 for the week ending Aug. 23, down slightly
from -11 the week prior. Growing concerns about China, which devalued its
currency and saw major losses in its stock market, led to a global stock
sell-off, including in the U.S., where the Dow Jones declined by more than 500
points by market close on Friday. (Gallup USA)
August 25, 2015
LATIN AMERICA
Declining
Ratings for Mexico’s Peña Nieto
Three years
after being elected president, Mexico’s Enrique Peña Nieto is increasingly
unpopular. Following a year plagued by scandal and controversy, his ratings
have fallen, and Mexicans have grown disappointed with key elements of his
ambitious agenda. (Pew Research Center)
August 20, 2015
AUSTRALASIA
More
in favour than against the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement. Key issue for
Australians with ChAFTA is jobs
A large majority of Australians
(78%) are aware of the Free Trade Agreement Australia has negotiated with
China, only 21% aren’t aware and 1% can’t say. More Australians believe a Free
Trade Agreement with China is a good thing (40%) than not (31%) and a large 29%
are undecided according to the latest telephone Morgan Poll conducted over the
past few nights (August 21-26, 2015) with a cross-section of 672 Australians
aged 14+.
(Roy Morgan)
MULTI-COUNTRY
SURVEYS
Latin
Americans Lead World in Emotions
-- Led by
Bolivia and El Salvador, Latin American countries dominate the top of the list
of the most emotional countries in the world for 2014. On average, nearly six
in 10 residents in each of these countries reported experiencingpositive or
negative emotions the previous day. Post-Soviet states largely
dominate the list of countries at the other end of the spectrum, where at most
four in 10 residents reported experiencing any of these feelings. (Gallup USA)
August 27, 2015
CYBER WORLD
Internet
Industry Nets Record Positive Rating
Six in 10
Americans view the Internet industry either very or somewhat positively, which
is up from 49% a year ago and easily the highest positive rating that Gallup
has recorded in 15 years. (Gallup USA)
August 26, 2015
Americans’
Views on Mobile Etiquette
This Pew
Research Center report explores newly released survey findings about Americans’
views about the appropriateness of cellphone use in public places and in social
gatherings and the way those views sometimes conflict with their own behaviors.
(Pew Research Center)
August 26, 2015
MENA
Uncertainty over a
successor: What if President Abbas does not run for president again
Setback in trust in the government
and political personalities
Majority wants elections even
without reconciliation
No sympathy with ISIS in West Bank
and Gaza
Poll
No. 84 - August 2015 - No Presidential Successor, PNA Priorities
September
01, 2015
A public opinion poll conducted by JMCC showed interesting results in
Palestinian public opinion circles, including contradictions and several
surprises. Perhaps the most significant of these was the absence of a real
successor to President Mahmoud Abbas if he does not run for the
presidency. The results also showed a setback in the popularity of Palestinian
forces and factions and a lack of any sympathy or support for ISIS or its
sister movements, whether in the Gaza Strip or the West Bank. What was even
more peculiar was the setback in campaigns to boycott Israeli products, both in
practice and in support.
Uncertainty: Who will succeed Abu Mazen if he does not run for
president?
One question posed to the public was about their choices if presidential
elections were held and the current President Mahmoud Abbas does not run. 10.5%
(9.1% from the West Bank and 12.9% from Gaza) said they would vote for Marwan
Barghouti for president making him the most popular candidate, while 9.8% (7.5%
from the West Bank and 13.8% from Gaza) said they would vote for Ismail
Haniyeh; 5.1% (1.3% from the West Bank and 11.3% from Gaza)
answered Mohammed Dahlan and 3.3% said they would vote for Saeb Erekat; another
3.3% answered Khaled Meshaal, while the largest proportion 33.6% said they had
not yet decided for whom they would vote.
Setback in popularity of political personalities
The poll also showed a setback in
the level of trust in political personalities, whereby the percentage of those
who trust President Abbas dropped from 21.8% in March of this year to 16.1% in
this August poll. The level of trust in Ismail Haniyeh also dropped from 14.1%
to 12.5% in the same period. Moreover, the level of trust in Marwan Barghouti
rose from 5.4% in March to 7.1% within the same period.
In terms of evaluating the performance of the government, the percentage of
those who believe its performance has retreated rose from 15.8% in April, 2014
to 26.4% this August. Also, the percentage of those who believe the government
deals transparently with the administration of financial issues dropped from
24.3% in May 2012 to 17.3% this August.
In regards to the latest reshuffle in Dr. Rami Hamdallah’s government, the majority,
44.3% of those polled, said the step would make no difference, in comparison to
34.9% who said the step would serve the interests of the Palestinian
people.
The public was then asked the question: “How would you define yourself- only in
one word- in terms of particular affiliation?”. The majority, 32.4% answered
Palestinian; 16.8% said Muslim, 6.8% said Fatah; and 2.7% answered Hamas.
Increasing demand for elections
Meanwhile, there was a rise in the percentage of those who support holding
legislative and presidential elections, even if reconciliation is not
completed, from 34.8% in November, 2012 to 58.9% in this August. In contrast,,
the percentage of those who support holding elections only once reconciliation
is completed, dropped from 60.8% in November, 2012 to 35.8% this August.
In response to the question whether it is important for Palestine National
Council elections to be held, 74% said it was important while 16.9% said it was
not important.
In response to the question If PLC elections were held today, to which party
you would vote for, 41.1% said Fatah 20.2% Hamas while 22.7% said they will not
vote.
Setback in support for and practice of a boycott of Israeli products
It was clear from the poll that there has been a distinct setback in the level
of support for and practice of boycott campaigns of Israeli products in
general. The percentage of those who support the boycott of all Israeli
projects dropped from 59.2% last March to 49.1% this August. Moreover, the
percentage of those who support the boycott of Israeli settlement products only
rose from 7.6% last March to 9.4% this August.
In response to a question about their direct practice of boycotting, the
percentage of respondents who said they boycott all Israeli products dropped
from 48.8% last March to 34.1% this August.
?
No sympathy for ISIS or its sister movements
The poll clearly showed there is no sympathy for or any noteworthy presence of
ISIS or Salafist movements in the Palestinian territories, including in the
Gaza Strip. The majority, 64.9% said they were unsympathetic with them while
3.8% said they were sympathetic.
In regards to the strength of Salafist movements in the Gaza Strip, the
majority of respondents, 60.3% said the presence of Salafist movements in the Strip
was limited and had little strength. Meanwhile, 2.8% said they were very
strong. Upon considering the responses to this question in the Gaza Strip and
the West Bank separately, it is apparent that 53.4% of the West Bank and 71.8%
of the Gaza Strip consider these movements to have little and limited
strength.
Two-state solution: continuous setback
There was a continuous, slight
decline in the percentage of those who believe the two-state formula is the
favored solution, whereby the percentage of the supporters for this solution
dropped from 44% this August after it had been 48.3% in March of this year and
52.4% in March, 2013. Contrastingly, the percentage of those who support a
bi-national state rose to 21.3% in this poll after it was 16.3% in March of
this year and 23.4% in March, 2013.
Maintaining the PNA
The poll showed that 71.7% of
respondents believe there is a need to perpetuate and maintain the PNA. This
includes the majority, 78.4% in the Gaza Strip and 67.7% in the West Bank
including Jerusalem, in comparison to 23.7% who support the dissolution of the
PNA.
What is more important
As for the question on what should be a priority for the PNA, the majority,
27.4% clearly stated that the priority should be dealing with the cost of
living problem, followed by 21.4% who said the priority should be the
reconstruction of the Gaza Strip; this was followed by 20.3% who said it should
be enforcing the law; 14.8% said confronting settler attacks, while 10.4% said
education.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
Malaysian public split on BERSIH 4 Rally
August 28, 2015
BANGI – A survey carried out between 15th and 21th
August 2015 found that 43% of the respondents view the BERSIH4 favorably while
47% of the respondents unfavorable. The survey found that supporters of the
rally were distinguished along gender, ethnicity, urban-rural as well as
socio-economic lines.
Supporters of the rally were mostly drawn from among
males (48% as opposed to 39% women), urban voters (51% favorable as opposed to
31% among rural voters) and those with mid-level income or above (57% favorable
among those from households of RM3000/month as opposed to only 28% from those
with less than RM3,000 monthly household incomes). Perhaps the most marked
findings was that the rally was supported by 81% of the ethnic Chinese
respondents and 51% of the ethnic Indian respondents but only favored by 23% of
the ethnic Malay voters interviewed.
The
details of the findings as follows:
Reasons for Supporting and Opposing the Rally
When
asked via an open ended question about reasons why they supported the BERSIH 4
rally, respondents in the survey gave the following principal reasons:
1. Wanted to see improvements in institutions such as
the electoral process, parliament (39%)
2. To express unhappiness with the government (25%)
3. To express dissatisfaction with the performance of
PM Najib Razak (13%)
4. To express anger over the implementation of the
Goods and Services Tax (11%)
Those who responded that they did not support the
rally articulated the following reasons:
1. Fear of violence and chaos (52%)
2. Does not think that BERSIH can achieve anything
significant (22%)
3. Fear the Malay community will be marginalized if PM
Najib is forced to step down (4%)
In our opinion, the survey reveals a Peninsular
Malaysia electorate that is polarized along ethnic and socio-economic lines.
While the BERSIH rally in Kuala Lumpur is likely going to attract a high level
of participation in terms of crowd size, as indicated by the overwhelming sale
of merchandise and donations received by the organizer, the survey suggests
that participants will likely be drawn from urban, Internet-savvy and
non-Bumiputera voters.
The
survey was carried out by the Merdeka Center for Opinion Research between 15th
and 21th August 2015. For this survey, 1,010 registered voters comprising 60%
Malay, 31% Chinese and 9% Indian. Respondents were interviewed by telephone.
Respondents were selected on the basis of random stratified sampling along
ethnicity, gender and state of residence. The interviews were carried out in
the preferred language of the respondents.
Source: http://www.merdeka.org/
Philippines:Record-low 32% of executives have
personal knowledge of
corrupt transaction with government in the last 3 months
The 2014/15 SWS Survey of
Enterprises on Corruption:
August 27, 2015
Social Weather Stations
The 2014/15 SWS Survey of
Enterprises on Corruption, fielded from November 14, 2014 to May 12, 2015,
found a record-low 32% of Filipino managers saying they have personal knowledge
of a corrupt transaction with government in the last three months in their line
of business [Chart 1]. This surpasses the previous record-low of 33% in
2012.
The 2014/15 Survey is based on
face-to-face interviews of executives of 966 enterprises in National Capital
Region, Metro Angeles, Cavite-Laguna-Batangas, Metro Iloilo, Metro Cebu, Metro
Davao, and Cagayan de Oro-Iligan over the period November 14, 2014 to May 12,
2015. The 2014/15 Survey of Enterprises on Corruption is the 12th in a series
of surveys done by SWS since 2000.
The 2014/15 SWS Survey of
Enterprises on Corruption was presented by SWS, in cooperation with National
Competitiveness Council, on August 27 at the Hotel JEN Manila.
The highlights of the 2014/15 Survey
are as follows:
Record-low 39% say most companies in
their sector of business give bribes to win public sector contracts
The survey found a record-low 39%
saying most (11% almost all, 28% most) of the companies in their line of
business give bribes to win public sector contracts, surpassing the previous
record-low of 41% in 2012 and 2013 [Chart 2].
2015 sincerity ratings of 36
institutions in fighting corruption: 21 favorable, 9 neutral, 6 unfavorable
Of the 36 government institutions rated for sincerity in fighting corruption,
21 got favorable ratings, 9 neutral, and 6 unfavorable [Table 1].
The net ratings of sincerity
(computed as % sincere minus % insincere) in
fighting corruption was very good for the Securities and Exchange Commission
(+63), Social Security System (+57), Philippine Stock Exchange (+55), Office of
the President (+54), and Dept. of Trade and Industry (+51) [Chart 3].
It was good for the
Filipino business associations (+49), Supreme Court (+42), Civil Service
Commission (+41), Dept. of Education (+43), Sandiganbayan (+37), Office of the
Ombudsman (36), Commission on Audit (+36), and Dept. of Justice (+34) [Chart
4].
It was moderate for
Dept. of Health (+28), Government Service Insurance System (+27), Dept. of
Social Welfare and Development (+24), their own Barangay Government (+19),
Dept. of Finance (+15), Presidential Commission on Good Government (+15),
Governance Commission for GOCCs (+12), and their own City Government (+12) [Chart
5].
It was neutral for
Dept. of Interior and Local Government (+9), the Trial Courts (+6), Dept. of
Environment and Natural Resources (+6), the Armed Forces of the Philippines
(+4), Dept. of Budget and Management (-7), Dept. of Transportation and
Communication (-2), the Senate (-2), Bureau of Internal Revenue (-4), and
Commission on Elections (-6) [Chart 6].
It was poor for Dept. of Agriculture
(-10), Philippine National Police (-16), Dept. of Public Works and Highways
(-21), House of Representatives (-25), and Land Transportation Office (-26) [Chart
7].
It was very bad for
Bureau of Customs at -55 [Chart 8].
2015 movements in ratings: 8
upgrades, 19 no-change, 7 downgrades; 2 first-time
Of the 36 government institutions
rated for sincerity in fighting corruption, there were 8 upgrades, 19
no-change, 7 downgrades from 2013 to 2014/15, and 2 first-time ratings.
Compared to 2013, net ratings of
sincerity (computed as % sincere minus % insincere)
in fighting corruption rose by one grade from moderate to good for
Sandiganbayan, up from +15 to +37, the Office of the Ombudsman, up from +23 to
+36, and Commission on Audit, up from +22 to +36.
It rose by one grade from poor to neutral for
Bureau of Internal Revenue, up from -10 to -4. It has steadily improved since
2012 after having been at bad to very bad levels from 2006 to 2009.
It rose by one grade from bad to poor for
Land Transportation Office, up from -32 to -26.
Compared to 2009, it rose by one grade from neutral to moderate for Dept. of
Finance, up from -4 to +15, and Government Service Insurance System, up from -5
to +27.
It rose by two grades from poor to moderate for
the Presidential Commission on Good Government, up from -28 to +15.
It stayed very good for
Social Security System, up from +52 in 2013 to +57 in 2014/15.
It also stayed very
good for Dept. of Trade and Industry, although down from +58 to +51.
Compared to 2005, it also
stayed very good in Securities and Exchange Commission, up
from +55 to +63, and Philippine Stock Exchange, up from +52 to +55.
It stayed good for
Supreme Court, up from +36 in 2013 to +42 in 2014/15.
It also stayed good for
Dept. of Education, although down from +49 to +43, and Dept. of Justice, barely
moving from +35 to +34.
Compared to 2013, it stayed moderate for
City Governments, although down from +23 to +12.
It stayed neutral for Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources, up from -4 to
+6, and Senate, from up -8 to -2.
It also stayed neutral for
Trial Courts, although down from +9 to +6, Dept. of Transportation and
Communication, down from +8 to -2, Commission on Elections, from down +7 to -6,
and Dept. of Budget and Management, down from +9 to -7.
It stayed poor for
Philippine National Police, up from -24 to -16.
It also stayed poor for
Dept. of Public Works and Highways, moving from -22 to -21, and House of
Representatives, moving from -28 to -25.
Compared to 2005, it stayed poor for
Dept. of Agriculture, although down from -19 to -10.
It stayed very bad for
Bureau of Customs, up from -63 to -55.
On the other hand, it fell by one
grade from excellent to very good for the
Office of the President, down from +77 to +54.
It fell by two grades from very
good to moderate for Dept. of Health, down from +53
to +28, and Dept. of Social Welfare and Development, down from +52 to +24.
Compared to 2009, it fell by one
grade from very good to good for Filipino
business associations, down from +64 to +49, while it fell from moderate to neutral for
the Armed Forces of the Philippines, down from +10 to +4.
It fell by one grade from moderate to neutral for
Dept. of Interior and Local Government, down from +20 in 2013 to +9 in 2014/15.
Compared to 2005, it fell by one
grade from good to moderate for the Barangay
Governments, down from +31 to +19.
Tested for the first time were the
Civil Service Commission and Governance Commission for GOCCs.
The SWS terminology for net
sincerity ratings is: Excellent +70 and up, Very Good +50 to +69, Good +30 to
+49, Moderate +10 to +29, Neutral -9 to +9, Poor -29 to -10, Bad -49 to -30,
and Very Bad -69 to -50. A single-digit net satisfaction is considered not
significantly different from zero.
New low 11% say that government
"often/almost always" punishes corrupt government officials.
The 2014/15 Survey found 11% of
executives saying the government "often/almost always" punishes
corrupt government officials, a record-low compared to 20% in 2013 and 27% in
2012 [Chart 9].
90% agree that "Corruption will
be reduced by the passage of a strong law on the right of the people to
information from the government"
Nine out of ten (90%) agree with the
statement, "Corruption will be reduced by the passage of a strong law on
the right of the people to information from the government" [Chart 10].
This is 12 points above the 78% in
2009, and 2 points up from 88% in 2013.
New high 79% say transaction
procedures of city/municipal gov't offices are somewhat/definitely transparent
A majority 79% of executives say the
procedures or system of transactions of city/municipal offices that they have
had transactions with are somewhat/definitely transparent, a new high compared
to 74% in 2009, 73% in 2012, and 78% in 2013 [Chart 11].
Being solicited for a bribe fell
from 50% (2012) to 44% (2013 and 2014/15)
Solicitation of any of the 7 listed
bribes from enterprises was 44% in 2014/15, unchanged from 2013 and 6 points
down from 50% in 2012 [Chart 12].
Getting local government
permits/licenses stayed at
25% from 2013 to 2014/15. It is 6 points below the 31% in 2012.
Assessment/payment of income
taxes went to 24% in 2014/15 from 23% in
2013. It is 3 points below the 27% in 2012.
Getting national government permits/
licenses rose by 2 points to 21% in 2014/15,
from 19% in 2013 and 2012.
Complying with import regulations
including payment of import duties rose
by 3 points to 18% in 2014/15, from 15% in 2013. This is similar to 17% in
2012.
Supplying government with goods and
services rose by 3 points to 15% in 2014/15,
from 12% in 2013. This is similar to 14% in 2012.
Collecting receivables from
government went to 12% in 2014/15, from 13% in
2013 and 2012.
Availing of government
incentives went to 8% in 2014/15, from 7% in
2013 and 5% in 2012.
Only 13% of those solicited for a
bribe reported it
Among those who were solicited for a
bribe, only 13% reported it, similar to 14% in 2013 but 4 points above the 9%
in 2009 and 2012 [Chart 13].
72% have good/excellent expectations
(record 76% in 2013) for business in the next 2 years.
The 2014/15 Survey found 72% expecting
business for the next two years to be excellent/good, just 4 points
below the record-high 76% in 2013 and 2 points below the 74% in 2012. It used
to be at 55% in 2009 [Chart 14].
Other findings in the 2014/15 Survey
include:
- New high 62% say "the government can be run
without corruption."
- New high 51% disagree that "the present laws to
fight corruption in our country are already adequate."
- 59% say the process of business permits/licenses
renewal is easier now than 3 years ago.
- Use of the internet to transact with government has
grown very much.
- 23% say most companies in their line of business give
bribes to win private sector contracts.
- 78% disagree that "to prosper in business in the
Philippines today, one has to be corrupt."
- 68% say that cheating the government for the benefit of
the company is always wrong.
- The best ways for businesses to fight corruption are to
(a) use honest business practices, (b) never pay bribes, and (c) know the
laws/rules.
- Only 57% say that corrupt executives in their own sector
of business are often punished.
- New high 84% did not contribute in the last 2 years to
any private anti-corruption program.
- Enterprises' interest in supporting groups fighting
corruption is sliding, e.g. from 75% (2005) to 64% (2015) interest in donating
funds.
- Enterprises' willingness to help whistleblowers is
sliding -- except for providing private jobs (77%).
- Honest business practices still leave much to be
desired.
- 64% are satisfied (record 70% in 2013) with the
national government's performance in promoting a good business climate.
- New high 68% are satisfied with their city government's
performance in promoting a good business climate.
Survey Background
The 2014/15 round of the Survey of
Enterprises was conducted by SWS with support from the Integrity for
Investments Initiative (i3) and funding from the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID), and in partnership with the National
Competitiveness Council and The Asia Foundation.
The 2014/15 Survey was conducted
from November 14, 2014 to May 12, 2015, involving face-to-face interview of
executives of 966 companies, 325 of whom were randomly drawn Large enterprises,
and 641 were randomly drawn Small and Medium enterprises. The sample
enterprises were drawn from seven study areas: Metro Manila (356), Metro
Angeles (101), Cavite-Laguna-Batangas (101), Metro Iloilo (100), Metro Cebu
(100), Metro Davao (101), and Cagayan de Oro-Iligan (107).
In each area, sampling is stratified
into one-third large (total 325 companies) and two thirds small/medium (641
companies), which are combined without weighting. The previous year's sample of
companies is approached again, with those unable to respond replaced by random
drawings from a cumulative list of companies interviewed in earlier lists, list
of signatories to the Integrity Initiative, and from BusinessWorld's Top 1000
Corporations in the Philippines magazine.
The TAG surveys report the views of
Filipino managers, unlike the surveys of foreign consulting firms used to
derive international corruption indexes, which use the views of
typically-expatriate managers of multinational firms.
#
Chart 1
Chart 2
Table 1
Chart 3
Source: http://www.sws.org.ph/
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Supportive but dissatisfied: Ugandans’ views on multipartism
August
25, 2015
Ugandans
support multipartism as a viable political system of governance but many are
not satisfied with the way multi-party politics work in Uganda, the latest
Afrobarometer survey shows.
A
significant proportion of Ugandans say that competition between political
parties often leads to violent conflict, that the opposition political parties
and their supporters are often silenced by Government, and many fear becoming
victims of political intimidation or violence during election campaigns.
Nearly
a decade since the 2005 referendum on political system, these findings
demonstrate that despite the low satisfaction with multiparty politics, many
Ugandans support the idea of having many political parties, and think the
opposition should work with government to develop the country.
Key
findings
Seven in ten (71%) Ugandans agree that many political parties are necessary to
give Ugandans real choices in who governs them, compared to 41% in 2002 (Figure
1).
The growth in support for multipartism has been matched by growth in feeling
close to a political party, from 29% in 2000 to 73% in 2015.
Trust in opposition political parties increased over the last decade and half,
from 16% in 2002 to 31% in 2015, with a highest of 47% in 2012. In retrospect,
trust in ruling NRM has increased from 56% in 2002 to 71% in 2015, with a
lowest point of 45% in 2008.
More than half (55%) of Ugandans perceive competition between political parties
to often result in violent conflict, down from 65% in 2002 (Figure 2).
Similarly, only 27% say the opposition or their supporters are never silenced
by the government.
Although abating, the number of citizens who fear becoming victims of political
intimidation and violence during election stands at 63% (down from 73% in
2008).
Afrobarometer
survey
Afrobarometer
is an African-led, non-partisan research network that conducts public attitude
surveys on democracy, governance, economic conditions, and related issues across
more than 30 countries in Africa. Five rounds of surveys were conducted between
1999 and 2013, and Round 6 surveys are currently under way (2014-2015).
Afrobarometer conducts face-to-face interviews in the language preferred by the
respondent with nationally representative samples of between 1,200 and 2,400
respondents.
The
Afrobarometer team in Uganda, led by Hatchile Consult, interviewed 2,400 adult
Ugandans in May 2015. A sample of this size yields country-level results with a
margin of error of +/-2% at a 95% confidence level. Previous surveys were
conducted in Uganda in 2000, 2002, 2005, 2008, and 2012.
EAST EUROPE
Russians have much to be proud of
New project of Romir “Russia 10 years later”
Research holding Romir is about to launch a new project called “Russia 10 years later”. Over the period of development of New Russia the country has changed a lot. We witnessed many different events both happy and sad. The generations are changing and the world itself is changing too. All this certainly affected the Russian peoples’ mindset. A period of 10 years is a good opportunity for holding new public opinion survey and see what has changed in people’s minds.
Romir addressed the same questions to the Russians that they were answering at certain periods from 2000 to 2005 and got quite interesting dynamics. Some questions showed significant changes and other maintained the overall trend.
Thus, one of the first questions concerned country’s achievements that make Russian people feel proud of. The similar survey was conducted in 2003. If we compare the results we’ll see that the results have changed dramatically. (see Diagram 1).
Diagram 1. What national achievements make you feel proud? (%)
Source: Romir, July 2015
Twelve years ago 25% of the respondents claimed that Russian people had nothing to be proud of and it was the top answer in the rating list but today the top lines appear to be completely different. The first rank is shared by the “President” and “People” with 34% and 32% of votes correspondingly. The second rank again with close rates is taken by traditions (25%) and natural resources (24%). According to 19% of the surveyed the third rank is held by the achievements in weapons and sport.
The above Diagram 1 shows that in 2003 the same answers were given by much fewer respondents: 16% were proud of the Russian people, 12% took pride in the Russian President, 11% mentioned traditions, 7% – sports 7%, and only 1% of respondents were proud of the weapons and military equipment.
The share of those who is proud of Russian space technologies has increased tenfold in the last 12 years - 1% in 2003 vs. 10% this year. The share of Russians who acknowledge our achievements in science and technology again has grown from 1% to 8%. However, the share of respondents who are proud of the Russian crop yields remain the same 6%.
No significant differences were found in the context of different socio-demographics groups. But still it is noteworthy that there are more women than men, as well as youngsters under 24 years old and seniors 60+ among those who are proud of the Russian President. Young respondents and million-plus residents stressed that they feel proud of the Russian achievements in sport more often than on average across the sample. Older people and small town residents take much more pride in the Russian people.
High-income group of respondents stands out from the overall picture. In general, the rating of achievements that make people feel proud overlaps the all-Russia results. However, the number of answers is much lower and the top rankings are taken by the President, Natural resources and Sport.
Still it should be noted that results for such answers as development of democracy, economic success and achieving a free society haven’t changed since the last poll was held, These results remained at the level of 2-3%.
“These findings clearly demonstrate that the patriotism has lately increased and people strongly supports the President, We also see that the situation in military sector and sport has changed for the better. But at the same it proves that we haven’t achieved any economic success, haven’t advanced in development of democracy and building of free society. While these attributes are as important as pride in the people and the president demonstrating the comprehensive national program and national idea that remained unclear for so many years”, - said Andrey Milekhin, president of the research holding Romir.
* July survey covered the sample of 1,500 respondents aged 18-60+ y.o. residing in urban and rural areas in all Russian federal districts. The sample represents the Russian adult population.
Russia: Crisis Survival Techniques
The main strategies Russians choose
to survive the crisis are to buy cheaper products or fully abandon certain
items.
MOSCOW, August 19, 2015. Russian Public Opinion Research Centre presents the
information concerning the strategies that Russians choose to survive the
crisis.
The Russian consumer behavior has
undergone some changes during the crisis. From January till July 2015 the number of those who started
to buy cheaper goods and products more than half a year ago has increased from
22% to 32%. A further 21% have been doing so during the last half a year. The
share of those who refrain from buying certain things for more than six months
has considerably increased (from 21% to 31%); 21% have been doing so during the
last half a year.
At the same time, the number of
those who started to behave in this manner only a few months ago has decreased
(from 20% to 7% and from 23% to 7%, respectively). The share of those who do
not restrain themselves from buying anything is the same (40%).
Most of Russians did not accept the
anti-crisis strategies. Less than half of Russians started to grow vegetables
and fruits, make food preparations (37%), and keep food in store (31%). Some
respondents search for a high-paid job and extra income (32%). Twenty-eight
percent of Russians spend their savings on everyday needs; 22% get a bank loan;
23% borrow money from friends; 22% get free assistance from relatives. And
finally, 10% make foreign currency savings; 5% sell valuable property.
When asked without prompt about
things respondents had to abandon due to crisis, the most popular answer was
traveling (12%). A further 4% spend less on leisure activities and
entertainment. Almost every tenth (8%) saves on food. Russians say that now
they have to restrain themselves from buying clothes (2%). Two percent
economize on health care. Others had to change their home repairs plans (1%),
refused to purchase domestic appliances and electronics (1%) or a car (1%),
etc.
The VCIOM opinion poll was
conducted July 25-26, 2015; 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130
settlements in 46 regions of Russia. The
margin of error does not exceed 3.5%.
|
Some Russians think that an
economic crisis came to Russia, and they started to save up, to borrow money,
to do savings, etc. What strategy do you/your family member use? And
for how long? (closed-ended question, one answer per each line, %) |
||||||
|
|
I have started to do so a month
ago |
I have started to do so in recent
six months |
More than half a year |
Never |
Don`t know |
|
|
Buy cheaper products and goods |
07.15 |
7 |
21 |
32 |
39 |
1 |
|
01.15 |
20 |
16 |
22 |
38 |
4 |
|
|
Buy less or refrain from buying
certain products, goods, services |
07.15 |
7 |
21 |
31 |
39 |
2 |
|
01.15 |
23 |
18 |
21 |
34 |
4 |
|
|
Buy products in store |
07.15 |
4 |
10 |
17 |
68 |
1 |
|
01.15 |
10 |
12 |
17 |
56 |
5 |
|
|
Search for a high-paid job, a
second job or run a business |
07.15 |
5 |
10 |
17 |
65 |
2 |
|
01.15 |
8 |
11 |
14 |
62 |
5 |
|
|
Spending savings on everyday needs |
07.15 |
5 |
11 |
12 |
71 |
2 |
|
01.15 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
66 |
5 |
|
|
Borrow money from friends and
relatives |
07.15 |
3 |
9 |
11 |
76 |
1 |
|
01.15 |
5 |
8 |
12 |
70 |
5 |
|
|
Taking on a loan, buying goods on
credit |
07.15 |
2 |
6 |
14 |
78 |
1 |
|
01.15 |
3 |
6 |
13 |
74 |
4 |
|
|
Get free assistance from relatives
and friends |
07.15 |
3 |
7 |
12 |
77 |
1 |
|
01.15 |
4 |
6 |
12 |
72 |
5 |
|
|
Grow more vegetables and fruits,
to breed poultry, keep more food in store |
07.15 |
3 |
10 |
24 |
62 |
1 |
|
01.15 |
3 |
8 |
22 |
62 |
5 |
|
|
Save up in foreign currency
(US dollar, euro, etc.), pay money into a currency account |
07.15 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
89 |
1 |
|
01.15 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
82 |
5 |
|
|
Selling property (car, apartment,
dacha) and personal property (cloths, books, household goods) |
07.15 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
94 |
1 |
|
01.15 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
85 |
5 |
|
|
Is there anything you had to
abandon due to crisis? Any habits, goods, services? (open-ended question, any
number of answers, %, answers mentioned by at least 1% of respondents) |
|
|
|
Total respondents |
|
Travelling |
12 |
|
Food (“we eat less meat”,
“search for cheaper products”, “eating less vegetables, fruits and meat”) |
8 |
|
Leisure, entertainment (“I go to
cinema less often”, “children do not go anywhere”) |
4 |
|
We have to economize on everything |
3 |
|
Clothes (“cheaper clothes”, “less
cloths bought”, “no new clothes”) |
2 |
|
Health (“yes; I refused to
have expensive surgery”, “I cannot afford sanatorium treatment”) |
2 |
|
Smoking; I switched to cheaper
cigarettes (“cigarettes are expensive”, “Now I smoke less”) |
2 |
|
We refuses to buy a car |
1 |
|
Personal care (“cosmetics”,
“manicure”, “I do not go to hair studio”) |
1 |
|
House repairs |
1 |
|
Refusal to buy new domestic
appliances (“I cannot afford a new refrigerator”, “I could not afford a new
computer”, “buying electronics”) |
1 |
|
Economizing on petrol |
1 |
|
Refusal to buy alcohol,
restrictions in the number of items |
1 |
|
No, nothing has changed |
16 |
|
Other |
3 |
|
Don’t know |
50 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com,
as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for
the electronic media) is obligatory!
Emigrants From Russia: Who Are They? How Many Are They?
Over a year the number of Russian
emigrants has increased, according to every fourth respondent. Those who leave
Russia permanently are mainly young people with high income, living in
metropolitan area and employed in the private sector.
MOSCOW, August 14, 2015. Russian Public Opinion Research Centre presents the
information about the following issues: whether Russians consider the problem
of emigration important for Russia; how they perceive those people who leave
Russia; where they want their children and grand-children to live.
Most of Russians are concerned about
the problem of emigration: two-thirds (65%) believe that this is an important
problem. Those who think so are mainly residents of Moscow and St.
Petersburg (74%), those who graduated from universities (68%) rather than rural
area residents (64%) and people with elementary level of education (58%).
Russians say that the number of
emigrants from Russia has increased over a year. Indeed, whereas in 2014 the
share of those who thought so was 18%, this year the percentage is 24%, though
less than in 2013 (29%). At the same time, the number of those who think that
the share of emigrants has decreased has almost stayed the same (24% in 2014;
23% in 2015). One-third of respondents (32%) say that the number of emigrants
is the same (from 42% in 2014).
Emigrants are mainly young Russians
(74%), with high level of education (73%), high income (68%), and living in big
cities (65%). Besides, they are active (78%) and strong (62%) and often
employed in the private sector (54%); they tent to disapprove of the
presidential work (49%).
According to the Medialogoia Company
analysis of the Russian media, the most visible event on the topic of
emigration was the publication about Ksenia Sobchak leaving Russia (March
2015). Later Ksenia Sobchak denied this information. The second place is held
by the publication about the Dynasty Foundation founder Dmitry Zimin (June
2015). The Chairman of Human Rights Council Mikhail Fedotov stated that Dmitry
Zimin was not going to leave Russia. The third popular publication refers to
the relocation of Maria Gaidar to Ukraine (July 2015).
The VCIOM opinion poll was
conducted July 4-5, 2015; 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130
settlements in 46 regions of Russia. The
margin of error does not exceed 3.5%.
Monitoring and analysis of the
Russian media publications were carried out by the Medialogia Company using
26100 sources such as television, radio, newspapers, magazines, information
agencies and online media. The rankings were based on the Event Visibility metric
defined as a sum of publications on a certain topic in the most prestigious
media. Research period: August, 2014 – July, 2015.
|
In your opinion, is the problem of
emigration important, rather important or not at all important for Russia?
(closed-ended question, one answer, %) |
|||||||
|
|
Total respondents |
Moscow and St. Petersburg |
Million cities |
More than 500 ths |
100–500 ths |
Less than 100 ths |
Rural area |
|
Rather important problem |
65 |
74 |
68 |
59 |
64 |
64 |
64 |
|
Rather not important problem |
29 |
21 |
26 |
40 |
29 |
31 |
30 |
|
Don`t know |
6 |
4 |
6 |
1 |
7 |
5 |
6 |
|
In your opinion, has the number of
people who leave Russia permanently increased, decreased or stayed the same
over the recent several years? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) |
|||
|
|
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Increased |
29 |
18 |
24 |
|
The same number |
37 |
42 |
32 |
|
Decreased |
21 |
24 |
23 |
|
Don`t know |
14 |
15 |
21 |
|
In your opinion, are there more
weak or strong people among those who move permanently abroad? (closed-ended
question, one answer per each line, %) |
||
|
More active |
More inactive |
Don’t know |
|
78 |
8 |
13 |
|
More old people |
More young people |
Don’t know |
|
15 |
74 |
11 |
|
More people with high level of
education |
More people with low level of
education |
Don’t know |
|
73 |
11 |
16 |
|
More rich people |
More poor people |
Don’t know |
|
68 |
18 |
14 |
|
More residents of big cities |
More residents of small cities and
rural area |
Don’t know |
|
65 |
18 |
17 |
|
More weak people |
More strong people |
Don’t know |
|
21 |
62 |
17 |
|
More those who work in the private
sector |
More those who work in the state
sector |
Don’t know |
|
54 |
22 |
24 |
|
More those who approve of the work
of the president |
More those who disapprove of the
work of the president |
Don’t know |
|
16 |
49 |
35 |
|
More people engaged in artistic
professions |
More people not engaged in
artistic professions |
Don’t know |
|
43 |
27 |
30 |
|
More men |
More women |
Don’t know |
|
37 |
17 |
45 |
|
More people with traditional
sexual orientation |
More people of non-traditional
sexual orientation |
Don’t know |
|
32 |
16 |
52 |
TOP-5 most visible topics concerning
emigration in Russian media
|
Ranking |
Event |
Event visibility |
|
1 |
Ksenia Sobchak left Russia «on the
recommendation of the security services» |
148.02 |
|
2 |
The founder of the Dynasty
Foundation Dmitry Zimin left Russia |
94.02 |
|
3 |
Maria Gaidar moved to Ukraine |
68.17 |
|
4 |
Pavel Durov, founder of the
VKontakte social network, left Russia |
62.98 |
|
5 |
Discussion about the payment of
pensions of Russians living abroad |
60.51 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com,
as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for
the electronic media) is obligatory!
Full or partial reproduction of the
Medialogia Company materials in other media must contain a reference to the
Medialogia Company.
Russia: Religious Feelings Vs Freedom Of Speech
Most of Russians consider
unacceptable any display of disrespect towards the believers, both in everyday
life and in artistic sphere.
MOSCOW, August 13, 2015. Russian Public Opinion Research Centre presents the
information about what Russians appreciate more – protection of the feelings of
the believers or freedom of speech and artistic expression.
Twenty-four percent of respondents
have witnessed actions or statements that hurt the feelings of believers (24%
of Orthodox Christians; 16% of non-believers). Certain offensive statements,
blasphemy, mockery, non-belief and violation of sacred places are the most
offensive things.
Russians put the feelings of
believers above freedom of speech. Most of them (68%) are confident that all
citizens must be guided by the political correctness and politeness rather than
the freedom of speech. They are opposed by 27% of respondents (39% of those
aged 18-24; 37% of those with low level of education; 37% of non-believers).
Two-thirds of Russians (67% think
that the artistic community (those who write books, draw pictures and make
movies) should not hurt the feelings of the believers. Those who think so are
mainly elderly persons (77% of those aged over 60), Orthodox believers (70%)
and followers of other religions (71%), rather than young Russians (53% of
those aged 18 - 24) and atheists (57%). On the contrary, 28% give priority to
freedom of speech and consider than any restrictions concerning the artistic
sphere are unacceptable.
The VCIOM opinion poll was
conducted April 4-5, 2015; 1600 respondents were interviewed in 132
settlements in 46 regions of Russia. The
margin of error does not exceed 3.5%.
|
Did you come across the violation
of the feelings of believers? If yes, how often? (closed-ended
question, one answer, %) |
||||
|
|
Total respondents |
Followers of Orthodox
Christianity |
Followers of other religions |
Non-believers fluctuating between
faith and non-faith |
|
Almost every day |
1 |
1 |
1 |
- |
|
Several times per month |
4 |
4 |
10 |
1 |
|
Several times per year |
8 |
8 |
13 |
3 |
|
One or two times |
11 |
11 |
16 |
12 |
|
Never |
73 |
72 |
60 |
83 |
|
Don`t know |
3 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
|
In your opinion, what can insult
the feelings of the believers? Give examples, please (open-ended question,
any number of answers , %) |
|
|
|
Total respondents |
|
Abusive statements |
11 |
|
Non-faith |
5 |
|
Mockery |
5 |
|
Blasphemy |
4 |
|
Display of disrespect |
4 |
|
Desecration |
4 |
|
Vandalism |
3 |
|
Caricatures |
3 |
|
Enforcing other religions |
2 |
|
Action of Pussy Riot at Christ the
Savior Cathedral |
2 |
|
Intolerance towards other religions |
2 |
|
Failure to observe other
religious norms |
2 |
|
Charlie Hebdo cartoons |
1 |
|
Production of the Tannhauser at
Novosibirsk Opera House |
1 |
|
Infringement of the rights of
believers |
1 |
|
Criticizing believers |
1 |
|
Strong language |
1 |
|
Desecration of religious
symbols |
1 |
|
Religious sects |
1 |
|
Bad habits |
1 |
|
Ethnic discrimination |
1 |
|
Terrorist attacks |
<1 |
|
Indifference |
1 |
|
Condemnation for the faith |
<1 |
|
Anything |
1 |
|
Nothing |
1 |
|
Other |
4 |
|
Don`t know |
49 |
|
In your opinion, what is the main
principle any person should be guided by - freedom of speech or political
correctness and politeness? (closed-ended question, one answer) |
|||||
|
|
Total respondents |
Elementary (incomplete secondary)
education |
Secondary education (school,
vocational school) |
Specialized secondary
education (technical school) |
Incomplete higher (not less than
three years in a higher education institute), higher education |
|
Political correctness and
politeness are very important; it is not appropriate to hurt someone`s
feelings |
68 |
56 |
66 |
69 |
70 |
|
Freedom of speech is above all:
people can express anything they want even if it hurts someone `s feelings |
27 |
37 |
29 |
27 |
23 |
|
Don`t know |
5 |
7 |
5 |
4 |
7 |
|
Some people say that artistic
people (director, artist, and singer) must have freedom of speech and
expression, and any restrictions are not possible. Others say that artistic
productions should not hurt the feelings of believers. Which statement is
closer to your point of view? (close-ended question, one answer, %) |
||||||
|
|
Total respondents |
Aged 18-24 |
Aged 25-34 |
Aged 35-44 |
Aged 45-59 |
Aged 60 and more |
|
Artistic people should have
freedom of speech and expression ; any restrictions are inappropriate |
28 |
43 |
35 |
31 |
24 |
14 |
|
Artistic creations should not hurt
the feelings of believers |
67 |
53 |
61 |
66 |
71 |
77 |
|
Don`t know |
5 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
9 |
IRI Ukraine Poll: Support for Reforms Strong amid Frustration over Lack of Progress in Their Implementation
AUGUST
24, 2015
Kyiv, Ukraine – On Ukrainian Independence Day, a new poll released by IRI found that Ukrainians continue to support the pro-European government’s reform efforts, but they also expressed growing impatience with the pace of change in Ukraine.
“IRI’s polling data provides a sobering snapshot,” said Ambassador Mark Green (ret.), president of IRI. “The government of Ukraine is under enormous pressure. On the one hand, Russian aggression continues to cause great hardship. On the other, Ukrainian citizens are impatient to see the reforms that drove them to protest during the EuroMaidan.”
Support for
Decentralization Reforms Strong
According to IRI polling data, Ukrainians supported the principles of the
pro-European government’s reform agenda, which includes, among other things,
decentralization and local governance reforms. With regard to
decentralization reforms, IRI’s poll found that 67 percent of Ukrainians
believed more rights should be transferred from the central government to local
authorities and communities, and a majority (58 percent) thought their local
authorities were ready for this additional responsibility.
Growing Frustration with
Lack of Progress
Despite the public support for the government’s reform agenda, 72 percent of
Ukrainians felt their country was headed in the wrong direction, citing
the ongoing military conflict in the Donbas and corruption within state bodies
as the two most important issues facing the country. In addition, many
have grown frustrated with the government’s delayed delivery of promised
reforms in the wake of the EuroMaidan, with only three percent of Ukrainians
expressing satisfaction with the current pace of change.
Given the state of the economy and the devaluation of the hryvnia, Ukrainians are undoubtedly feeling the impact of the war and the lack of progress on reforms in their own households. According to IRI’s poll, only 31 percent of Ukrainians (down from 56 percent in September 2014) reported being ready to live through economic difficulties if it led to an improvement in the quality of their lives.
“This trend demonstrates that the window of opportunity to fulfill the demands made on the Maidan is closing in Ukraine,” said Stephen B. Nix, IRI regional director of Eurasia. “It is critical that the Ukrainian government press forward with the much-needed economic and local governance reforms, as well as anti-corruption efforts.”
Continued Commitment to
European Integration
IRI polling data also revealed Ukrainians’ sustained commitment to integration
with the European Union (55 percent) and NATO membership (41 percent for; 30
percent against). Similarly, support for the Russian-led Customs Union
continued to decline, dropping to 14 percent from the roughly 40 percent
support it saw under former President Viktor Yanukovych.
Interestingly, support for integration and reform was also strong in areas which have significant Russian-speaking populations. Those areas—such as Odesa—continued to reject the Kremlin’s longstanding claim that the purpose of the Russian invasion of Ukraine is to protect Russian-speaking citizens. When asked if Russian-speaking citizens of Ukraine are under pressure or threat, only 11 percent said yes, and a mere one percent said definitely yes.
Methodology
The poll was conducted in all regions of Ukraine (with the exception of Crimea,
Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts) from July 16-30, 2015, with an oversample in the
Odesa region. The national survey had a randomly selected sample of 1,200
permanent residents of Ukraine aged 18 and older and eligible to vote.
The margin of error does not exceed plus or minus 2.8 percent, and the
response rate was 62.8 percent. The oversample in Odesa had a randomly
selected sample size of 665 permanent residents, a 61.8 percent response rate
and a margin of error that does not exceed plus or minus 3.8 percent.
The survey was conducted by Rating Group Ukraine and was funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development.
WEST EUROPE
EU citizens hold Greek government responsible for debt crisis (Multi-country survey)
Ipsos
European Pulse: August 2015
Published:28
August 2015
Fieldwork:24
July - 7 August 2015
An Ipsos survey of citizens of nine
European Union countries finds most people hold the Greek government
responsible for the ongoing debt crisis. Some 88% say the Greek government is a
great deal, or a fair amount, to blame for the crisis –rising to 94% among German
respondents. The German government was mentioned by 46%, attracting less blame
than the Greek populace, the IMF and the European Commission overall.
The survey also found broad
agreement (61%) that the austerity measures being imposed on Greece are making
their economy worse. Those in Italy and Spain are most likely to raise such
concerns and those in Poland and Sweden least likely to think austerity is
exacerbating the problem.
Despite the consensus that austerity
is damaging the Greek economy further, a clear majority (73%) think Greece
should repay all of their debts, so as not to encourage other countries to
default on debt in future. Only 46% agreed that some of Greece’s debt should be
written off, with the Italians, Poles and Brits being most in favour of some
debt relief.
The results also suggest some
concern among EU citizens about whether the Eurozone is resilient enough to
weather the current storm - across all nations, only 51% think the Eurozone is
strong enough to survive the crisis without serious damage, and 72% think it
likely the recent crisis could be repeated in another Eurozone country.
Head of Political Research at Ipsos
MORI, Gideon Skinner, said:
“These results highlight the
different perspectives of the EU nations on the debt crisis, and shows Italy
and Spain in particular, tend to have more sympathy towards their struggling
neighbour. That said, a clear majority of people in all countries pin the blame
on the Greek government, rather than the IMF, the European Commission or other
EU countries’ governments. Whilst there’s a broad understanding that austerity
is making the Greek economy worse – there’s no clear verdict on whether Greece
should have some of its debts written off, and indeed many are concerned this
could pave the path for similar debt crises in other EU nations.”
Detailed findings include:
·
In
all nine countries the Greek government is seen as most to blame for the crisis
in Greece, although views differ on who is second place. Polish, German and Swedish citizens rate the Greek people as
second most culpable, whilst in other countries including Britain, France,
Italy and Spain, citizens rank the European Commission or the International
Monetary Fund (members of the “troika”) as second most responsible. Two thirds
of Italian and Spanish citizens (67% and 66% respectively) said that the German
government is to blame for the Greek crisis.
·
There
is broad agreement across most of the countries that the austerity measures
being imposed on Greece are making their economy worse. Agreement ranges from 75% of Italian citizens to 38%
of Swedes. Over half of the German public (58%) also agree that the austerity
measures imposed on Greece are making the Greek economy worse.
·
EU
public are split on the issue of Greek debt relief, with roughly half in
support and half opposed to creditor countries writing off some of Greece’s
debts. Majorities in Poland (68%),
Italy (58%), Britain (54%) and Spain (51%) are in favour of debt relief, whilst
majorities in all other countries are opposed. The French and German public are
most hard-line in opposition to a debt write-down; two thirds (67%) are opposed
to creditor countries writing off Greek debts.
·
There
is broad concern in all countries that if the Greeks do not pay back their
debts it would encourage others countries to borrow beyond their means. This view is most prevalent in Poland, where 86% agree that
Greek debt relief would set a precedent. Even in Italy, the country least
convinced of the logic of this argument, two thirds (64%) agree that the Greeks
should pay back all their debts.
·
There
is a widespread expectation that there will be a similar crisis in the Eurozone
in the future. This belief is equally strong in
struggling Eurozone economies such as France (81%), Italy (80%) and Spain (77%)
as it is in Germany (76%). Britons are just as pessimistic (80%) that such a
crisis will recur in the Eurozone whilst the Swedes (64%), Poles (59%) and
Hungarians (51%) are slightly more optimistic.
Technical notes:
·
Respondents
aged 16-64 were interviewed via the Ipsos Global @dvisor Online Panel in
Belgium, France, Great Britain, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Spain and
Sweden between July 24 - August 7, 2015. Approximately 1000+ individuals
participated on a country by country basis with the exception of Belgium,
Hungary, Poland and Sweden where each have a sample of approximately
500+.
Europeans think UK is toughest on immigration (Multi-country survey)
August
28, 2015
The
UK has the reputation across Europe of being the most tough on immigration
UK net migration reached an all-time high this week, at 330,000 for the year to March, up 28% from last year and 10,000 higher than the previous peak in 2005. The figure is more than three times higher than the government's target, a target the home secretary has renewed in spite of difficulties, albeit with a delayed date of 2020. The UK is not alone in its experience, and may be having an easier time comparatively - Sweden and Germany are taking the majority of refugees from the current migrant crisis, with Germany expected to take in as many as 750,000 asylum seekers this year, mainly from Syria and the Balkans.
Britain has taken fewer than 1% of Syria's refugees, and the crisis at the English border in Calais accounts for 1% of the total number of migrants that have arrived in Europe this year. It may be for these reasons that the UK is perceived across northern Europe as a country that is tough on immigration, even though British people themselves may find this hard to believe.
New YouGov research across seven northern European countries reveals that when respective populations are asked about the immigration policies of other European nations the UK is seen as having the strictest approach. The average response shows the UK is the only country that tends to be seen as strict on immigration (48% say this while 29% say the UK is relaxed).
People are divided over France's approach to immigration, but the other nations all tend to be seen as relaxed. The calculation for the average response excludes British people for the UK, Germans for Germany and so on, to arrive at a measure of foreign perceptions. However even with these included Britain is seen as the strictest nation.
Perceptions vary widely from reality. Data from Eurostat, two years old but nevertheless a reliable benchmark for comparison between European countries, shows that Norway had one of the highest levels of immigration, despite its public having one of the lowest estimates of the problem. 57% of Norweigans say there is generally less migration into their country than into other European countries.
The UK fell in the middle of the 33 European countries measured, with the 14th highest level of immigration, ahead of Spain, Italy and France. 52% of British people say Britain has a higher level of immigration than other European countries. The German and Swedish populations are correct in their estimations, with around 80% saying they accept more immigrants than others do.
Sweden will elect a new government in 2018, after the centre-left Social Democrats emerged as the largest party in 2014. Recent research by YouGov found the Sweden Democrats, a far-right, anti-immigration party, had become the most popular party in Sweden, at 25%, almost double their score in September's election.
Catholics for gay marriage; Protestants for euthanasia
August
27, 2015
YouGov
Profiles data comparing religious Catholics and Protestants in Britain reveals
strikingly different approaches to key moral issues
The Pope is facing a backlash from conservative traditionalists, including senior carnidals and archbishops, over his apparently liberal stance on homosexuality. Although opposing same-sex marriages, he has not done so with the certainty many of the Catholic clergy expect – when asked about gay people in 2013, he famously replied "who am I to judge?".
New analysis of YouGov Profiles data looks at committed Christians in Britain, revealing the differences in attitudes to key issues among the different faith groups. The overall picture that emerges is a Christian population that is more conservative on these issues than the country at large, but perhaps less so than you might expect. British religious Catholics actually tend to support gay marriage (unlike their Protestant counterparts), and religious protestants tend to support some form of euthanasia (unlike their Catholic counterparts).
50% of religious British Catholics are in favour of gay marriage and 40% are opposed, making them more liberal on the issue than committed Protestants. 45% of Anglicans support same-sex marriage and 47% oppose.
The samples are drawn from members of the YouGov panel who have both identified as Catholic/Protestant and strongly agreed with the statement that "my faith is important to me." There are 863 Catholics and 1707 Protestants.
The opposition to same-sex marriage among religious Anglicans is in line with the official position of the Church of England, which opposed the legislation legalising gay marriage last year. The legislation gives other denominations the power to conduct same-sex services, but it remains illegal for the Church of England to carry out such marriages.YouGov research published last year found that 38% of Church of England clergy said same-sex marriage was right, while the majority (51%) said it was wrong.
Both religious Protestants and Catholics in Britain show greater support for the legalisation of voluntary euthanasia than might be expected. A majority of Protestants (59%) are in favour of legalising euthanasia, while Catholics tend slightly to oppose the issue by 48-42%. Both groups are still more conservative than the general public, however, who support assisted dying in some scenarios by an overwhelming majority of 79%.
On the issue of abortion however, both religious Protestants and Catholics are decisively in favour of making restrictions more stringent. 69% of Catholics and 56% of Protestants say they are in favour of tighter restrictions on abortion compared to 29% of the general public.
Public expect Chinese market crash to impact British economy
August
26, 2015
British
people tend to think sharp falls in Chinese markets will have a large effect on
the British economy – but view another global financial crash as less likely
than in 2014
The FTSE rallied yesterday after China’s ‘Black Monday’
sent shockwaves through global financial markets, but analysts
warn of lasting implications for
the British economy. As a net borrower from the rest of the world with less
trade and investment overseas, a global slowdown would make it more difficult
for us to profit abroad. George Osborne warnedthat our exposure to
emerging markets puts us at a greater risk than many other rich nations, as UK
savings and pensions were hit by
the crisis.
New YouGov research reveals concern among the British public that China’s turbulence will spread to the British economy. 43% expect the recent losses on the Chinese stock market to have a very or fairly large impact on our economy, while 34% predict only small effects.
Since 2013, there has been no improvement in perceptions that Britain is more protected from financial crashes than it was at the time of 2008’s banking crisis. In June 2013 40% thought we were safer than in 2008 – now 39% do. Conservatives, usually more optimistic about Britain’s economic position, are slightly less sure of our relative safety (55% compared to 61% in 2013).
Compared to in 2014, however, fewer now expect a global financial crisis to occur in the next 12 months. In November of 2014, as David Cameron cautioned “red warning lights are flashing on the dashboard of the global economy”, 51% thought one was likely. Now the figure is 40%.
THE
SYSTEM
Non-mainstream economists have warned that slowing global growth and more frequent recessions are an indication that the global financial system is becoming unsustainable. Failure to learn the hard lessons from 2008 – keeping banking capital ratios relatively low and insufficiently separating high street and investment arms – has left us vulnerable to further crises, they argue.
British people expect financial crises to become more frequent in the next 20 years (42%), rather than less (13%) or as frequent as now (24%). But they are more likely to place blame on poor management by governments and individuals (45%) than on the financial system itself (29%).
China cut interest rates and banking reserve ratios to ease up lending in the market yesterday, however the Shanghai Composite stock market continued to fall.Commentators worry that recoveries in British markets speak more of investors’ confidence that the Bank of England will now put off an interest rate hike, rather than confidence in the underlying market.
Greeks Oppose Economic Sanctions Against Russia
August
25, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The United States' and European Union's economic sanctions against Russia are finding little support in Greece, where the country remains popular, and the loss of trade has hurt the already fragile economy. The majority of Greeks (62%) surveyed shortly before the EU extended sanctions in late June say they do not back the United States' and EU's punitive measures against one of Greece's major trade partners.
Russia's retaliatory ban on EU food imports -- which it took the additional step of publicly destroying earlier this month -- has dealt a significant blow to the Greek economy. Before the sanctions, Greek agricultural exports to Russia made up 41% of all Greek exports to Russia, worth approximately 200 million euros annually.
Nearly half of Greeks (45%) believe that the economic sanctions against Russia have negatively affected Greece's economy, while only 5% say they have had a positive effect, and 25% say they have had no effect. But on a personal level, far fewer Greeks (26%) say the sanctions have negatively affected people like them, and a slim majority say they have had either a positive effect (6%) or no effect (45%).
Greeks with more education are more likely than those with less education to have an opinion about the sanctions, and they are more likely to oppose them and see them as bad for their national and for their personal economic situations.
Implications
Greece's coalition government voiced its criticism of the economic sanctions against Russia ahead of the extension in late June, but in the end did not block it -- despite pressure from Russia. With support for the ongoing sanctions crumbling in Greece and other EU countries that have also taken an economic hit, the future of the sanctions in 2016 is unclear. Much clearer is the Greek public's lack of support for measures that have likely dimmed their country's hopes of ending its economic troubles anytime soon.
Survey Methods
Results are based on face-to-face interviews with 1,000 adults, aged 15 and older, conducted May 14-June 16, 2015, in Greece. For results based on the total sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error is ±3.7 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting.
NORTH AMERICA
Ratings of U.S. Banking Industry Level Off
August
28, 2015
PRINCETON, N.J. -- After two consecutive years of improvement in Americans' ratings of the banking industry, climbing from a low of 25% in 2012 to 40% in 2014, perceptions have leveled off. Now, 37% view the industry positively. The banking industry's image remains better than it was during the economic downturn but is still not back to the more positive levels seen from 2001 to 2007.
The latest results are based on Gallup's annual Work and Education survey. As part of the poll, Gallup asks Americans for their views on 25 different business or industry sectors, using a 5-point positive-to-negative scale. Banking's +4 net rating (based on 37% rating it very or somewhat positive and 33% very or somewhat negative) is below the average of +16 for all 25 industries, but ranks ahead of several industries with net-negative ratings, such as the federal government, the oil and gas industry, the healthcare industry and the pharmaceutical industry.
Americans were positive toward the banking industry in Gallup's initial annual reading in August 2001, and these upbeat views were consistent through August 2007, a few months before the recession officially began. During this period, an average of 49% of Americans rated the industry positively and 20% negatively, for an average +29 net rating.
In August 2008, as the recession was deepening but a month before the September financial crisis, Americans were evenly divided in their views of the banking industry -- 36% positive and 37% negative.
From 2009 through 2012, Americans' ratings of banks were substantially more negative than positive, with an average -24 net rating.
After bottoming out at 25% positive (and 53% negative) in 2012, Americans' views of the industry began to recover, with an eight-percentage-point increase in positive ratings in 2013 and a seven-point increase in 2014, enough to push its positive ratings ahead of its negative ratings for the first time since 2007.
Many, but not all, industries have seen increased positive ratings over the last four years. The total 12-point increase in ratings of the banking industry since 2012 exceeds the average three-point increase for the 24 other industries included in the survey.
Along with the banking industry, the real estate (up 13 points), oil and gas (up 12 points), travel (up 12 points) and electric and gas utility (up 10 points) industries have shown double-digit increases in their positive ratings since 2012.
Lower-Income Americans Rate Banking Industry Most Positively
Forty-four percent of Americans whose annual household income is less than $30,000 have a positive view of the banking industry, while 26% view it negatively, resulting in a +18 net rating, based on combined 2014-2015 polling. That compares with net ratings of -3 among middle-income Americans (35% positive, 38% negative), and +2 among upper-income Americans (37% positive, 35% negative).
Lower-income Americans did not always view the industry more positively than Americans at higher income levels. Prior to the recession, from 2004 through 2007, net ratings of the banking industry were largely similar by income level, ranging from +29 to +34 among the three income groups.
After the financial crisis and recession, from 2009 to 2012, views of the industry cratered among all income groups, but much more so among upper-income Americans than among middle- or lower-income Americans. The average net rating of the banking industry among upper-income Americans fell a staggering 72 points in the years bracketing the 2008 financial crisis, from +31 to -41, compared with drops of 50 points among middle-income Americans (from +29 to -21) and 39 points among lower-income Americans (from +34 to -5).
Upper-income Americans, who are more likely to have money invested in the financial markets, and were probably more likely to be aware of the problems facing U.S. financial institutions as the crisis unfolded, appear to have been more shaken by the industry's problems. Upper-income Americans' ratings of the industry have recovered during the last two years, improving a total of 43 points, from -41 to +2, a greater improvement than for the other income groups. But that improvement left upper-income Americans about as positive toward the industry as middle-income Americans, and still significantly less positive than lower-income Americans.
Among Political Groups, Republicans Most Positive Toward Banks
The Republican Party is sometimes referred to as the party of "Wall Street," and ratings of the banking industry by political party are consistent with that description. Forty-six percent of self-identified Republicans view the industry positively and 23% negatively, for a net rating of +23. Meanwhile, independents (35% positive and 36% negative) and Democrats (39% positive and 37% negative) are divided in their views of the industry.
Each political group showed similar declines in ratings of banks after the financial crisis, with the net score for each falling between 50 and 57 points. Republicans' views of banks have improved slightly more over the last two years.
Implications
For now, the positive momentum in Americans' images of the banking industry has halted. Slightly more Americans have a positive than negative view of banks, a much better evaluation of the industry than during the recession and its aftermath, but still lagging behind the more positive images that existed before then.
Gallup has shown a similar pattern in Americans' confidence in the institution of banks, which bottomed out in 2012 and has improved modestly since then, although that increase also appears to be leveling off.
These trends could indicate that those who were most likely to forgive the industry or forget the problems that plagued it have already done so, and the industry may need to convince those with longer memories or greater skepticism that banks have reformed their ways and that the industry has changed for the better. Thus, it appears the banking industry still has work to do to regain the positive image and trust it had before the recession.
Survey Methods
Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Aug. 5-9, 2015, with a random sample of 1,011 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.
Each industry was rated by a random subset of approximately 500 respondents. The margin of sampling error is ±6 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting.
Each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 50% cellphone respondents and 50% landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas by time zone within region. Landline and cellular telephone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods.
Americans' Satisfaction With Job Aspects Up From 2005
August
28, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Employed Americans' satisfaction with 13 aspects of their current jobs has largely improved in the last decade. The percentages of workers "completely satisfied" with their health benefits and vacation time have increased the most since 2005, each rising at least 10 percentage points.
As has been the case since Gallup began polling on aspects of Americans' jobs in 1993, employed Americans are most likely to say they are "completely satisfied" with their relations with their coworkers (72% in 2015) and the physical safety conditions of their workplace (70%). Employed Americans have typically been least likely to say they are completely satisfied with the amount of money they earn (33%) and the amount of stress they have at work (28%).
Smaller majorities of employed adults report being "completely satisfied" with the flexibility of their hours (58%), the amount of vacation time they receive (57%), their job security (57%), their boss or immediate supervisor (54%) and the amount of work that is required of them (53%).
Despite large improvements over the past 10 years in how they view many aspects of their jobs, less than half of employed Americans say they are "completely satisfied" with the recognition they receive at work for their accomplishments (45%) and the health insurance benefits their employer offers (40%). Even fewer are "completely satisfied" with the retirement plan offered (35%) and their chances for a promotion (35%).
These data are from Gallup's Aug. 5-9 Work and Education survey, conducted annually since 2001.
"Complete" Satisfaction With Job Security Remains Near Record High
Fifty-seven percent of Americans are completely satisfied with their job security, near the high of 58% recorded in 2014.
Satisfaction with job security had suffered amid the global economic crisis, falling five points in 2009 to 50%. It didn't recover in the years that immediately followed, and dipped below 50% in 2011 and 2012. By 2014, as Americans' perceptions of job creation at their companies improved, so too did their satisfaction with the security of their own jobs.
Bottom Line
For the most part, Americans' satisfaction with various aspects of their jobs is higher today than it was in 2005. But despite these improvements, no more than one in three workers are completely satisfied with their salaries, stress levels, chances for promotion and retirement plans.
As the unemployment rate, as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, has improved, so have employed Americans' feelings about their job security. But satisfaction with other aspects of their jobs, such as on-the-job stress, pay and promotion opportunities, still has room for improvement. On a positive note, the large majority of working Americans are satisfied with the safety of their work environment and their relationships with coworkers.
Historical data on these questions are available in Gallup Analytics.
Survey Methods
Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Aug. 5-9, 2015, with a random sample of 485 adults employed full or part time, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. For results based on the total sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error is ±6 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting.
Each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 50% cellphone respondents and 50% landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas by time zone within region. Landline and cellular telephone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods.
Higher Support for Gender Affirmative Action Than Race
August
26, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A majority of Americans say they favor affirmative action programs. However, support is a bit higher for programs aimed at helping women (67%) than for those focused on helping racial minorities (58%).
While majorities of men, women, whites, blacks and Hispanics are in favor of affirmative action programs, support varies according to each groups' connection to the program. Women are more likely than men to support affirmative action programs for women, by 72% to 62%, respectively. Blacks (77%) and Hispanics (61%) are more likely than whites (53%) to support affirmative action programs for racial minorities.
These findings are from Gallup's Minority Rights and Relations survey conducted June 15-July 10 with more than 2,000 U.S. adults, including expanded samples of blacks and Hispanics. The last time these questions were asked in 2013, thefindings were similar.
White Men Least Likely to Support Either Affirmative Action Program
While still a majority, support among white men trails support among white women for affirmative action programs for women and for minorities. Black women and Hispanic women are more likely than white women to support affirmative action for women, 81% versus 67%, respectively.
While all racial and gender groups' support for affirmative action is higher for programs aimed at women than those aimed at minorities, differences in support for the two programs vary by subgroup. Blacks' level of support for affirmative action targeted at women and minorities are similar. But Hispanics and whites are much more likely to favor programs for women than those for minorities.
Less Than Half of Republicans Support Affirmative Action for Minorities
Support for both types of affirmative action programs differs markedly by political party identification. More than eight in 10 Democrats support affirmative action for women, and 76% support it for racial minorities. Solid majorities of independents also support both types of programs. Republicans are split: Just over half favor affirmative action for women, but fewer than four in 10 favor it for racial minorities.
Implications
Affirmative action programs were traditionally created to help avoid discrimination against women and minority applicants at educational institutions, like colleges, and in hiring for jobs. These groups were historically at a disadvantage when applying because of racial or gender prejudice and even legal discrimination. However, some educational institutions are finding alternate ways to increase diversity without affirmative action. And in 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Michigan's ban on considering race in college applications.
Some claim that affirmative action puts whites or men at an unfair disadvantage, that it can create reverse discrimination or even that it can hurt minorities and women. The U.S. Supreme Court recently announced it would reconsider a case last brought before it in 2013 in which a white woman claims she was denied admission to the University of Texas because of a race-based affirmative action program the university used at that time. Affirmative action may again be an issue in 2016 and could become less used, or even banned, because of this case. However, a majority of Americans of all genders and races continue to support affirmative action programs.
Historical data on these questions are available in Gallup Analytics.
Survey Methods
Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted June 15-July 10, 2015, with a random sample of 2,296 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, including oversamples of black and Hispanic adults. All respondents had previously been interviewed in the Gallup Daily tracking survey. For results based on the total sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
For results based on the total sample of 857 non-Hispanic whites, the maximum margin of sampling error is ±5 percentage points.
For results based on the total sample of 802 non-Hispanic blacks, the maximum margin of sampling error is ±5 percentage points.
For results based on the total sample of 508 Hispanics, the maximum margin of sampling error is ±7 percentage points (138 out of the 508 interviews with Hispanics were conducted in Spanish).
For results based on the total sample of 1,148 men, the maximum margin of sampling error is ±5 percentage points.
For results based on the total sample of 1,148 women, the maximum margin of sampling error is ±5 percentage points.
All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting.
Three in 10 U.S. Parents Worry About Child's Safety at School
August
25, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Twenty-nine percent of U.S. parents say they fear for their child's safety at school. This is down from the 33% found immediately after the Sandy Hook school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012, but still above the 25% measured a few months before that incident occurred.
U.S. parents' fears about school safety reached a high of 55% in April 1999 after the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado. Parents' concern typically peaks immediately following high-profile shootings -- as seen in 2001 (45%) after the Santana High School shooting in California, and in 2006 (35%) after a shooting in an Amish schoolhouse in Pennsylvania -- and then fades. The low point in parental concern (15%) came in August 2008.
The latest results come from Gallup's Work and Education poll, conducted Aug. 5-9.
Safety and gun control have been at the forefront of news coverage and legislative debate in recent years, as shootings in and out of schools have rocked communities. The tragedy at Sandy Hook initiated an intense legislative debate on gun control, but less than a year after the incident, Americans remained divided on gun control laws.
One in 10 Parents Say Child Has Expressed Concerns About Safety at School
Ten percent of U.S. parents of K-12 students say their child has expressed worries about his or her safety at school. This figure has been fairly consistent since 2003, never straying from the 8% to 12% range.
In the early post-Columbine years, parents were more likely to report hearing such concerns, with one in five saying so in 1999 and in 2001.
Women, Nonwhites and Lower-Income Parents Most Likely to Worry About Safety
To analyze parents' concerns about school safety by subgroup, Gallup aggregated data from the last five surveys going back to August 2012, when the percentage fearing for their child's safety averaged 25%.
Mothers of K-12 students (34%) are more likely than fathers (24%) to worry about their child's safety at school. And mothers are about twice as likely as fathers to report that their child has expressed concerns about school safety.
Four in 10 nonwhite parents worry about their child's safety at school, far higher than the 23% of white parents who worry. However, the percentage of white (9%) and nonwhite parents (12%) who say their child has voiced concerns about school safety is similar.
Parents earning less than $30,000 per year in annual household income are more likely than parents who earn more to worry about their child's safety and to say their child has expressed concerns about school safety.
Bottom Line
Three in 10 parents worry about their child's physical safety at school, and they are not without reason. According to a Quartz analysis, the number of school killings in the U.S. between 2000 and 2010 was one less than the number in dozens of other countries combined.
The most horrifying acts of violence at U.S. schools can leave temporary impressions on parents' psyches. The early 2000s, which were just as much the post-9/11 years as they were the post-Columbine years, ranked high for parental anxiety about school safety, but by 2005, worries for children's safety at school had hit a new low. And despite the unprecedented shock of Sandy Hook, parents' worries are now similar to their historical averages.
Historical data for this question is available in Gallup Analytics.
Survey Methods
Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Aug. 5-9, 2015, on the Gallup U.S. Daily survey, with a random sample of 213 K-12 parents, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. For results based on the total sample of parents, the margin of sampling error is ±9 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting.
Subgroup analysis represents aggregated data from 2012 to 2015. For results based on the total sample of 645 fathers, the margin of sampling error is ±5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. For results based on the total sample of 533 mothers, the margin of sampling error is ±5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. For results based on the total sample of 854 whites, the margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. For results based on the total sample of 296 nonwhites, the margin of sampling error is ±7 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. For results based on the total sample of 197 parents whose households earn less than $30,000, the margin of sampling error is ±9 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. For results based on the total sample of 409 parents whose households earn between $30,000 and $74,999, the margin of sampling error is ±6 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. For results based on the total sample of 490 parents whose households earn $75,000 or more, the margin of sampling error is ±5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
Each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 50% cellphone respondents and 50% landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas by time zone within region. Landline and cellular telephone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods.
As World Markets Drop, U.S. Economic Confidence Index at -14
August
25, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Gallup's Economic Confidence Index was -14 for the week ending Aug. 23, down slightly from -11 the week prior. Growing concerns about China, which devalued its currency and saw major losses in its stock market, led to a global stock sell-off, including in the U.S., where the Dow Jones declined by more than 500 points by market close on Friday.
This is the second time in the past two months in which an international economic event appears to have modestly affected U.S. stocks as well as economic confidence. Last month, as the Greek debt deal was being finalized, U.S. economic confidence also dropped to -14, matching the latest week's reading as the 2015 low and the worst weekly score since September 2014.
Gallup's Economic Confidence Index reached positive territory for the first time since 2008 in late December 2014. It remained there until late February, when it began dropping as U.S. gas prices began to rise.
The Economic Confidence Index is the average of two components: how Americans rate current economic conditions and whether they feel the economy is getting better or worse. The index has a theoretical maximum of +100, if all Americans rate the economy as good and getting better, and a theoretical minimum of -100, if all Americans rate the economy as poor and getting worse.
Americans' perceptions of the economy's direction became more pessimistic last week, as the outlook component score fell six points to -21, the lowest weekly average since the end of July 2014. This latest average was the result of 37% of Americans saying the economy is "getting better" and 58% saying it is "getting worse."
The current conditions score was stable last week, averaging -6, similar to what has been found most weeks since late May. This was the result of 24% of Americans rating the current economy as "excellent" or "good" while 30% rated it as "poor."
Bottom Line
China, the second-largest economy in the world and a major exporter of goods to the U.S. and other countries, has experienced tremendous economic growth in recent years. Now, with the Chinese economy showing signs of weakness, and its government responding by devaluing its currency, investors abroad are showing concern. The questions surrounding China's economy appear to be a major reason for losses in the global markets, including in the U.S. To date, Americans' economic confidence does not appear to have been greatly shaken by the events, but the current index score ties the lowest reading this year.
The situation in China may continue to reverberate in the U.S., with U.S. stocks closing much lower on Monday and European markets starting the week with large drops. To the extent stock markets continue to suffer, particularly if this affects broader aspects of the economy, Americans' confidence could be shaken further in the coming week.
These data are available in Gallup Analytics.
Survey Methods
Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Aug. 17-23, 2015, on the Gallup U.S. Daily survey, with a random sample of 3,554 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. For results based on the total sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error is ±2 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting.
Each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 50% cellphone respondents and 50% landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas by time zone within region. Landline and cellular telephone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods.
LATIN AMERICA
Declining Ratings for Mexico’s Peña Nieto
Fewer
Say Government Is Making Progress against Drug Cartels
August
27, 2015
Three years after being elected president, Mexico’s Enrique Peña Nieto is increasingly unpopular. Following a year plagued by scandal and controversy, his ratings have fallen, and Mexicans have grown disappointed with key elements of his ambitious agenda.
A new Pew Research Center survey of Mexico finds 44% of the public expressing a favorable view of Peña Nieto, down from 51% in 2014.
Moreover, his ratings on specific issues have dropped sharply. Last year, 55% approved of how Peña Nieto was handling education. Education reform is a cornerstone of his presidency that has met with intense opposition from the country’s powerful teachers unions. However, this year just 43% give him a favorable review on this issue.
Only 35% of Mexicans now think Peña Nieto is doing a good job of managing the country’s ongoing battle against organized crime and drug gangs, compared with 53% in 2014. Just 39% say the government is making progress against drug traffickers, down from 45% a year ago (and the survey was conducted before the prison escape of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, leader of the Sinaloa cartel, in July).
Just 34% of Mexicans say their economy is in good shape – a decline of 6 percentage points since last year. And here again, Peña Nieto gets poor marks, with just 30% approving of how he is dealing with the economy, compared with an already low 37% in 2014.
And while Peña Nieto has tried to advance new anti-corruption measures in recent months, his administration has also been shaken by scandals over the course of the past year, including allegations of impropriety surrounding a real estate deal involving his wife and a major government contractor. Just 27% now approve of how the president is dealing with corruption, down 15 points from a year ago.
Ratings for Peña Nieto’s Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) have also declined (from 47% favorable in 2014 to 38% now). However, the PRI remains more popular than two of its biggest rivals. The conservative National Action Party (PAN) is viewed positively by just 29%, while the left-wing Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) gets even lower marks (23% favorable).
The Mexican military, which is heavily involved in the country’s fight against drug cartels, receives mostly positive reviews, though its image has also declined over the past year. In 2014, 75% said the military was having a good influence on the nation; today, 61% hold this view. Meanwhile, ratings for the already unpopular police have slipped even further (34% good influence in 2014, 27% now).
These are among the key findings from the latest survey in Mexico by the Pew Research Center, which is based on face-to-face interviews conducted from April 7 to 19, 2015, among a nationally representative sample of 1,000 randomly selected adults from across the country.1
A Downbeat National Mood
Roughly seven-in-ten (72%) Mexicans say
they are dissatisfied with the way things are going in their country, with only 27% saying they are happy
with the country’s direction. Satisfaction with Mexico’s direction is at its
lowest point since 2011.
While
a strong majority in Mexico is sour on the country’s direction, some are more
dissatisfied than others. Women are somewhat more likely to voice negativity
than their male counterparts. Roughly three-in-four women (76%) are
dissatisfied with the way things are going, a share 9 percentage points higher
than that of men (67%).
And Mexicans who identify with the right-of-center PAN (77% dissatisfied) are more pessimistic about the state of things in the country than supporters of Peña Nieto’s PRI (58%). Although majorities in all regions of the country are dissatisfied, those in the Greater Mexico City area (81%) are the most pessimistic.2
Mexicans’ attitudes about the country’s direction are reflected in their views of its economic situation. Only 34% believe that Mexico’s economy is good, while 66% say it is bad. This marks a 6-point decline in positive views of the economy since last year. There has been a similar decline in those who say the economy will improve over the next 12 months. Just 44% now say their economy will improve, compared with 50% a year ago. Meanwhile, 22% say it will worsen and 32% believe the economy will remain the same in the months ahead.
When it comes to their children’s future, Mexicans are divided. Nearly equal portions say the next generation, when they grow up, will be better off financially than their parents (41%) as say they will be worse off (43%). Roughly one-in-ten (12%) say their financial situation will be the same. (For more on economic views in Mexico and around the world, see Global Publics: Economic Conditions Are Bad, July 23, 2015.)
Top
Concerns: Rising Prices, Crime, Unemployment, Corruption and Violence
Among
the issues tested, rising prices is the top
concern. Just over three-quarters (76%) say inflation is a very big
problem.
Seven-in-ten or more also name crime, unemployment, corrupt political leaders, drug cartel-related violence and corrupt police officers as very big issues.
Half or more say poor-quality schools, health care and people leaving Mexico for jobs in other countries are very big concerns.
However, less than half name the gap between rich and poor, immigrants traveling through Mexico from Central America to the U.S., or traffic as top worries.
Increasingly
Negative Views of Peña Nieto
President
Peña Nieto’s popularity has declined over the past year. Just 44% express a
favorable opinion of him, down 7 percentage points since 2014 and down 12
points from a spring 2012 poll conducted just months before he was elected
president.
Peña Nieto is also less popular in his third year as president than his predecessor was in the final months of his administration. In 2011, 55% had a positive opinion of former President Felipe Calderón.
Within his own party, however, Peña Nieto is well liked. Roughly eight-in-ten supporters of the PRI (78%) view him favorably.
Those who view Peña Nieto more unfavorably tend to be better educated and wealthier (both 62%). And people who live in the Greater Mexico City area (72%) are also more negative in their views of the president than those in other regions.
Peña Nieto gets poor
marks for the way he has handled specific issues, including some major planks
of his reform agenda.
Roughly two-thirds disapprove of how he is dealing with corruption and the economy. A similar proportion give him poor marks on energy reform, where he has called forincreased foreign investment in Mexico’s oil and natural gas industries.
A 63% majority disapproves of the way Peña Nieto has pursued the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking in Mexico, while over half disapprove of his handling of relations with the U.S. and the issue of education.
Mexico’s
Political Parties
Three
of Mexico’s major political parties tested on the survey receive
majority-negative ratings from the public. Peña Nieto’s PRI gets the highest
marks, with a favorability rating of 38%. Still, a 56% majority expresses a
negative view of the party, up from 47% last year.
Meanwhile, the right-of-center PAN (63% unfavorable) and social-democratic PRD (68%) are even more unpopular.
Ratings
of Mexico’s Military and Police Drop
Mexico’s military
continues to be highly rated, with about six-in-ten (61%) saying the military
has a positive impact on the way things are going in the country.
Roughly half or more list the media, national government and religious leaders as positive influences in Mexico, mostly unchanged from a year ago.
Rounding out the bottom of the list, only about one-third or fewer name the court system, Congress and police as good influences. Views of the court system and Congress remain relatively unchanged since last year.
While
the military receives the highest ratings of the groups and institutions
tested, views of the military have
turned less positive since last year, when 75% said it was having a positive
impact. Today the
military’s ratings are similar to what they were in 2011 (62%), the peak year of drug-related
homicides in Mexico.
Trends in the views of police influence follow a similar pattern.
These declines have taken place during a year in which several high-profile instances of corruption among police and human rights abuses by the military have been brought to light. In late September 2014, for instance, 43 students disappeared in Iguala, Guerrero. Local police were found to have been involved with members of the Guerreros Unidos drug gang in the students’ disappearance and eventual mass murder.
In October, Mexico’s federal Human Rights Commission released their findings from an investigation into the June 2014 execution of at least 12 people carried out by Mexican soldiers. The incident is considered one of the worst violations of human rights the country has seen.
Drug
Trafficking and Cartels
Mexicans’ optimism
about their government’s progress against drug traffickers has dipped. Roughly four-in-ten (39%)
believe the government is making progress against drug traffickers, down 6 points
since last year.
In mid-February 2014, Mexican officials, working with U.S. anti-drug forces, captured the notorious Sinaloa cartel leader known as “El Chapo.” The boost in the share of Mexicans saying in the spring 2014 survey that their government was making progress against drug traffickers came shortly after his capture. However, this view of progress made by the campaign faded over the course of the year to present levels, even before El Chapo’s second escape from prison in July.3
1.
The survey was conducted prior to
midterm elections, which were held on June 7, 2015. ↩
2.
The Greater Mexico City area
includes Mexico State and the federal district of Mexico City. While this
region includes some locations outside of the Mexico City metropolitan area,
the vast majority of interviews conducted in the region are within the metropolitan
area. ↩
3.
The spring 2015 survey was
conducted before El Chapo’s escape in July. ↩
AUSTRALASIA
More in favour than against the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement. Key issue for Australians with ChAFTA is jobs
A large
majority of Australians (78%) are aware of the Free Trade Agreement Australia
has negotiated with China, only 21% aren’t aware and 1% can’t say. More
Australians believe a Free Trade Agreement with China is a good thing (40%)
than not (31%) and a large 29% are undecided according to the latest telephone
Morgan Poll conducted over the past few nights (August 21-26, 2015) with a
cross-section of 672 Australians aged 14+.
Support for the China-Australia Free
Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) is higher amongst those who are aware of the
negotiations with 43% of those aware of the negotiations saying it is a good
thing compared to 35% who don’t think it’s a good thing with 22% undecided.
Of people who were unaware of the
ChAFTA negotiations only 29% believe it is a good thing compared to 18% who
don’t think it’s a good thing with 53% undecided.
Analysis by Voting Preference
Analysing the results by voting
preference shows support for the Free Trade Agreement with China is highest
amongst National voters (68% support cf. 32% against) and Liberal voters (60%
support cf. 19% against and 21% undecided). More ALP voters are against (43%)
than in favour (30%) with 27% undecided. Greens voters are also against the
agreement (39% against cf. 29% support for the Free Trade Agreement and a large
32% undecided).
Analysis by Occupation
Analysis by occupation shows
professionals are the heaviest in favour with 58% saying the deal is a good
thing and only 22% saying it isn’t while those in Sales are also clearly in
favour: 53% say good thing cf. 22% say it isn’t. In contrast, those in manual
labour jobs are least happy with the deal. Only 31% of skilled workers say it’s
a good thing while 39% say it isn’t and only 23% of semi-skilled workers say
it’s a good thing and 43% say it isn’t.
Analysis by Gender
Analysis by gender shows more men
and women believe a Free Trade Agreement with China is a good thing than not:
·
Men:
Good thing (44%) cf. Not a good thing (33%) and 23% undecided;
·
Women:
Good thing (35%) cf. Not a good thing (30%) and 35% undecided.
Analysis by Age
Analysing by age shows more
Australians of all ages believe a Free Trade Agreement with China is a good
thing than not:
·
14-24yr
olds: Good thing (38%) cf. Not a good thing (22%) and 40% undecided;
·
25-34yr
olds: Good thing (38%) cf. Not a good thing (32%) and 30% undecided;
·
35-49yr
olds: Good thing (41%) cf. Not a good thing (34%) and 25% undecided;
·
50-64yr
olds: Good thing (39%) cf. Not a good thing (34%) and 27% undecided);
·
65+yr
olds: Good thing (42%) cf. Not a good thing (32%) and 26% undecided.
Australians were then asked to
explain their views on the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement more fully (see
below).
Gary Morgan says:
“A clear majority (78%) of
Australians have heard about the Free Trade Deal negotiated between Australia
and our largest trading partner China compared to only 21% that haven’t.
However, Australians are divided on the agreement with slightly more (40%)
saying the Free Trade Agreement is a good thing than not (31%) while a large
29% are undecided.
“Of those who are aware of the Free
Trade Agreement, 43% say it’s a good thing compared to 35% that don’t while 22%
still can’t say. There is a clear political split with 60% of Liberal
supporters and 68% of National supporters saying the Free Trade Agreement is a
good thing compared to only 30% of ALP supporters and 29% of Greens supporters.
“This split is not seen when looking
at other demographics. More men (44% cf. 33%) and women (35% cf. 30%) say the
Free Trade Agreement is a good thing, and of the States, only South Australia
has fewer people saying the Free Trade Agreement is a good thing (27% cf.32%).
The opposition in South Australia may be due to the impending closure of the
Australian car manufacturing industry next year which will cost many jobs in
South Australia and also the ongoing concerns about the potential loss of
thousands of jobs in Adelaide in Australia’s shipbuilding industry depending on
the final structure of contracts to build several new ships and submarines for
the Australian Navy.
“A close analysis of the data by
employment status reveals full-time workers are clearly the most in favour of
the ChAFTA deal – 46% say it is a good thing and 31% say it isn’t while
part-time workers are divided – 34% say it isn’t a good thing and 33% say it is
a good thing. Those who are either unemployed and looking for work or just
don’t work are even more opposed with only 18% saying the deal is a good thing
compared to 40% that say the deal isn’t a good thing.
“In terms of line of work,
Professionals are the heaviest in favour with 58% saying the deal is a good
thing and only 22% saying it isn’t while those in Sales are also clearly in
favour: 53% say good thing cf. 22% say it isn’t. In contrast, those in manual
labour jobs are least happy with the deal. Only 31% of skilled workers say it’s
a good thing while 39% say it isn’t and only 23% of semi-skilled workers say
it’s a good thing and 43% say it isn’t.”
Finding No. 6424 – This special
Morgan Poll was conducted with a representative cross-section of 672
Australians aged 14+ over the last few nights, August 21-26, 2015.
Questions:
Australians aged 14+ were
asked: “The Australian Government has been
involved in negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with China. Are you aware of the
China Free Trade Agreement or not?” and
“Do you believe it is a good thing
for Australia to sign a Free Trade Agreement with China or not?” and finally, “Why especially do you say that?”
China-Australia Free Trade Agreement
Awareness of the deal
“The Australian Government has been
involved in negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with China. Are you aware of the
China Free Trade Agreement or not?”
Voting Preference
|
ChAFTA |
Total |
Electors |
Liberal |
National# |
ALP |
Greens |
Other |
Can’t say# |
Non |
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Yes, aware |
78 |
81 |
88 |
75 |
81 |
77 |
71 |
56 |
55 |
|
No, not |
21 |
19 |
11 |
25 |
19 |
22 |
29 |
44 |
45 |
|
Can’t say |
1 |
- |
1 |
- |
- |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
#Sample sizes less than 50 should be
treated with caution.
Age & Gender
|
ChAFTA |
Total |
Gender |
Age |
|||||
|
Men |
Women |
14-24 |
25-34 |
35-49 |
50-64 |
65+ |
||
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Yes, aware |
78 |
83 |
73 |
51 |
71 |
79 |
85 |
92 |
|
No, not |
21 |
17 |
26 |
48 |
29 |
21 |
14 |
7 |
|
Can’t say |
1 |
- |
1 |
1 |
- |
- |
1 |
1 |
|
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
State & City/ Country
|
ChAFTA |
|
State |
Region |
||||||
|
Total |
NSW |
VIC |
QLD |
WA |
SA |
TAS# |
City |
Country |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Yes, aware |
78 |
79 |
75 |
87 |
64 |
73 |
85 |
75 |
84 |
|
No, not |
21 |
21 |
24 |
13 |
33 |
26 |
15 |
24 |
15 |
|
Can’t say |
1 |
- |
1 |
- |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
#Sample sizes less than 50 should be
treated with caution.
China-Australia Free Trade Agreement
Good for Australia or not?
“Do you believe it is a good thing
for Australia to sign a Free Trade Agreement with China or not?”
Voting Preference
|
ChAFTA |
Total |
Electors |
Liberal |
National# |
ALP |
Greens |
Other |
Can’t say# |
Non |
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Good thing |
40 |
40 |
60 |
68 |
30 |
29 |
35 |
18 |
38 |
|
No, not |
31 |
33 |
19 |
32 |
43 |
39 |
28 |
38 |
22 |
|
Can’t say |
29 |
27 |
21 |
- |
27 |
32 |
37 |
44 |
40 |
|
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
#Sample sizes less than 50 should be
treated with caution.
Age & Gender
|
ChAFTA |
Total |
Gender |
Age |
|||||
|
Men |
Women |
14-24 |
25-34 |
35-49 |
50-64 |
65+ |
||
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Good thing |
40 |
44 |
35 |
38 |
38 |
41 |
39 |
42 |
|
No, not |
31 |
33 |
30 |
22 |
32 |
34 |
34 |
32 |
|
Can’t say |
29 |
23 |
35 |
40 |
30 |
25 |
27 |
26 |
|
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
Views on the China-Australia Free
Trade Agreement (ChAFTA):
After being asked whether they
thought the ChAFTA was a good thing for Australia or not respondents were then
asked: “Why especially do you say that?”
Those who responded that the
China-Australia Free Trade Agreement was a good thing (40%) most often
mentioned that it’s a good way to grow the Australian economy, it opens up a
huge market to Australian companies, it will create many jobs in Australia and also
make Australian businesses more competitive on the international playing field.
“We’ve got to grow the Australian
economy.”
“It’s good for the world we live in and for the Australian economy.”
“At the moment our economy needs
every boost it can get.”
“It will bring business into this
country and make exports and imports cheaper.”
“We’ve got to grow our economy so
without manufacturing we’ve got to trade.”
“I’m sure it’s good for our economy.
I know less import and export taxes will encourage trade.”
“The agreement will make goods
cheaper, including electronics and we will have greater access to China’s
economy of 1.2 billion people.”
“Just in terms of increasing trade
and so it’s more money for the economy.”
“It encourages trade between our two
countries and we will have cheaper products come from China as a result and it
will also allow us to sell more to China.”
“It’ll make goods cheaper and also
give great opportunities for agricultural exports.”
“It’s going to open up jobs for
everyone and create future wealth.”
“It opens up Australia more to the
world and creates jobs in Australia. As long as they don’t bring in foreign
workers to take over.”
“China is a big country and its good
to be able to sell to them and if we’re going to trade more with China that
will give us more jobs in Australia.”
“It’s a new area so jobs and money
coming in and the economy growing and that kind of thing.”
“Free-Trade Agreements get rid of
embargoes and tariffs and so that’s a good thing.”
“I think obviously the economic scope
and the population of China give great benefits even for just the agricultural
export sectors.”
“Because it will give jobs to
Australians. That’s the biggest thing that we
could have happen.”
“The benefits of free trade are for
everyone.”
“The increased trade with China will
increase jobs here in Australia.”
“I think it will bring more work
into Australia, things aren’t good at the moment with jobs.”
“China will be a great trading
partner for Australia.”
“Because from an economic point of
view the theory is that free trade makes it easier for all countries to compete
with their most efficient industry sectors.”
“We’re global, we’ve got to spread
our wings. We’re not as isolated anymore.”
“It will help so that all parties
can export and exchange goods – we export cattle over there.”
“I come from a farming background
and it will help our farmers sell more produce.”
“I believe in all free trade, it
works both ways.”
“You’ve got to keep making
commercial deals with countries that’ll take us into the next century.”
“It’s good for competition. It’ll
make Australians more competitive generally.”
“China is a big country and trading
with them is important for us and good for employment.”
“Well, it’d be more jobs for the
people.”
“I’ve been to China, it’s cheaper,
and the low taxes are good for saving money and cutting costs.”
“Probably help us improve our market
breadth and the tradings of the country.”
“So we can sell things to China
without problems and we can get things from them that we need.”
“It will increase our export income
and our balance of trade will improve with trading with China.”
Those who responded that the
China-Australia Free Trade Agreement was not a good thing (31%) often mentioned
Chinese workers flooding into Australia and taking Australian jobs, because it
will undermine Australian manufacturers and exporters, that its more in favour
of China than Australia and that essentially the terms and conditions will
impact negatively on all Australians.
“We’re losing out on money, we’re
losing jobs. It’s not good.”
“I guess it will have a negative
impact on jobs for Australians.”
“I reckon we have enough people in
our country to fill our unemployment levels.”
“There are certain aspects which
don’t favour Australia like bringing labour in from overseas.”
“It will lose Australian jobs and
lead to a lower quality of life.”
“It’s going to lose jobs for
everyone.”
“When you do agreements like these
they can often bring their own labour and electricians.”
“I prefer manufacturing to be in
Australia because it would be a lot easier to get a job.”
“Because it’s likely to open the
door to Chinese companies bringing in their own workers at a lesser pay rate.”
“I’d rather grow Australian industry
than getting flooded with more Chinese goods.”
“Basically you’re going to be
putting trade workers out of a job.”
“Probably because it won’t give
Australians more jobs.”
“Because according to the Free Trade
Agreement the Chinese can come in here and do a big job and bring workers in
from China.”
“Local jobs will be jeopardised!”
“I think that it’s very unfair for
Australian manufacturers and exporters.”
“Because it disadvantages our own
producers.”
“I think it’s more in favour of the
Chinese State and economy rather than Australia.”
“I don’t believe it’s in our best
interest as we won’t be selling more to China.”
“I’ve seen how the jobs might go
overseas and not benefit Australian workers.”
“Australia should be for Australia
first. Give it to locals first. Bringing overseas workers in will put
Australians out of a job.”
“It seems to me to be very
one-sided. It seems to lock in prices and such on Australian exports to China,
on coal and iron ore, but not do the same in reverse.”
“China nearly owns us now. They
don’t need any more of what they’re getting. They’re buying too much of country
as it is.”
“Because I think it boxes us into
price control and it also, from what I can read, gives China the upper hand in
the deal.”
“It’s a sneaky policy to bring in
workers to the jobs in Australia and taking the work from Australians. The
policy is said to agree with the importation of labour.”
“Because the rules aren’t the same
between the two countries. We in Australia have to abide by higher quality
standards and by-laws compared to manufacturers in a place like China.”
”Because we can’t compete with the
cost of labour of a place like China and therefore much of our industry will be
forced to close down. It’s already happening in some industries.”
“We’re down-trodden. We’re
Australians. We’re losing everything.”
“I’ve been to China several times
and seen what happens over there. I just can’t see the return for the
Australian public.”
“Because all they will do is buy our
place and do what they like with it.”
“They get all the benefits and we
get nothing back.”
“The Government is too secretive and
I don’t know any details about anything really.”
“Because some of our local jobs will
be at risk. The fact that Chinese manufacturing companies can bring in their
own labour will not be good for local jobs.”
“I think what happens is that we’re just
selling out our own industry for a short-term gain.”
“They’re Australian jobs and we’re
losing jobs here and also lots of cheap nasty stuff coming in.”
Those who couldn’t say (29%) how
they felt about the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement mentioned the lack of
information about the deal, and the worries that it might have a negative
impact, but they simply couldn’t know because the details have not been made
widely available.
“I don’t know enough about it to
make a good decision.”
“I’m uninformed of the details so I
really couldn’t comment.”
“There’s nothing put out there
saying what benefits it is going to give to us.”
“I don’t understand the implications
of it. I think we should protect our farms though.”
“I wouldn’t or couldn’t answer that
question until I’d seen more of the details.”
“The impact of free trade could mean
a loss of jobs here because their manufacturing cost is way lower than ours,
but I’m just not sure of the details.”
“The potential impact on Australian
jobs has me concerned.”
“You can’t just say yes or no to
that, it depends on the detail of it. It could be detrimental for a million
different reasons.”
“We don’t have the information. I
don’t think the public has enough information.”
“It’s not free trade. It’s
categorized trade. It’s a lot more than a yes and no question.”
“None of the details are out there
and I don’t like what I hear in the media.”
“I would only support it if Chinese
workers were not able to come to Australia.”
Margin of Error
The margin of error to be allowed
for in any estimate depends mainly on the number of interviews on which it is
based. The following table gives indications of the likely range within which
estimates would be 95% likely to fall, expressed as the number of percentage
points above or below the actual estimate. The figures are approximate and for
general guidance only, and assume a simple random sample. Allowance for design
effects (such as stratification and weighting) should be made as appropriate.
|
Sample Size |
Percentage Estimate |
|||
|
40%-60% |
25% or 75% |
10% or 90% |
5% or 95% |
|
|
1,000 |
±3.2 |
±2.7 |
±1.9 |
±1.4 |
MULTI-COUNTRY SURVEYS
Latin Americans Lead World in Emotions
August
27, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Led by Bolivia and El Salvador, Latin American countries dominate the top of the list of the most emotional countries in the world for 2014. On average, nearly six in 10 residents in each of these countries reported experiencingpositive or negative emotions the previous day. Post-Soviet states largely dominate the list of countries at the other end of the spectrum, where at most four in 10 residents reported experiencing any of these feelings.
Gallup measured daily emotions in 148 countries in 2014 by asking people whether they experienced five positive and five negative emotions a lot the previous day. The five negative experiences include anger, stress, sadness, physical pain and worry. The five positive experiences include feeling well-rested, being treated with respect, enjoyment, smiling and laughing a lot and learning or doing something interesting. The most and least emotional countries are based on the rankings of the average "yes" responses to all questions.
Separately, the questions about positive and negative emotions make up Gallup's Positive Experience and Negative Experience Indexes, respectively. Both indexes attempt to quantify how people live their lives -- as opposed to how people see their lives.
Perhaps surprisingly, the Positive and Negative Experience Indexes are not inversely related. Meaning in some countries, many people might report laughing and smiling a lot and also report a lot of sadness or anger. The lack of a relationship between the two was the impetus for this analysis -- to quantitatively show how residents of some countries report experiencing a lot of emotions overall, while residents in others tend to express few emotions -- positive or negative.
Culture appears to play a major role in these results. The single variable that predicts results on both indexes is country of origin, suggesting that there are cultural biases in how people answer these questions. In fact, after the release of the previous results that showed the Philippines to be the most emotional country in the world, a diplomat from the Philippines explained to Gallup that culturally, people in the Philippines are emotional. "The focus we [Filipinos] place on interpersonal relationships impels us not only to experience emotions more intensely," he said, "but also to be more open in their expression."
Gallup's experiential indexes are also sensitive to major events. The civil war led to a collapse of positive emotions in Syria in 2013, the most dramatic decline Gallup has seen to date. Furthermore, conflict-plagued Sudan was the lowest in the entire world for positive emotions last year. Greece's economic collapse also created a dramatic increase in negative emotions within the country. Since 2007, the Negative Experience Index score in Greece has doubled, and the country ranks among the top 10 in the world for negative emotions.
The Negative Experience Index is also influenced by additional factors such as physical well-being and people's personal economic situations -- all things that plague countries such as Iraq, which had the highest score in 2014. The Positive Experience Index is influenced by things such as personal freedom and strong social networks, which might explain why people from countries in Latin America that aren't wealthy still seem to live positive lives.
Implications
These measures attempt to quantify how people experience their lives through human experiences such as laughing and smiling a lot or feeling anger or stress. The drivers of the Positive and Negative Experience Indexes are not typical economic indicators such as income or GDP, but rather non-economic aspects such as freedom, family and social networks, culture, instability and war.
Gallup's Positive and Negative Experience Indexes provide a more complete understanding of how people worldwide are experiencing their lives by quantifying the non-monetary transactions of life. Leaders who are interested in moving beyond economic indicators as proxies for human development would be wise to look into metrics on how people are experiencing their lives.
Survey Methods
Results are based on telephone and face-to-face interviews with approximately 1,000 adults, aged 15 and older, conducted in 148 countries throughout 2014. For results based on the total sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error ranged from ±2.1 percentage points to ±5.6 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting.
CYBER WORLD
Internet Industry Nets Record Positive Rating
August
26, 2015
PRINCETON, N.J. -- Six in 10 Americans view the Internet industry either very or somewhat positively, which is up from 49% a year ago and easily the highest positive rating that Gallup has recorded in 15 years.
Positive perceptions of the Internet industry rose from an average 46% between 2001 and 2005 to 52% between 2006 and 2014, before reaching today's 60%. Currently, 16% of Americans view the industry negatively -- up from an average 22% from 2001 to 2005 -- and 22% are neutral toward it.
The latest results are from Gallup's Aug. 5-9 Work and Education poll, in which respondents were asked how they view each of 25 business or industry sectors in the U.S. The Internet now ranks third on the basis of net-positive views, behind the restaurant and computer industries. While Americans rate the computer industry slightly better than the Internet industry, views of the computer industry have been fairly flat in recent years; in fact, the current 69% viewing it positively is a few points lower than the 73% peak three years ago.
"Internet industry" may mean different things to different people, and Gallup did not define the term in the question, but experts generally define it as companies that provide access to or operate primarily on the Internet. This would include Internet portals and search engines, as well as e-commerce, lifestyle, entertainment and social media sites.
While there is no obvious reason why Americans would have grown more favorable toward the Internet industry in just the past year, Gallup trends indicate that positive perceptions are higher today than the 2006-2014 average among most key demographic groups. It has increased especially among Republicans and independents, while showing little improvement among Democrats.
Longer term, one of the reasons the Internet industry's image has improved since the early 2000s is that older Americans have grown more positive toward it as they have become more familiar with it. From 2001-2005, 37% of adults aged 55 and older had a positive impression of the Internet industry and 25% a negative impression, with 39% neutral or unsure. Today, 54% view it positively and 20% negatively, with 26% neutral or unsure.
Bottom Line
As more Americans have Internet access at home, use smartphones, telecommute and otherwise integrate the Internet in their lives, their perceptions of the industry have improved. The Internet provides services that can enhance people's daily lives, and at least for now, it appears these benefits outweigh any downside Americans may perceive in terms of cost orprivacy. One question is whether consumers continue to feel the Internet is on their side, or whether they grow to want more government intervention. However, amid current debate over the merits of various proposed regulations, it is notable that far more Americans have a positive view of the Internet industry than of the federal government, 60% vs. 25%, respectively.
Historical data are available in Gallup Analytics.
Survey Methods
Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Aug. 5-9, 2015, with a random sample of 1,011 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. For results based on the total sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. Each industry was rated by a random subset of approximately 500 respondents. The margin of sampling error is ±6 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting.
Each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 50% cellphone respondents and 50% landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas by time zone within region. Landline and cellular telephone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods.
Americans’ Views on Mobile Etiquette
August
26, 2015
‘Always
on’ mobile connectivity poses new challenges for users about when to be present
with those nearby or engaged with others on their screens
Cellphones and smartphones have become a mainstay in the lives of many Americans, and this has introduced new challenges into how users and non-users alike approach basic social norms and etiquette. People are sorting through new rules of civility in an environment where once-private conversations can easily be overheard in public places and where social gatherings can be disrupted by participants focusing on digital screens instead of their in-person companions.
This Pew Research Center report explores newly released survey findings about Americans’ views about the appropriateness of cellphone use in public places and in social gatherings and the way those views sometimes conflict with their own behaviors.
The results are based on a nationally representative survey of 3,217 adults on Pew Research Center’s American Trends Panel, 3,042 of whom are cellphone users.
For many Americans,
cellphones are always present and rarely turned off — and this constant
connectivity creates new social challenges
Some 92% of U.S. adults now have a cellphone of some kind, and 90% of those cell owners say that their phone is frequently with them. Some 31% of cell owners say they never turn their phone off and 45% say they rarely turn it off.
This “always-on” reality has disrupted long-standing social norms about when it is appropriate for people to shift their attention away from their physical conversations and interactions with others towards digital encounters with people and information that are enabled by their mobile phone.
It turns out that people think different kinds of public and social settings warrant different sensitivities about civil behavior. For instance, fully 77% of all adults think it is generally OK for people to use their cellphones while walking down the street and 75% believe it is OK for others to use phones on public transit. But only 38% think it is generally OK for others to use cellphones at restaurants and just 5% think it is generally OK to use a cellphone at a meeting.
Mobile devices play a
complex role in modern social interactions — many Americans view them as
harmful and distracting to group dynamics, even as they can’t resist the
temptation themselves
As a general proposition,
Americans view cell phones as distracting and annoying when used in social
settings — but at the same time, many use their own devices during group
encounters.
When asked for their views on how mobile phone use impacts group interactions, 82% of adults say that when people use their phones in these settings it frequently or occasionally hurts the conversation. Meanwhile, 33% say that cell phone use in these situations frequently or occasionally contributes to the conversation and atmosphere of the group. Women are more likely than men to feel cell use at social gatherings hurts the group: 41% of women say it frequently hurts the gathering vs. 32% of men who say that the same. Similarly, those over age 50 (45%) are more likely than younger cell owners (29%) to feel that cellphone use frequently hurts group conversations.
When considering the impact of their mobile phone use on their own social interactions,25% of cell owners say that when they use their phone in group settings, it takes at least some of their attention away from the group of people they are with at the time.
Fully
89% of cellphone owners say they used their phone during the most recent social
gathering they attended
In spite of this widespread feeling that cellphone use during social gatherings can be more of a hindrance than a help, it is almost universally the case that people use their own cellphones during these gatherings and observe other members of their social groups doing the same.
In this survey,
cellphone owners are asked to think about the most recent social gathering they
attended and what they did with their cellphone while they were in the physical
presence of others. Fully 89% said that they themselves
used their phone during their most recent time with others,and 86%
report that someone else in the group used their cellphone during the
gathering.
When asked about some specific ways they might have used their cellphone during their most recent social gathering, a majority of cell owners indicated they used their phone to send or read a message, take photos or videos, or receive an incoming call. Fewer used their phones for such things as checking to see if they had any alerts, placing a call, using an app, or searching or browsing the web. In all, 89% of cellphone owners reported using their phone in at least one of these eight ways during their most recent social gathering.
Many are using their
phones in social settings for purposes that are connected to the gathering
In addition to asking how these individuals used their mobile phones during their most recent social gathering, the survey also included a follow-up question asking what those users are hoping to accomplish by using their phone.
As it turns out, a share are trying to avoid or disengage from the people they are physically present with: 16% used their phone because they are no longer interested in what the group was doing; 15% wanted to connect with other people who are strangers to the group; and 10% used their phone to avoid participating in what the group was discussing.
However, it was more often the case that people used their cellphone in a manner tied to the gathering:
§ 45%
used their phone to post a
picture or video they had taken of the gathering.
§ 41%
used their phone to share
something that had occurred in the group by
text, email or social networking site.
§ 38%
used their phone to get information
they thought would be interesting to the group.
§ 31%
used their phone to connect
with other people who are known to the group.
In all, 78% cited at least one of these four “group-contributing” reasons, compared with 30% who used their phone for one of the three “retreating-from-the-group” reasons.
When using their
cellphones in public spaces, most users do so for information gathering and
social purposes, rather than explicitly anti-social purposes
Constant mobility is also changing the ways in which Americans can interact with information and other people while outside the bounds of explicitly “social” settings. Indeed, many cellphone owners are using their mobile devices while out in public for a variety of reasons, and while their visible actions might seem rude or inconsiderate to an outside observer, in many instances they are using their phone to further their social engagement with others.
Cellphone users frequently use their phones while in public for basic social or information-oriented tasks, such as:
§ looking
up information about where they are going or how to get there: 65% of cell
owners do that frequently or occasionally
§ coordinating
get-togethers with others: 70% do that frequently or occasionally
§ catching
up with family and friends: 67% do that frequently or occasionally.
Many also report using their phones to pass the time or catch up on other tasks or to get information about the people they are planning to see, but these activities are less frequent.
Explicitly anti-social
behavior while in public is considerably less common. Some 23% of cellphone owners say
that when they are in public spaces they use their phone to avoid interacting
with others who are nearby at least on occasion. Of course, those around the cellphone
user may still experience various uses of cellphones as anti-social, even if
that was not the intention of the user.
Young adults have
higher tolerance for cellphone use in public and in social settings; they also
are more likely to have used their phone during a recent social gathering
Those ages 18 to 29
stand out from their elders on virtually every aspect of how mobile activities
fit into their social lives, how they act with their phones and their views
about the appropriateness of using phones in public and social settings.
Younger adults are more engaged with their devices and permissive in their
attitudes about when it is OK to use a mobile phone. Of course, older adults,
especially senior citizens, are generally less likely than younger adults to
own a mobile phone in the first place and are also less likely to use their
phone for activities other than voice calls. This might be a factor in some of
these differences.
It is important to note, though, that Americans of all ages generally trend in the same direction about when it is OK or not to use cells in public settings. Fully “public” venues are viewed by all age groups as generally acceptable places to use one’s cellphone, while usage in quiet or more intimate settings is mostly frowned upon by all.
Along with being more
tolerant than their elders about cellphone use in public, younger adults also
tend to use their phones for a wider range of purposes while out and about in
public. For instance, 52% of cellphone owners ages 18 to 29 say that they
frequently use their phone to look up information about where they are going
while out in public, compared with 9% of cell users 65 and older who do this
frequently. Similarly, 49% of younger cell users say they frequently use their
phone to coordinate getting together with others while they are out and about,
compared with just 12% of seniors.
Young adults who have cellphones are also more likely than seniors to have used their cellphone during their most recent social gathering. Fully 98% of young adults used their cellphone for one reason or another during their most recent get-together with others, compared with 69% of cell owners 65 and older.
About This Survey
Data in this report is drawn from Pew Research Center’s American Trends Panel, a probability-based, nationally representative panel. This survey was conducted May 30, 2o14 through June 30, 2014 among 3,217 adults, including 3,042 cellphone users. The margin of error on the full sample is plus or minus 2.2 percentage points and for the cell-user sample is 2.3 points. For more information on the American Trends Panel, please see the Methods section at the end of this report and these further details about the panel’s construction, composition and maintenance.