This week report consists of twenty surveys. Four of these are multi-country surveys while the rest are national studies from different states across the world.

402-43-21 Commentary: 76% of MENASA residents would pay more for Halal holidays and the UAE is their destination of choice

76% of MENASA residents would pay more for Halal holidays and the UAE is their destination of choice

October 2015

$Description: C:\Users\maham\Desktop\Muslim-woman-or-girl-swimming.jpg$ Halal tourism is geared towards Muslim families where leisure destinations offer holidays in accordance with Islamic beliefs and practices. Despite relatively low awareness of the Halal holiday concept (only 29% across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia), when prompted, three quarters of respondents claim it is important for their leisure destination to offer a Halal holiday, with 51% claiming it is ‘extremely important’.

According to the YouGov Travel Oracle, of those that are aware of the concept of Halal tourism, respondents in Tunisia were the most likely to be aware (54%). Those respondents residing in Iraq were the least likely to be aware (15%).

The research, which interviewed 22,868 respondents online from across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia about their attitudes to Halal tourism, also reveals just over three-quarters of respondents who are interested in the concept would pay more for a Halal holiday than a standard holiday that doesn’t accommodate religious considerations. Residents from Yemen are the most willing to pay more (81%), followed by Algeria, Pakistan (both 80%) and Sudan (79%).

The popularity of the concept amongst a population that is largely unaware exposes the essentially un-tapped market for travel destinations accommodating people’s religious beliefs. Those most in favor of Halal holidays and who claimed it was 'extremely important' to them included respondents in Algeria (73%), Sudan (65%) and Yemen (64%). The concept was least important among those residing in Lebanon, 34% of whom claimed it was 'extremely unimportant'.

Currently, of those respondents interested in Halal holidays, the largest proportion claim the country they most closely associate with the concept is Saudi Arabia, however interestingly when asked which country they would be most interested to see develop Halal holiday destinations, the largest proportion chose the UAE - making it the number one destination of choice for the development of Halal holidays across the region, followed by Saudi Arabia.

When considering the most important features of a Halal holiday, 64% of respondents claim that prayer spaces are the most essential attribute. The provision of Halal food was the second most essential attribute according to 63% of respondents, followed by being alcohol-free (51%). Modestly dressed staff and women-only swimming pools were also highly important according to 35% and 31% of respondents respectively.

With such a high proportion of the sample demonstrating their attraction to the concept of Halal tourism, and only 29% aware of it, this data demonstrates the outstanding potential of religious-focused holidays in travel destinations looking to appeal to consumers right on their doorstep. The fact that many see the UAE as a destination of choice for Halal holidays and a large majority are willing to dig deeper into their pockets to experience them shows the commercial potential that could be unlocked by focusing on providing Halal-friendly offerings.

Research conducted online by the YouGov Travel Oracle among 22,868 respondents in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, between 27^th September and 14^th October 2015. Data is broadly representative of the adult urban online population in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia.

Source: http://research.mena.yougov.com/en/news/2015/10/19/76-menasa-residents-would-pay-more-highly-importan/

SUMMARY OF POLLS

MENA

76% of MENASA residents would pay more for Halal holidays and the UAE is their destination of choice

Halal tourism is geared towards Muslim families where leisure destinations offer holidays in accordance with Islamic beliefs and practices. Despite relatively low awareness of the Halal holiday concept (only 29% across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia), when prompted, three quarters of respondents claim it is important for their leisure destination to offer a Halal holiday, with 51% claiming it is ‘extremely important’. (YouGov Siraj)

October 2015

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Philippines: Net satisfaction with National Administration rises to "Good" +37

The Third Quarter 2015 Social Weather Survey, fielded from September 2-5, 2015, found 59% of adult Filipinos satisfied, 18% neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, and 22% dissatisfied with the general performance of the National Administration, for a net satisfaction rating of +37 (% satisfied minus % dissatisfied), classified by SWS as good. (SWS)

October 13, 2015

EAST EUROPE

IRI Ukraine Poll: Interest is High in October 25 Local Elections Amid Pessimism about Pace of Reforms

A new poll released by IRI found high voter enthusiasm ahead of the upcoming October 25 local elections, a continuing frustration over the pace of reforms and a troubling lack of understanding about the reforms being pursued. The poll also found increased public support for NATO membership. (Rating group/IRI)

OCTOBER 14, 2015

Russia: What Do We Know About The State Of Environment?

The level of awareness of Russians concerning the environmental situation in their communities is extremely low. At the same time, 80% of respondents express their interest to know more about it. (VCIOM)

October 1, 2015

WEST EUROPE

Food waste and date marking

The majority of Europeans recognise that they themselves have a role to play in preventing food waste. Over three quarters (76%) of Europeans think that the individual consumer is one of the actors involved in the prevention of food waste, compared with less than a half (49%) who consider that the state has a role to play. (Eurobarometer)

October 2015

UK: Hoverboards look like fun – but keep them off the pavements

Most British people say ‘self-balancing scooters’ look like good fun rather than a bit ridiculous – but there is broad support for a ban on public roads. (YouGov)

October 16, 2015

NORTH AMERICA

Americans' Desire for Stricter Gun Laws Up Sharply

Fifty-five percent of Americans say they want laws covering the sale of firearms to be stricter than they are now, a distinct rise of eight percentage points from 2014. Fewer Americans than last year want the laws to be less strict, and the proportion who want the laws to stay the same has also declined slightly. (Gallup USA)

October 19, 2015

Americans' Favorable Ratings of Pope Up After U.S. Visit

Pope Francis enjoyed a double-digit boost to his favorability after his September visit to the U.S. Seventy percent of Americans now view him favorably -- up from 59% in July. The latest rating is closer to the 76% measured in early 2014. (Gallup USA)

October 16, 2015

U.S. Employee Engagement Steady in September, at 32%

In the U.S., 32% of workers were engaged in their jobs in September. While engagement remains higher than it was from 2011-2013, monthly figures have not wavered since the beginning of 2015 -- consistently trending between 31% and 32%. The lone exception was in February, when the monthly employee engagement average was 32.9%. (Gallup USA)

October 16, 2015

Solid Majority Continue to Support Death Penalty

About six in 10 Americans favor the use of the death penalty for a person convicted of murder, similar to 2014. This continues a gradual decline in support for the procedure since reaching its all-time high point of 80% in 1994. (Gallup USA)

October 15, 2015

Boehner Image Slightly Better After Resignation Announcement

Americans' opinions of House Speaker John Boehner are still negative, but they have improved since he announced last month that he would resign his position. Currently, 31% of Americans have a favorable opinion of Boehner, up from 23% in August. This is his best reading since April 2014. (Gallup USA)

October 15, 2015

Biden Maintains Positive Image

As Vice President Joe Biden continues to ponder whether to enter the 2016 Democratic nomination campaign, Americans' views of him are more positive (49%) than negative (37%). These views are similar to what Gallup found in its prior update from August and continue to be improved from Americans' divided opinions of Biden through most of his term as vice president. (Gallup USA)

October 14, 2015

In U.S., 59% View Planned Parenthood Favorably

A majority of Americans, 59%, view Planned Parenthood favorably. Although still positive overall, Americans' current opinions of Planned Parenthood are considerably less favorable than they were in 1993 -- the last time Gallup asked about the organization -- when 81% viewed it favorably. (Gallup USA)

October 14, 2015

Canada - Election 2015: Liberals edge Conservatives as volatile electorate mulls final choice before last campaign weekend

Election 2015 enters its final weekend with the Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) holding a four point advantage in popular support over the Conservatives (CPC) among eligible voters. (Angus Reid)

October 16, 2015

LATIN AMERICA

Brazilian perception of the crisis is worse in 2015 than in 1999

Estudo compara indicadores econômicos e opiniões da população sobre o governo federal nos anos de reeleição de FHC e Dilma Study compares economic indicators and population opinions on the federal government during the Cardoso years and re-election of Dilma. (Ibope)

October 2015

AUSTRALASIA

Internet banking growth and satisfaction outstrips other channels

The proportion of bank customers using the internet ( both via website or mobile) to deal with their bank in an average four week period has now grown to 62.2%, well ahead of the more traditional branch, now only used by 32.3%. The satisfaction level of internet banking is 90.2%, compared to branches with 88.4%. (Roy Morgan)

October 2015

MULTI-COUNTRY SURVEYS

One in three across the world don’t always wash their hands properly after going to the toilet

A global survey from WIN/Gallup International, the world’s leading association in market research and polling shows that 65% of those polled across 64 countries‘agree’ that washing their hands with soap and water is something they automatically do – however 26% somewhat agree, while just under one in ten (8%) disagree. (WIN/GIA)

October 2015

Ipsos "Sustainable Future Attitude Survey" Newly Released

On the eve of the UN General Assembly, the United Nations will generate new sustainable development goals, to succeed its Millennium Development Goals. For this reason, Ipsos launched a survey on foreign aid and sustainable development goals among people in 17 countries in the world (both traditional and emerging donors). (Ipsos Mori)

October 09, 2015

Europeans Most Negative Toward Immigration

Well before the flow of migrants into Europe reached crisis proportions this year, a Gallup study of attitudes toward immigration in 142 countries found people in Europe, on average, were the most negative in the world toward immigration. The majority of residents (52%) said immigration levels in their countries should be decreased. In every other major region of the world, people were more likely to want immigration levels in their countries to either stay at their present level or to increase, rather than to decrease. (Gallup USA)

October 16, 2015

New global poll reveals the top 5 workplace challenges facing G20 women

A new poll by Ipsos MORI carried out across the G20 reveals the top challenges faced by women in the workplace. The survey, which was conducted on behalf of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, asked women across G20 countries what top five challenges they feel they face at work. The results show that work-life balance is the most mentioned issue. This is followed by equal pay and having the same career opportunities as men. Harassment by co-workers was also mentioned key issue in our survey and nearly one in three G20 women say they have been harassed at work. (Ipsos Mori)

October 16, 2015

MENA

402-43-1.

76% of MENASA residents would pay more for Halal holidays and the UAE is their destination of choice

Source: http://research.mena.yougov.com/en/news/2015/10/19/76-menasa-residents-would-pay-more-highly-importan/

SOUTHEAST ASIA

402-43-2.
Philippines: Net satisfaction with National Administration rises to "Good" +37

Third Quarter 2015 Social Weather Survey:

The Third Quarter 2015 Social Weather Survey, fielded from September 2-5, 2015, found 59% of adult Filipinos satisfied, 18% neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, and 22% dissatisfied with the general performance of the National Administration, for a net satisfaction rating of +37 (% satisfied minus % dissatisfied), classified by SWS as good [Chart 1, Tables 1 and 2].

This is 6 points above the good +31 (55% satisfied, 24% dissatisfied) in June 2015, and the highest since +45 in March 2014.

Good on 5 issues, moderate on 9 issues, neutral on 8 issues, and bad on 1 issue

Out of 23 specific performance issues rated, the National Administration got net satisfaction ratings of good on 5 issues, moderate on 9 issues, neutral on 8 issues, and bad on 1 issue.

The net satisfaction rating of the National Administration was good on: Providing enough supply of electricity (+44), Helping the poor (+39), Foreign relations (+37), Promoting the welfare of OFWs (+34), and Promoting human rights (+31) [Charts 2 to 6].

It was moderate on: Preparing for climate change (+29), Defending the country's territorial rights (+28), Improving the quality of airports (+28), Transparency of government activities (+23), Giving justice (+18), Restoring peace to Mindanao (+16), Eradicating graft and corruption (+15), Deciding quickly on important problems (+15), and Fighting terrorism (+12) [Charts 7 to 14].

It was neutral on: Traffic management (+6), Fighting inflation (+5), Ensuring oil firms don't take advantage of oil prices (+5), Rehabilitating areas damaged by conflict in Mindanao (+5), Reconciliation with Communist rebels (+4), Fighting crimes (+4), Ensuring that no family will ever be hungry (+3), and Reconciliation with Muslim rebels (net zero) [Charts 15 to 22].

It was bad on Resolving the Maguindanao massacre case with justice (-47) [Chart 23].

Government's net rating rises by one grade on 5 issues, and steady on 15 issues

The National Administration's net satisfaction rating rose by one grade on 5 specific issues, remained steady on 15 specific issues, and fell by one grade on 3 specific issues.

Compared to June 2015, the National Administration's net satisfaction rating stayed good on Providing enough supply of electricity and Helping the poor, unchanged from +44 and +39, respectively [Table 3].

It also stayed good on Foreign relations, hardly moving from +38, and Promoting the welfare of OFWs, hardly moving from +32.

However, it fell by one grade from very good to good on Promoting human rights, down by 19 points from +50 in March 2012.

It rose by one grade from neutral to moderate on Eradicating graft and corruption, up by 14 points from +1 in June 2015.

Compared to June 2015, it stayed moderate on Deciding quickly on important problems, up by 4 points from +11, Defending the country's territorial rights, hardly moving from +27, Giving justice, hardly moving from +19, and Fighting terrorism, hardly moving from +13.

It stayed moderate on Restoring peace to Mindanao, although down by 7 points from +23 in June 2015.

It also stayed moderate on Preparing for climate change, unchanged from +29 in March 2015.

However, it fell by one grade from good to moderate on Transparency of government activities, down by 21 points from +44 in August 2012.

Rated for the first time, the issue on Improving the quality of airports obtained a moderate +28.

Compared to June 2015, the National Administration's net satisfaction rating rose by one grade from poor to neutral on Ensuring oil firms don't take advantage of oil prices, up by 21 points from -17, and the highest since the moderate +13 in August 2012.

It rose by one grade from poor to neutral on Fighting inflation, up by 16 points from -11, and the highest since the moderate +19 in August 2012.

It also rose by one grade from poor to neutral on Ensuring that no family will ever be hungry, up by 16 points from -12, and the highest since the moderate +26 in August 2012.

Compared to June 2015, it stayed neutral on Reconciliation with Communist rebels and Rehabilitating areas damaged by conflict in Mindanao, unchanged from +4 and +5, respectively.

It also stayed neutral on Fighting crimes, hardly moving from +5, and Reconciliation with Muslim rebels, hardly moving from +1.

However, it fell by one grade from moderate to neutral on Traffic management, down by 4 points from +10 in March 2002.

It rose by one grade from very bad to bad on Resolving the Maguindanao massacre case with justice, up by 3 points from -50 in June 2015.

Good in Balance Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, Moderate in Metro Manila

Compared to June 2015, the National Administration's net satisfaction rating rose by one grade from moderate to good in Balance Luzon. It stayed good in Mindanao and Visayas, and stayed moderate in Metro Manila.

The National Administration's net satisfaction rating rose by one grade from moderate to good in Balance Luzon, up by 15 points from +29 in June to +44 in September [Chart 24, Table 4].

It stayed good in Mindanao, unchanged from +34.

It also stayed good in the Visayas, although down by 10 points from +43 in June to +34 in September.

It stayed moderate in Metro Manila, up by 6 points from +18 in June to +24 in September.

Good in classes D and E, Moderate in class ABC

Compared to June 2015, the National Administration's net satisfaction rating rose by one grade from moderate to good in class D, while it stayed good in class E. However, it fell by one grade from good to moderate in class ABC.

It rose by one grade from moderate to good in class D or the masa, up by 9 points from +29 in June to +38 in September [Chart 25, Table 5].

It stayed good in class E, up by 2 points from +38 to +40.

However, it fell by one grade from by good to moderate in class ABC, down by 12 points from +33 to +21.

Survey Background

The September 2015 Social Weather Survey was conducted from September 2-5, 2015 using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide, 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao (sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages, and ±6% each for Metro Manila, Balance of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao).

The area estimates were weighted by National Statistics Office medium-population projections for 2015 to obtain the national estimates.

The Social Weather Survey items on public satisfaction with the general performance of the National Administration, and its performance on specific issues, are non-commissioned. These items were included on SWS's own initiative and released as a public service, with first printing rights assigned to BusinessWorld.

The satisfaction rating with the general performance of the National Administration is based on a single question, and is not an average of answers to separate questions on specific issues. The general rating is repeated in every quarterly survey, whereas only a core of the specific issue-ratings are repeated. Many issue-ratings are either included or excluded depending on their contemporary salience.

SWS employs its own staff for questionnaire design, sampling, fieldwork, data-processing, and analysis, and does not outsource any of its survey operations.

[SWS terminology for Net Satisfaction Ratings: +70 and above, "excellent"; +50 to +69, "very good"; +30 to +49, "good"; +10 to +29, "moderate", +9 to -9, "neutral"; -10 to -29, "poor"; -30 to -49, "bad"; -50 to -69, "very bad"; -70 and below, "execrable"]. A single-digit net satisfaction is considered not significantly different from zero.

Chart 1
Description: http://www.sws.org.ph/pr20151013vis_01.GIF

Table 1
Description: http://www.sws.org.ph/pr20151013vis_02.GIF

Table 2
Description: http://www.sws.org.ph/pr20151013vis_03.GIF

Source: http://www.sws.org.ph/

EAST EUROPE

402-43-3.

IRI Ukraine Poll: Interest is High in October 25 Local Elections Amid Pessimism about Pace of Reforms

OCTOBER 14, 2015

Kyiv, Ukraine – A new poll released by IRI found high voter enthusiasm ahead of the upcoming October 25 local elections, a continuing frustration over the pace of reforms and a troubling lack of understanding about the reforms being pursued. The poll also found increased public support for NATO membership.

Interest is High in October 25 Local Elections
On October 25, Ukrainians across the country will go to the polls to elect mayors and, regional and city councils. These elections are critical as newly-elected officials will see increased authority if Parliament passes the proposed decentralization law that is central to President Poroshenko’s reform efforts.

Seventy-five percent of respondents said they were either very likely or somewhat likely to vote in the elections, a 10 percent increase since IRI’s July poll. Voter enthusiasm is highest in western Ukraine, though strong majorities in eastern and southern Ukraine also intend to vote (70 percent and 69 percent, respectively).

Continuing Frustration with Pace of Reforms
As in IRI’s previous poll, Ukrainians continued to express frustration with the pace of change in their country. Sixty-eight percent believed that things are going in the wrong direction, and only 11 percent approved of the job that parliament is doing.

One possible explanation is the lack of information on the contents of the government’s reform packages. When asked to evaluate their knowledge of the decentralization/local governance amendments to the constitution, only 12 percent of respondents believed they were well informed of the reform contents. Similarly, only 12 percent believed the reforms would improve the situation in Ukraine, compared to 15 percent who believed it would worsen and 46 percent who believed it would not change anything.

“As with IRI’s July poll, this new poll underscores the fact that Ukraine is at a critical juncture,” said Stephen Nix, director of IRI’s Eurasia programs. “People’s frustration continues to grow with the pace of and lack of information on reforms. If the government is going to succeed in passing the reforms that so many demanded on the Maidan, they must do more to reach out to voters and explain the reform package to citizens.”

In contrast to the confusion over the contents of decentralization reform, the poll indicated overwhelming support for the police reforms, with 75 percent supporting the introduction of new police in the cities of Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa. “This is one of the first reforms that Ukrainians can see and it is a clear example of how positively people respond to reforms when they see them take effect in their communities,” said Nix.

Increased Support for NATO Membership
IRI’s poll saw the highest level of support for NATO membership in any survey the Institute has conducted. When asked whether they would vote for Ukraine to join NATO in a referendum, 48 percent of respondents said they would—a seven point increase since IRI’s last survey—while only 28 percent said they would vote against this decision. In addition, a strong majority (57 percent) continue to support Ukraine’s integration with the European Union.

Methodology
The poll was conducted in all regions of Ukraine (with the exception of Crimea and occupied regions of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts) from September 7-21, 2015, with an oversample in the Zakarpattia region (see poll presentation for methodology). 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 63.9 percent.

The survey was conducted by Rating Group Ukraine and was funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Source: http://www.iri.org/resource/iri-ukraine-poll-interest-high-october-25-local-elections-amid-pessimism-about-pace-reforms

402-43-4.

Russia: What Do We Know About The State Of Environment?

The level of awareness of Russians concerning the environmental situation in their communities is extremely low. At the same time, 80% of respondents express their interest to know more about it.

MOSCOW, October 1, 2015. Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) presents the results of the survey describing Russian assessments regarding the environmental situation and their interest in this topic.

Russians are divided in their opinions concerning the level of availability of the environmental information. One-third of them (32%) say that any information can be easily accessed (41% of residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg; 29% of rural area residents); one-third (33%) say that information is hardly available or even lacking. A further 29% say that they are not interested in this matter.

Generally, Russians express their inertest in environmental state in their communities: an overwhelming majority of them (86%) would like to get this sort of information (including 51% of those who are “very interested”). People also want to know more about the state of environment in their city, region, krai or republic (84%). Fewer Russians show interest in data concerning the environmental situation in Russia in comparison with other states (71%); 29% are very interested to see these figures.

Most of Russians would like to know information about water (59% of respondents are interested) and air pollution (54%). Russians are also anxious about landfills (40%) and soil pollution (32%). Thirty-four percent of respondents want to know about the radiation levels. Least important information refers to natural resources and subsoil water (only 6% of respondents).

The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted September 5-6, 2015; 1600 respondents were interviewed in 132 settlements in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.5%.

In your opinion, is the information about the state of environment in your pace of residence available today? (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
Completely available	12	14	15	10	8	15	10
Rather available	20	27	22	23	19	17	19
Rather unavailable	14	16	11	12	14	16	12
Unavailable	19	13	16	15	21	18	22
I do not look for this kind of information	29	26	26	31	30	28	31
Don`t know	6	4	10	9	7	4	5

How interested are you in getting information about the state of environment …? (за closed-ended question, one answer per each line, %)
	Very much	Likely interested	Unlikely interested	Absolutely not interested	Don`t know
In your place of residence / community	51	35	5	6	3
In your region/republic/krai/city	41	43	6	7	3
In Russia compared with other states	29	43	12	12	4

What kind of information about environment are you interested in? Choose not more than five answers. Are you interested to know about…? (closed-ended question, not more than 5 answers, %)
	Total respondents
Water pollution	59
Air pollution	54
Landfills	40
Radiation level intensity	34
Soil pollution	32
Deforestation, forest disease, forest fires	27
Factories, plants that have negative impact on environment	26
Fauna	20
Fish in reservoirs	19
Reserves, natural and national parks	14
Natural resources and subsoil water	6
I am not interested in environment information / nothing	11
Other	1
Don`t know	3

Source: http://www.wciom.com/index.php?id=61&uid=1189

WEST EUROPE

402-43-5.

Food waste and date marking

Report

September 2015

INTRODUCTION

The European Union has identified resource efficiency and waste management as key elements of EU environmental policy and the Europe 2020 strategy. The Commission is currently reflecting on the scope of a new, more ambitious Circular Economy package to be published by the end of 2015 and considers it as a possible opportunity for further actions aimed at strengthening resource efficiency in the food chain and preventing food waste.

This survey seeks to understand citizens’ perceptions, attitudes and practices related to the management and consumption of food resources, and more specifically, to investigate the role of date marking found on food labeling in relation to food waste. Findings from this study will help inform possible future policy making in this area.

The first section of the report provides an overview of citizens’ attitudes towards the prevention of food waste. The first part presents information on citizens’ views about the general responsibility of specific actors, ranging from the individual to food producers to public authorities, in helping to reduce food waste. The second part identifies specific actions that citizens feel would help them reduce the wasting of food in their own homes.

The rest of the report focuses on citizens’ attention to, understanding and use of date marking on the labels of food products. Date marking4 is a widespread and important tool to help ensure consumer safety, but can, if misunderstood, contribute to the problem of food waste by encouraging consumers to throw out goods that are still fit for consumption.

This section of the report starts by presenting information on the attention citizens pay to “use by” and “best before” labelling on items of food. It then examines the extent to which citizens across the Member States correctly understand the meaning of these dates.

The report then turns to the issue of the labelling of non-perishable foods. EU food labelling rules currently define a list of nonperishable foods for which the indication of a minimum durability (i.e. "best before") date is not required given that such foods can be consumed safely and their quality does not deteriorate over time (e.g. vinegar, sugar, salt).

First, it examines respondents’ attitudes to the necessity of “best before” labelling for foods which do not significantly deteriorate in quality. Secondly, it presents information on citizens’ habits concerning the use and possible disposal of non-perishable food were it not to be labeled with “best before” information.

Finally, the study examines another aspect of date labelling in relation to food use in the home; that is how citizens utilise storage guidelines found on food labelling. Some food manufacturers give guidance to consumers about how long certain foods can be used after opening. The report examines whether, and to what extent, citizens act in accordance with these guidelines.

This survey was carried out by TNS political & social network in the 28 Member States of the European Union between 1 and 3 September 2015. Some 26,601 respondents from different social and demographic groups were interviewed via telephone (landline and mobile phone) in their mother tongue on behalf of the European Commission, Directorate General for Health and Food Safety. The methodology used is that of Eurobarometer surveys as carried out by the Directorate-General for Communication (“Strategy, Corporate Communication Actions and Eurobarometer” Unit)5..

MAIN FINDINGS

§ The majority of Europeans recognise that they themselves have a role to play in preventing food waste. Over three quarters (76%) of Europeans think that the individual consumer is one of the actors involved in the prevention of food waste, compared with less than a half (49%) who consider that the state has a role to play.

§ Europeans also highlight the important role of economic actors in the food supply chain, identifying the responsibility of shops and retailers (62%), the hospitality and food service sectors (62%) as well as food manufacturers (52%).

§ The majority of Europeans also emphasise individual responsibility when it comes to ways to reduce food waste, with nearly two thirds (63%) saying that better shopping and meal planning would contribute to the reduction of waste. Clearer information regarding date marking and on food labels more generally (e.g. food storage and preparation) is cited by nearly one in two respondents as a means of preventing household food waste. However, there are significant differences between countries on this question.

§ Nearly six in ten Europeans (58%) state that they always check “use by” and “best before” labels when shopping and preparing meals, with very few indicating that they never do (only 3%). Young people are significantly less likely to check these labels: just over four in ten (44%) of those aged between 15 and 24 do this, compared with over six in ten (61%) of those aged 55 or over.

§ The Eurobarometer findings confirm that the meaning of date marking found on food products is poorly understood. Just under half (47%) of Europeans understand the meaning of “best before” labelling and somewhat fewer (40%) are aware of the meaning of “use by”. In both cases, a quarter or more think, incorrectly, that the meaning of date marking differs according to the type of food for which it is used.

§ There is significant country-level divergence in both awareness and conceptual understanding of "use by" and "best before" labelling. When asked about the meaning of these two types of dates, in some countries, notably Romania and Greece, a large majority gave the “use by” definition in both cases, whereas in others, such as Sweden, a majority gave the “best before” definition in both cases.

§ There are also significant sociodemographic differences on this question. Those aged between 25 and 39 are more likely than people in other age groups to know the meaning of “best before” (53%) and “use by” (46%) dates. The same is true for people who left education at an older age: 53% of those who left education at the age of 20 or older know the meaning of “best before”, compared with 36% of those who left education aged 15 years or under. The difference is less pronounced with respect to knowledge of the meaning of “use by”, with 43% and 36%, respectively.

§ Less than half (44%) of Europeans say that they would miss “best before” labelling if it were no longer found on certain non-perishable foods. Nearly six in ten (58%) respondents in Member States that entered the EU from 2004 onwards (NMS 13 countries) would prefer "best before" labelling to remain, compared with only four in ten (40%) in EU15 countries.

§ Over two thirds (70%) of Europeans state that if they found a package of spaghetti in their kitchen cupboard without "best before" labelling, they would utilise the food regardless of the absence of date marking.

§ People are more likely to throw away food without date marking in countries where there is uncertainty over the meaning of “best before” dates, such as Greece (50%), Bulgaria (47%) and Cyprus (44%).

§ Most people continue to use opened food products after the recommended storage period indicated on the label has passed. Nearly six in ten (59%) give this reply, compared with just under a third (31%) who throw food away after the stipulated date

Source: http://ec.europa.eu/COMMFrontOffice/PublicOpinion/index.cfm/Survey/getSurveyDetail/instruments/FLASH/surveyKy/2095

402-43-6.

UK: Hoverboards look like fun – but keep them off the pavements

October 16, 2015

Most British people say ‘self-balancing scooters’ look like good fun rather than a bit ridiculous – but there is broad support for a ban on public roads

There have been reports of large numbers of people riding the streets of Britain on hoverboards – not the kind seen in Back to the Future (set in October 2015), but a kind of hands-free Segway, also known as a ‘self-balancing scooter’.

They’ve become popular among pop singers, rappers and footballers but new YouGov research reveals the huge scale of their use in Britain. We showed British people a photograph of a hoverboard and 41% said they’ve seen someone using one, rising to 58% among the 18-24 generation.

Description: https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/inlineimage/13892/hover1.png

You might expect British people to think the devices, which reach a top speed slightly above a brisk walk (6.2 mph), are a bit bizarre. But actually that’s not the case – most people (51%) say they look like fun, and a nice way to get around, while 41% say they look a bit ridiculous and they can’t see why someone would want to use one. Among those who have seen someone using one, 57% say they look like fun.

And surprisingly it’s young people (47%) who are more likely than over 60s (41%) to say they look ridiculous.

The police recently issued a notice reminding people that hoverboards are banned under the Highways Act 1835, on both roads and pavements.

The largest group of British people (44%) agree they should be illegal on both roads and pavements, however a third (33%) say they should be legal on pavements but not roads. 48% of young people say they should be legal on pavements but not roads, and 8% say they should be legal on both – a majority of 18-24s support them being legal on pavements.

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/10/16/hover-boards/

NORTH AMERICA

402-43-7

Americans' Desire for Stricter Gun Laws Up Sharply

October 19, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Fifty-five percent of Americans say they want laws covering the sale of firearms to be stricter than they are now, a distinct rise of eight percentage points from 2014. Fewer Americans than last year want the laws to be less strict, and the proportion who want the laws to stay the same has also declined slightly.

Description: Laws Covering the Sale of Firearms -- Americans' Preferences Since 2000

In 2007, the year of the Virginia Tech massacre, the percentage of Americans who favored stricter laws on gun sales dropped to a bare majority (51%) for the first time in several years. Since then, support for stricter laws had stayed under 50%, except in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012. At that point, 58% of Americans said they were in favor of stricter laws on gun sales. Although support for stricter laws receded after those shootings, in which a young man fatally shot 20 children and six adults, it has yet to return to the 44% level it was at before that tragedy.

Description: Americans' Views on Gun-Sales Laws

The latest increase, from the Gallup Crime poll conducted Oct. 7-11, came in the days after the most recent high-profile mass shooting, at a community college in Oregon. However, that event seems to have mainly affected Americans' views about laws on gun sales, but not other topics relating to guns.

Independents, Democrats Fueling Trend for Stricter Gun Laws

The rise in the proportion of Americans who want stricter laws on firearm sales can be attributed partly to an increase among certain demographic groups. Support rose among Democrats and especially independents from 2014, and among those who do not personally own a gun. However, support increased even among those who say they own a handgun, from 30% in 2014 to 36% this year.

Description: Views on Laws Regarding Gun Sales, by Selected Demographic Group

Civilian Handgun Possession Should Not Be Banned, Americans Say

The percentage of Americans who favor a law providing that only authorized persons (including the police) would be allowed to possess handguns has remained low since the 1990s. This year, 27% -- near the record low -- say there should be this type of ban. This trend has been generally declining since Gallup began asking this question in 1959, when 60% said such a law should exist.

Description: Support for Ban on Possession of Handguns, 1959-2015

In 2015, guns are a part of the fabric of American life and much of its discourse. Overall in the U.S., 43% say they have a gun somewhere in their household, and 28% say they personally own a gun.

Bottom Line

In a maelstrom of debate about guns, Americans have clear-cut views of at least some aspects of the debate. A majority in 2015 say gun sales should be regulated more strictly than they are now, which represents an uptick from last fall; however, it is still slightly lower than in December 2012, immediately after the Newtown school shootings.

But with mass shootings and individual homicides occurring with regularity, the debate will continue over whether there should be restrictions or amendments to firearms purchases or possession. Last week, California's Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom said he will introduce a state ballot measure for next year that would require ammunition buyers to undergo background checks. President Barack Obama also said he may use executive authority to impose background checks for those purchasing weapons from high-volume firearms dealers.

These are just two examples of initiatives that may or may not gain traction with a public that is disturbed about mass shootings, but evidently divided about how to solve this persistent problem in the 2010s.

Survey Methods

Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Oct. 7-11, 2015, with a random sample of 1,015 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. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting.

Each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 60% cellphone respondents and 40% landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas by time zone within region. Landline and cellular telephone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods.

Source: http://www.gallup.com/poll/186236/americans-desire-stricter-gun-laws-sharply.aspx?g_source=Social Issues&g_medium=newsfeed&g_campaign=tiles

402-43-8

Americans' Favorable Ratings of Pope Up After U.S. Visit

October 16, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Pope Francis enjoyed a double-digit boost to his favorability after his September visit to the U.S. Seventy percent of Americans now view him favorably -- up from 59% in July. The latest rating is closer to the 76% measured in early 2014.

Description: Favorable Ratings of Pope Francis, 2013-2015

The pope's visit to a trio of East Coast cities last month, which included addresses to Congress and the United Nations General Assembly, was his first to the U.S. While some observers politicized his calls for action on several controversial issues, his visit was widely celebrated by Catholics and non-Catholics alike. The latest bump in his favorable rating suggests that he successfully connected with Americans during his trip.

Description: U.S. Favorability: Pope Francis, 2015

After being elected leader of the 1.2 billion-member Roman Catholic Church in 2013, Francis enjoyed great popularity in American news media, including being named Time's 2013 Person of the Year. By early 2014, his favorability had swelled to 76%.

The pope's favorable rating fell from its previous high when Gallup next measured opinions about him, in July 2015. It's possible that many Americans forgot about him after that initial burst of positive publicity; the percentage not having an opinion of the pontiff rose from 16% to 25%. But his unfavorable rating also climbed during this time, from 9% to 16%, after he weighed in on a variety of issues that are controversial to Americans, including immigration and climate change.

Francis' favorability has rebounded in the latest poll, as more Americans than before are now familiar with him, but there has been no change in his unfavorable rating.

Pope Francis Regains Footing Among Several Demographics

In July, the pope experienced his largest drop in favorability among conservatives, although his favorable ratings among liberals and Catholics themselves also fell substantially. In the latest poll, conducted Oct. 7-11, Francis regained much of his standing with these groups.

Description: Changes in Favorable Ratings of Pope Francis

Since July, the pope's favorability among conservatives has increased 18 percentage points, higher than the 11-point increase among all Americans. Ratings are also more positive among the other ideological groups, but they have not increased to the same degree. The proportionately larger increase among conservatives partly reflects their lower ratings in the prior poll, meaning conservatives had more room to improve than moderates or liberals. Less than half of conservatives viewed the pope favorably over the summer, while a majority (63%) now have a favorable view of him.

Nearly nine in 10 of the pope's fellow Catholics view him favorably -- a 16-point increase from July and nearly back to the 89% from 2014. His favorable rating among Protestants and other Christians is up 15 points to 67%.

Francis' Ratings Still Higher Than Benedict's, Lower Than John Paul's

Generally speaking, Americans rate popes much more positively than negatively. Francis remains markedly more popular than his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, whose resignation in 2013 led to Francis' election. Benedict's ratings were middling after his ascension to the papacy in 2005. His favorability climbed to its peak at 63% in 2008 before dropping sharply to 40% in 2010.

Pope John Paul II, however, was the most popular among the three most recent popes, with favorable ratings that ranged from a low of 61% in 2002, after the Catholic priest sex abuse scandal broke, to a high of 86% in 1998.

Description: Favorable Ratings of Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope John Paul II

Bottom Line

By and large, most Americans view Francis favorably, as they have past popes. Among the relatively small percentage of Americans who don't have a positive opinion of Francis, nearly half of them simply don't know who he is or don't have an opinion of him.

Though his recent visit clearly influenced how Americans view him, solid majorities viewed him favorably even before he came to the U.S. And like popes before him, his ratings have fluctuated and likely could continue to fluctuate, depending on his prominence in the news as well as the policies and calls to action he issues as leader of the church.

Francis has made bold statements in his short time in the papacy, and ones that have rankled some U.S. conservatives. And while some people's views of the pope may ebb and flow as a result of the statements he makes, his core favorable rating remains sturdy.

Survey Methods

Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Oct. 7-11, 2015, on the Gallup U.S. Daily survey, with a random sample of 1,015 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. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting.

Source: http://www.gallup.com/poll/186233/americans-favorable-ratings-pope-visit.aspx?g_source=Religion&g_medium=newsfeed&g_campaign=tiles

402-43-9

U.S. Employee Engagement Steady in September, at 32%

October 16, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In the U.S., 32% of workers were engaged in their jobs in September. While engagement remains higher than it was from 2011-2013, monthly figures have not wavered since the beginning of 2015 -- consistently trending between 31% and 32%. The lone exception was in February, when the monthly employee engagement average was 32.9%.

Description: U.S. Employee Engagement, 2011-2015

The September 2015 estimate is based on Gallup Daily tracking interviews conducted with 6,926 adults working for an employer. Engaged employees are involved in, enthusiastic about and committed to their work and workplace. Gallup categorizes workers as "engaged" based on their ratings of key workplace elements that predict organizational performance outcomes, such as productivity, profitability and customer engagement. Engaged employees drive the innovation, growth and revenue that their companies need.

Description: U.S. Employee Engagement, September 2015

Bottom Line

Thus far in 2015, employee engagement among all U.S. workers has been steady. Employee engagement readings are higher than they were just a few years ago, but the nation's workforce, in aggregate, is seemingly unable to move beyond the 31% to 32% barrier. This static state is aligned with many of the nation's economic indicators -- job creation, the Gallup Good Jobs Index and consumer spending have all been flat in recent months.

Survey Results

Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Sept. 1-30, 2015, on the Gallup Daily tracking survey, with a random sample of 6,926 U.S. adults employed full or part time for an employer, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. For results based on the total sample of employed adults, the margin of sampling error is ±1.8 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting.

Source: http://www.gallup.com/poll/186212/employee-engagement-steady-september.aspx?g_source=Employee Engagement&g_medium=newsfeed&g_campaign=tiles

402-43-10

Solid Majority Continue to Support Death Penalty

October 15, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- About six in 10 Americans favor the use of the death penalty for a person convicted of murder, similar to 2014. This continues a gradual decline in support for the procedure since reaching its all-time high point of 80% in 1994.

Description: deathpnealty_1

Thirty-seven percent oppose the death penalty, slightly higher than in recent years, in part because this year, only 2% of Americans say they have no opinion on the topic.

These results come from Gallup's annual Crime poll, conducted Oct. 7-11, 2015. While the public has, with one exception, favored the death penalty over the 78 years Gallup has asked this question, support for the measure has varied considerably. The low point for support, 42%, came in the 1960s, with support reaching its peak in the mid-1990s and generally declining since that point. Over the past decade, however, there has been minimal fluctuation in the percentage of adults who favor the death penalty, with support always at or above 60%.

Description: TD revised

This reliably high majority of support belies a powerful current of change in recent years that has rendered the death penalty a far rarer judicial outcome than before. In May, Nebraska became the 19^th state (along with D.C.) to ban the death penalty, and the seventh state since 2007. Meanwhile, the number of death sentences issued in 2014 was the lowest since the reinstatement of the punishment in 1976, and the number of executions carried out in 2014 was one of the lowest on record.

Blacks Far Less Likely to Support Death Penalty

A large gulf exists between whites and blacks in their support for the death penalty. In a combined 2014-2015 sample, 68% of whites said they were in favor of the death penalty, while 29% were opposed. Blacks tilt almost as heavily in the opposite direction -- 55% oppose the death penalty, compared with 39% in favor. This pattern is in alignment with previous Gallup findings, including in 2007. The opposition among blacks may be related to the disparity between blacks making up 42% of the current death row population but just 13% of the overall U.S. population.

Description: deathpenalty_2

The death penalty remains a divisive issue among political partisans, with Democrats (49%) far less likely to be in favor of the punishment than Republicans (82%).

Majority Believe Death Penalty Applied Fairly

Fifty-three percent of Americans say that, generally speaking, the death penalty is applied fairly today in the U.S. While still a majority, this year's rate is below the high of 61% in 2005. Forty-one percent, meanwhile, say they believe the death penalty is applied unfairly.

Description: deathpenalty_3

Plurality of Americans Say Death Penalty Not Imposed Enough

When asked about the frequency with which the death penalty is imposed, 40% of Americans say it is not imposed enough, with the remainder equally divided between saying it is imposed "too often" (27%) or "about the right amount" (27%). The proportion of Americans saying the death penalty is not imposed enough has fallen from a high of 53% in 2005, just as the number of executions has generally gone down over that time period.

Description: deathpenalty_4

Bottom Line

By many metrics -- the number of states that have banned the death penalty, the number of executions carried out or the actual population of inmates currently on death row -- the death penalty appears to be losing popularity in statehouses and courthouses across the country. But the public at large continues to support the use of the death penalty. A majority continue to assess the punishment as applied fairly, and a plurality wish it were applied more often.

But there is no denying that the death penalty is controversial -- reflected, at least somewhat, by the deep racial divide it causes. The cascade of exonerations for once-condemned inmates and the plethora of academic literature exploring the alleged disparities in the application of the punishment appear to have made juries less likely to issue a death penalty sentence and legislatures more likely to ban it.

Survey Methods

Source: http://www.gallup.com/poll/186218/solid-majority-continue-support-death-penalty.aspx?g_source=Politics&g_medium=newsfeed&g_campaign=tiles

402-43-11

Boehner Image Slightly Better After Resignation Announcement

October 15, 2015

PRINCETON, N.J. -- Americans' opinions of House Speaker John Boehner are still negative, but they have improved since he announced last month that he would resign his position. Currently, 31% of Americans have a favorable opinion of Boehner, up from 23% in August. This is his best reading since April 2014.

Description: Favorability of Speaker of the House John Boehner

Last month, Boehner announced he would step down as speaker at the end of October. Boehner may hold his position a bit longer, given that Republicans' search for a replacement is taking longer than expected.

Boehner's tenure has been a rocky one, as he leads an unpopular institution and has had trouble pleasing his own party's supporters, let alone Americans more generally. Often he has had to choose between pursuing legislation the right flank of his party prefers but that has little chance of becoming law, or working with Democrats to pass compromise legislation that disappoints conservatives, but is necessary to keep the government operating.

Apart from a brief honeymoon period after becoming speaker in 2011, when 42% of Americans viewed Boehner favorably and 22% viewed him unfavorably, his ratings typically have been more negative than positive. That is not unusual for speakers, however, as Nancy Pelosi and Newt Gingrich had net-negative favorable ratings for much of their tenures in the position. The more low-key Dennis Hastert fared a little better, with more positive than negative ratings until the end of his speakership. However, Hastert may have benefited from presiding at a time when Americans tended to be a bit more positive toward Congress than is usually the case.

Interestingly, Republicans' views of Boehner are unchanged since Gallup's last measurement in August, while independents and Democrats now view him more favorably. This may be the result of recent attention paid to conservative Republicans' role in forcing Boehner to step down, perhaps leading some independents and Democrats to view him as more of an ally. Nevertheless, Democrats and independents still view him more negatively than Republicans do.

Description: Favorable Ratings of House Speaker John Boehner, by Political Party, August 2015 vs. October 2015

Tea Party Republicans view Boehner much more negatively than non-Tea Party Republicans do. Thirty-two percent of Republicans (including Republican-leaning independents) who describe themselves as supporters of the Tea Party movement view Boehner favorably, while 59% view him unfavorably. That compares with a more evenly divided evaluation among Republicans who are not Tea Party supporters -- 34% favorable vs. 37% unfavorable.

Most Americans Think New Speaker Will Make No Difference

After resigning, Boehner warned against "false prophets" in the conservative wing of the party who advocate legislative moves that have little to no chance of succeeding, such as the 2013 government shutdown to block funding of Obamacare or more recent discussions to shut down the government over Planned Parenthood's federal funding. Some of those same conservative leaders may see Boehner as the problem and believe a new leader may help the party better achieve its goals.

Most Americans, 66%, do not believe changing leaders will make much difference in helping Republicans pass legislation they favor, though more do predict the GOP will have greater success (23%) with someone new than predict it will be less successful (9%).

The constituency Boehner was trying to warn, namely Tea Party Republicans, is divided about what will happen with a new speaker -- 49% think the GOP will be more successful while most of the rest say it will make no difference. By contrast, seven in 10 non-Tea Party Republicans -- who outnumber Tea Party Republicans by about 2-to-1 -- believe Boehner's resignation will make no difference. Most Democrats and independents also believe having a new speaker will not change things.

Description: Views of the Effect a New Speaker of the House Will Have on Republicans' Ability to Pass Legislation They Favor

Implications

Boehner's decision to step down surprised political observers, but given his unpopularity -- including a negative evaluation within his own party -- it may have been inevitable. And while the move has led to a softening of Democrats' and independents' negative image of him, it hasn't affected the way Republicans rate him.

As of today, his successor is far from certain after current Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy announced he would not seek the position and none of the other contenders has emerged as a clear front-runner.

Regardless of who succeeds Boehner, the key question is what effect the change will have on Republicans' ability to accomplish their goals. Republicans' internal disagreement may be more about tactics than about substance. Most elected Republicans would probably repeal Obamacare and defund Planned Parenthood if they could, but the question is whether the Republican caucus should spend time on those goals if they cannot realistically achieve them.

As Boehner and like-minded Republicans might argue, the current political environment is not conducive to success on those issues with a Democratic president and enough Democrats in the Senate to successfully filibuster any legislation they oppose.

The Republican Party's image suffered greatly after the 2013 shutdown while not achieving their aim of thwarting Obamacare, although its image soon recovered, and a year later the GOP won control of the Senate and expanded its majority in the House. But that newfound power has not led to Republicans' achieving some of their goals, including regulatory reform, approving the Keystone XL pipeline, reforming taxes and reducing the national debt.

Ultimately, Americans do not think having a new speaker will make much difference, but Tea Party Republicans are more optimistic that it will. Whether their hopes are realized depends on whom the Republicans tap as the new speaker and whether he or she is inclined to go along with conservatives' wishes, but also how Congress and the president respond to future GOP proposals.

Survey Methods

Source: http://www.gallup.com/poll/186185/boehner-image-slightly-better-resignation-announcement.aspx?g_source=Politics&g_medium=newsfeed&g_campaign=tiles

402-43-12

Biden Maintains Positive Image

October 14, 2015

PRINCETON, N.J. -- As Vice President Joe Biden continues to ponder whether to enter the 2016 Democratic nomination campaign, Americans' views of him are more positive (49%) than negative (37%). These views are similar to what Gallup found in its prior update from August and continue to be improved from Americans' divided opinions of Biden through most of his term as vice president.

Description: Trend: Favorable and Unfavorable Ratings of Joe Biden

As recently as March, equal percentages of Americans had favorable (39%) and unfavorable (39%) opinions of Biden. One reason opinions of Biden have improved in recent months could be Americans' sympathy for him after his son Beau died of cancer earlier this year.

Another reason Biden's favorability may be higher is that many Democrats want to see Biden enter the presidential campaign. They may think the Democratic Party needs an alternative to its weakened front-runner, Hillary Clinton, whom Americans currently view more negatively than positively. In stark contrast to Biden's rising image since March, Clinton's image has worsened since then.

Right now, Bernie Sanders is Clinton's closest challenger, but given his admitted socialist leanings, there are questions about his electability. None of the three other announced Democrats has emerged as a credible challenger to Clinton, though that could change in the days after Tuesday's first Democratic debate.

On only two other occasions since Biden became vice president has Gallup found significantly more positive than negative views of him. These include late 2012 after President Barack Obama and Biden were elected to a second term (48% favorable, 40% unfavorable) and during the "honeymoon phase" of the Obama administration (48% favorable, 36% unfavorable) in 2009. In fact, Biden's current +12 net favorable rating ties that June 2009 reading as the best of his vice presidency.

Description: Joe Biden Favorable Ratings

Prior to his being sworn in as vice president, in late 2008 and early January 2009, Biden's image tilted considerably more positive than negative. This included a personal best 59% favorable rating in a poll conducted in the days after the Obama-Biden ticket won the 2008 presidential election.

Biden Image Better Among Most Key Subgroups

Biden's favorable ratings are higher now than in March among most key subgroups. The sharpest gains in favorability, all near 20 percentage points, are among Democrats, nonwhites and Catholics.

Description: Favorable Ratings of Joe Biden by Subgroup, March 2015 vs. October 2015

Democrats, as would be expected, have always viewed Biden positively. But their opinions of him have become increasingly positive in recent months, now at 85% favorable, and suggest he likely would be a serious contender for the party's nomination if he entered the race.

Biden's more positive ratings among nonwhites are also noteworthy because support among this group could be decisive in determining the Democratic Party's nominee. While nonwhite Democrats have highly positive views of Clinton, this is not the case for Sanders. Thus, Biden likely would be more competitive with Clinton than Sanders would be among this key Democratic subgroup.

In addition to Democrats and nonwhites, most liberals (74%) and college graduates (62%) view the vice president positively.

Earlier in the year, 35% of Catholics had a favorable opinion of Biden, similar to the national average. Catholics' favorable rating increased to 42% in Gallup's August update, but now sits at 54%. Biden is Catholic, and more Catholics may be aware of that fact after he attended many of Pope Francis' public events during the widely covered U.S. papal visit in September.

Implications

Biden is now viewed as positively among Americans as at any time since he became vice president in January 2009. If he is considering entering the presidential race, he would appear to be well-positioned given those relatively positive ratings and his high public profile.

Among the announced presidential candidates, only Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina have significantly higher favorable than unfavorable ratings among all Americans, according to Gallup's tracking survey. Marco Rubio, Sanders, and John Kasich have slightly more positive than negative ratings.

To some degree, though, Biden's relatively positive image may reflect his status as a non-candidate. If he officially entered the race, Americans might view him in more strongly political terms. Additionally, the media and his political opponents would give greater scrutiny to his record, and if some of that scrutiny is unflattering, it could negatively affect the way Americans feel about him.

Survey Methods

Source: http://www.gallup.com/poll/186167/biden-maintains-positive-image.aspx?g_source=Politics&g_medium=newsfeed&g_campaign=tiles

402-43-13

In U.S., 59% View Planned Parenthood Favorably

October 14, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A majority of Americans, 59%, view Planned Parenthood favorably. Although still positive overall, Americans' current opinions of Planned Parenthood are considerably less favorable than they were in 1993 -- the last time Gallup asked about the organization -- when 81% viewed it favorably.

Description: Planned Parenthood's Favorability Over Time

Gallup has asked Americans about their views of Planned Parenthood three times: in 1989, in 1993 and in the Oct. 7-11 survey. The most recent poll comes amid significant focus on the organization in the news and throughout social media. The organization's president recently testified on Capitol Hill, largely in response to an anti-abortion group's release of secretly recorded videos that purported to show Planned Parenthood employees discussing potential sales of fetal tissue it recovers from abortions. Planned Parenthood denies these allegations, and has said that the videos were highly edited. The controversy has led to thus-far-unsuccessful efforts by Republicans in Congress to strip Planned Parenthood of its federal funding.

Description: U.S. Views of Planned Parenthood

Republicans' Views of Planned Parenthood Changed Most Significantly

The biggest shift in views of Planned Parenthood since 1993 has taken place among Republicans. In 2015, 35% of Republicans say they have a favorable view of the organization, about half of the 69% who had a favorable view in 1993. Independents are also significantly less positive today, with favorable views dropping from 83% to 56%, although independents' views remain more positive than negative. Views of Planned Parenthood among Democrats have changed far less, dropping nine percentage points, from 91% to 82%.

Description: Planned Parenthood's Favorability Has Decreased Most Significantly Among Republicans

Women have historically been more likely than men to view Planned Parenthood favorably. This continues to hold true in 2015, although favorability has dropped among both groups since 1993.

Opinions of Planned Parenthood are closely tied to Americans' views on abortion, because Planned Parenthood provides abortions as well as other reproductive healthcare and sex education for men and women. Currently, 82% of Americans who describe themselves as "pro-choice" on the abortion issue view Planned Parenthood favorably, compared with 33% of those who self-identify as "pro-life." Gallup did not ask the pro-choice/pro-life item in 1993, so it is not possible to know how these opinions may have changed.

Description: Planned Parenthood's Favorability Among Pro-Choice Compared With Pro-Life Americans

Interestingly, 42% of pro-choice Americans have very favorable views of Planned Parenthood, almost identical to the 41% of pro-life Americans who have a very unfavorable view -- showing how polarized Americans with differing views of abortion are about the organization.

Bottom Line

Planned Parenthood's image among U.S. adults has worsened since 1993. However, absent a more recent reading, the precise effect of the current controversy on Americans' views is unclear. While Republicans have always been less likely than Democrats to have favorable views of Planned Parenthood, the gap has widened significantly since the early 1990s.

This may have been the result of the politicization of Planned Parenthood as well as increased media attention to proposed changes in U.S. and state abortion laws. For example, in May 1993, Congress passed a law that legalized fetal tissue donations after abortions. At the time, many Republicans supported this law. Today, several of those same Republicans were among those pushing to defund Planned Parenthood. The organization only recently announced that it would no longer receive compensation for the medical cost of providing these fetal tissue donations after abortions.

Gallup has observed a similar pattern of party polarization on other issues, including attitudes about global warming and labor unions, to name two examples. While Republican House members and senators' actions and words regarding Planned Parenthood certainly may resonate with their base, they are facing a general public that, as a whole, still views the organization more favorably than unfavorably.

Survey Methods

Source: http://www.gallup.com/poll/186188/view-planned-parenthood-favorably.aspx?g_source=Politics&g_medium=newsfeed&g_campaign=tiles

402-43-14

Canada - Election 2015: Liberals edge Conservatives as volatile electorate mulls final choice before last campaign weekend

October 16, 2015 – Election 2015 enters its final weekend with the Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) holding a four point advantage in popular support over the Conservatives (CPC) among eligible voters.

That lead narrows to a statistical tie when the vote intention of likely voters are measured, while in both scenarios – the NDP remains stuck in third place and losing momentum.

Description: angus reid poll

It’s this stagnation on the part of the New Democrats that may enable the LPC to pick up yet more backing during the last days of the campaign among those voters for whom stopping a CPC victory takes precedence over voting for their party and candidate of choice.

Indeed, a key narrative of this 42^nd federal election has been which left-of-centre party eligible voters would coalesce around. Indeed, it seems clear now that they have picked the Liberals.

That said, this most recent public opinion poll from the Angus Reid Institute also points to extraordinary volatility among the electorate, with roughly one-in-six saying they’ve yet to lock in their votes heading into this final weekend. While the Conservatives appear to have failed to attract or retain support beyond their traditional base, the commitment of that base and its relatively older age also leaves opportunity for the incumbent party to leverage loyal voters.

National Party Standings:

This ARI poll shows the Liberal Party continuing to build on gains made over the course of the campaign, moving up another four points this past week to 35 per cent of decided eligible voters while the Conservatives have slipped two points to 31 per cent. The contest between the two parties tightens among likely voters, who have a higher propensity to vote (see notes on methodology at the end of this release). Among this segment, the parties are essentially tied (34% Liberal, 33% Conservative). Among both eligible and likely voters, just over one-in-five indicate a preference for the once-front runners, the NDP (22%).

The Regional Story:

The data from this survey shows recent national-level gains for the Liberals are largely coming from Ontario, where the Liberals have surged, taking a commanding lead in key battlegrounds in the GTA (both within the “416” area and across the “905” as well). Across the province as a whole, the Liberals lead the Conservatives by ten points, and open up a whopping two-to-one lead over the NDP.

The narrative in Quebec is more complex: support for each of the four main parties, combined with Canada’s first-past-the-post system, offers the potential for some unpredictable finishes on election night.

The good news for the NDP is that after hemorrhaging support over the last several weeks here – largely due to the niqab debate — the party has stabilized, retaining a slim lead over the Liberals and a slightly wider one over the Conservatives and Bloc Quebecois. That said, the NDP’s dominance in Quebec – the factor that propelled it to Official Opposition status in 2011 – no longer exists.

In British Columbia the main parties are in a virtual three-way tie among eligible voters, with the Green Party chosen by about one-in-ten voters here. A closer look shows that the Liberals are much stronger in the Metro Vancouver area than in the rest of the province where there is much more of a two-way contest between the CPC and NDP.

Volatile Electorate:

A key dynamic the Angus Reid Institute has canvassed over the course of this election campaign concerns the large segment of volatile and uncommitted voters — and this remains a potentially major factor as we head into these final days. Indeed, among those who have yet to vote, fully half admit their party choice is not yet absolutely certain.

Of those who haven’t fully ‘locked-in’ their choice, one-in-three (34%) say they’ll remove any doubt about their final choice this weekend, while almost half (45%) say they won’t actually lock in until voting day itself. What remains to be seen is the rate at which these leaning, but unresolved voters will actually show up at polling stations on October 19 — and of course whether they stick with who they are currently leaning towards or decide to switch at the last minute.

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Liberal strengths:

The biggest advantage the Liberals have going into election day is momentum. While Conservative support has remained stubbornly consistent since August, and while NDP support has plummeted, the LPC is the only party on a significant and steady upward trend as Monday looms:

The Liberals also have the most appealing leader in Justin Trudeau. More than half of all Canadians say they find him appealing. On this question, CPC Leader Stephen Harper runs last, with roughly one-third – a number that corresponds to his support base – saying they like him (32%).

Trudeau’s appeal can also be seen in the percentage of people reporting an improved opinion of him over the last week or so. More than one-quarter of voters (28%) say they think better of Trudeau now than they did a week ago. That’s virtually three times the number who report an improved opinion of any other party leader.

This difference comes into focus when we create a “momentum score” for each leader by subtracting the percentage who say their opinion of each leader has worsened from the percentage who say it has improved. While both Harper and NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair receive negative momentum scores, Trudeau’s has moved farther into positive territory since last week:

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Conservative strengths:

As has been the case throughout the campaign, the CPC still has the most committed support base. Roughly two-thirds of Conservative supporters (65%) say they’re absolutely certain they will vote for the party’s candidate in their riding, compared to just half of Liberal and NDP supporters who are this firm in their party support.

Indeed, this commitment is reflected in the party preference of those who have already voted in advance polls. Among advance voters, the Conservatives and Liberals are tied at 34 per cent apiece.

Older Canadians – long a key component of the CPC base – are primarily responsible for this result. Those over age 55, and especially those over 65, are disproportionately likely to have voted at advance polls. They also continue to disproportionately favour the CPC:

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This older base is one of the Conservatives’ greatest strengths, because actual voter turnout is historically — and recently — much higher among older voters than among the younger groups.

Because of this variation in turnout across age groups, the Angus Reid Institute reports not only eligible voters’ intentions, but also likely voters (see notes on methodology at the end of this release).

Using our likely voter model, we find the Liberals’ lead over the CPC narrows to a single point. Ultimately, so much will depend on the Liberals’ ability to deliver its vote – a task made more challenging given their relative youth.

Another potential rally point for the Conservatives: Harper remains competitive with Justin Trudeau on the key question of which leader would make the best prime minister (see the additional discussion later in this release).

Anticipated Election Night Outcomes:

Regardless of how respondents themselves indicate they’ll vote, their views on which party they think will win the election are of note.

On this question, the Liberals again have the momentum. More Canadians think the LPC will win the election (42%) than the CPC (26%) or the NDP (7%).

The top two parties have switched positions since ARI asked this question earlier in October. At that time, one-third (33%) said they expected the Conservatives to win, while only 27 per cent predicted a Liberal victory and 10 per cent picked the NDP:

Description: angus reid institute

While opinion on which party will win the election is still somewhat divided, there is a clear consensus that whichever party wins is not likely to capture a majority of seats in Parliament. Fully two-thirds (67%) of those predicting a winner in the election say they expect the victorious party to form a minority government.

The following graph shows how respondents view each of the parties’ chances for a majority or minority:

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Best Prime Minister:

On the key measure of best Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau finds himself in a statistical tie with Stephen Harper – the highest he’s been over the course of this campaign:

Description: Angus Reid Institute

Conclusion:

While the LPC has the lead and the momentum as voters head to the polls, other factors may lead to shifts in support over the last 72 hours of the campaign. Among them:

· Late breaking events that either galvanize or turn off voters as they commit to their voting choice. Some examples may be the resignation of Liberal co-chair Dan Gagnier over allegations ofinappropriate lobbying, or Conservative rallies attended by Rob Ford. While it is arguably getting too close to the wire for potential scandals or negative reports to create a stampede away from a party, final days are no strangers to significant shifts in support.

· Vote efficiency: An “efficient” vote distribution is one that spreads a party’s total support over the country or a given region in such a way that it maximizes the number of seats won. Under Stephen Harper, the Conservatives have had a higher vote efficiency than any other party – spreading its share of the popular vote over a collection of ridings won by just a few percentage points more than the runner-up.

· The “Shy Tory” effect: While many polls – especially those with live telephone interviewers – show the Liberals with a substantial lead over the CPC, past elections in Canada and elsewhere (most recently in the U.K. earlier this year) have yielded higher-than-predicted turnouts for conservative parties. One explanation for this is that supporters of these parties are reluctant to tell pollsters that they plan on voting for them. Whether would-be Canadian Conservative voters have kept mum this time around remains to be seen.

Notes on Methodology

ARI has analyzed this political polling data through two sets of filters.

The data from all survey respondents or “eligible voters” uses standard census-based targets to ensure a national sample that is representative of the adult Canadian population as a whole by key demographics such as region, gender, age and education. All survey results are reported for this total group.

For the vote projection numbers, we also report on “likely voters” where we’ve applied a weighting structure that further adjusts our sample to reflect known variations in voter turnout – specifically across age groups – while also filtering based on respondents’ own identified reported past voting attendance.

We have developed this approach because we feel strongly that it is the responsible thing to do when reporting on electoral projections. With declining voter turnout, there exists an increasingly important divergence between general public opinion – which still includes the still valid views of the almost 40 per cent of Canadian adults who don’t vote — and the political orientation of the 60 per cent of likely voters whose choices actually decide electoral outcomes.

Source: http://angusreid.org/election-2015-liberals-edge-conservatives-heading-into-last-campaign-weekend/

LATIN AMERICA

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Brazilian perception of the crisis is worse in 2015 than in 1999

Note: You are reading googletranslation of a Portuguese survey.20/10/2015

10.20.2015

Study compares economic indicators and population opinions on the federal government during the Cardoso years and re-election of Dilma

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Inflation in the Cardoso government doubled twice, from 1.7% to 3% and 6.3%. With Dilma, he started from a higher level, but grew proportionally less: from 6.4% to 8.1% and, months later, to 9.5%.

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A study by IBOPE Intelligence compares the 1999 and 2015 crises and points the reaction of Brazilians in these periods of transition from the first to the second government of Fernando Henrique Cardoso and Dilma Rousseff. The result reveals how the perception of population changes in the face of similar economic scenarios.

In December of the year in which reelected, both Dilma as FHC experienced a reduction of 0.2% of gross domestic product (GDP). This rate reached next March to -2.0% for PT and -2.6% for the toucan. Six months later, worse: -2.5% and -3.3%, respectively. At the same time, the bad rates and bad of both increased and exceeded positive ratings. For Cardoso, 15% in December 1998 to 41% in March 1999, and 51% in September. In the case of Dilma, who came from a higher negative level, growth was similar: 27% (December) to 64% (March) to 69% (September).

In the same period, inflation under the government of Fernando Henrique doubled twice, from 1.7% to 3% and 6.3%. With Dilma, set off again to a higher level, but grew proportionally less: from 6.4% to 8.1% and, months later, to 9.5%. However, pessimism is higher today: those who think that inflation will increase grow from 72% to 76%. At the time of FHC, reached 62%, but dropped to 51%.

With unemployment was the opposite: the official rate grew more slowly in government FHC: from 6.3% to 8.2%, and then fell to 7.4%. With Dilma, it was 4.3% to 6.2% and now reaches 7.6%. The perception of rising unemployment among Brazilians grew from 68% to 73% in the Cardoso administration, but then fell to 62%. With Dilma, left 55% but not stopped rising: 67% and now 70%.

In relation to income, while under Cardoso who bet that would have less money ranged from 22% to 26% and then fell to 19%, under Dilma the rate of those who are afraid of getting shot poorest 15% to 39%.

Source: www.ibope.com.br

AUSTRALASIA

402-43-16

Internet banking growth and satisfaction outstrips other channels

These are the latest findings from Roy Morgan’s Single Source survey of over 50,000 people pa.

Growth in internet banking

Over the last two years, the proportion of bank customers using branches in an average four week period has declined from 35.5% to 32.3%, while total internet banking has increased from 58.6% to 62.2%.

Channel used* to deal with banks

Although internet banking via the website remains the major channel used, it declined marginally from 53.1% in 2013 to 52.5% currently. The only area of growth over the last two years was with mobile banking which has increased from 26.2% in 2013 to 33.6% of the population in 2015. Over this period, phone banking declined (18.9% to 15.0%) and the use of a personal advisor/banker also declined (8.4% down to 6.6%).

Internet banking leads in satisfaction

It is not surprising that the rapid growth of internet banking is associated with higher satisfaction levels than for traditional channels.

Internet banking using a website has the highest satisfaction level of all channels with 90.4%, followed by mobile banking with 89.9%.

Satisfaction with channel used* dealing with banks

Satisfaction with branch banking is lower than for the internet with 88.4%, followed by personal advisor/banker (81.8%) and phone banking (79.9%).

Satisfaction with internet banking varies between banks

The satisfaction level with internet banking is over 90% in total and for each of the major banks it is higher than their overall customer satisfaction levels. There are differences however between banks in internet customer satisfaction, with Suncorp having the highest (93.3%), followed by the CBA (92.7%).

Satisfaction with internet banking

The only banks to score less than 90% satisfaction were the ANZ (89.9%), St George (88.0%) and Westpac (87.9%)

Norman Morris, Industry Communications Director, Roy Morgan Research says:

“With the rapid growth in internet banking, it will become more important that satisfaction with this channel will need to be monitored against competitors and with other methods for dealing with banks if this lead is to be sustained.

“A great deal of attention is currently being paid to overall satisfaction and advocacy across the banking industry but this needs to be expanded to looking at satisfaction at the channel level as this is likely to impact overall satisfaction.

“It is worth noting that clearly the highest users of website internet banking are the high value customer, ie. the top 20% (top quintile) that controls 63% of the total market value of financial services. Nearly three quarters of this high potential group conduct internet banking using the website, making it imperative to understand functionality needs, reliability and satisfaction with this critical segment.”

Source: http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/6494-internet-banking-growth-and-higher-satisfaction-august-2015-201510112259

MULTI-COUNTRY SURVEYS

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One in three across the world don’t always wash their hands properly after going to the toilet

The survey interviewed a total of 62,398 people across the world and found there are significant differences by region. Those from China and Japan were significantly less likely to automatically use soap and water (23% and 30% respectively), while those from Saudi Arabia were most likely to wash hands with soap and water.

Within Europe, the Greeks reported to be the cleanest, 85% agreeing that they wash their hands with soap and water automatically, the Dutch the least likely (50%). In the Americas Colombia proved to be the cleanest with 93% agreeing that they automatically wash their hands with soap while Mexico was the least likely to agree with 32% either simply somewhat agreeing, somewhat disagreeing or disagreeing completely.

Dr Myriam Sidibe, Hygiene and Nutrition Social mission Director for Unilever, said: “Unilever’s soap brand, Lifebuoy, has a long legacy in increasing awareness of the importance of hand washing with soap. We know that there are around 11 occasions in a day where we should wash our hands with soap, yet soap is only used about 1 to 2 times in a day and sometimes as little as once in a week. This is the reason why we have set up the ambition to implement the largest hygiene program in the world reaching 1 billion people by 2020 and already reached 257 million people in 24 countries and is committed to reaching more children and saving more lives.”

Around the world, 440million school days are lost every year due to water, sanitation and hygiene related diseases (WHO/UNICEF 2013). It is estimated that hand washing with soap alone could save over 650,000 lives each year (Greenland et al 2012)

Jean-Marc Leger, President of WIN/Gallup International Association, said: “It is estimated that 35% of the global population has no access to safe bathroom facilities and that an alarmingly high number of people across the world are not washing their hands with soap and water, either because of a lack of facilities or bad habits. We are proud to release this study and to contribute to raising awareness worldwide about the benefits of handwashing with soap” –

ENDS

NOTES FOR EDITORS

Methodology: The WIN/Gallup International Survey is an annual tradition initiated by and designed under the chairmanship of Dr. George Gallup in 1977. It is conducted every year since then. This year it was carried out by the WIN/Gallup International Association in 64 countries around the world.

Sample Size and Mode of Field Work:

A total of 62,398 persons were interviewed globally. In each country a representative sample of around 1000 men and women was interviewed either face to face (30 countries; n=32258), via telephone (12 countries; n=9784) or online (22 countries; n=20356). Details are attached. The field work was conducted during September 2014 - December 2014. The margin of error for the survey is between 2.14 and 4.45 +3-5% at 95% confidence level.

The global average has been computed according to the share of the covered adult population of the surveyed countries.

Source: http://www.wingia.com/web/files/news/322/file/322.pdf

402-43-18

Ipsos "Sustainable Future Attitude Survey" Newly Released

October 09, 2015

In order to understand the attitudes of people around the world towards foreign aid, R & D expenditures, the importance of regional development, as well as who should pay, and how much should be paid and other issues, through a series of articles, the survey will discuss and reveal: what are the most important development goals of a country? How to measure and achieve these goals? Why different countries treat foreign aid so differently? And who shall be responsible for global development?

In this study, Ipsos Global Online Survey conducted data collection and research among people from 17 countries worldwide: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Japan, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and the United States, and collected representative data from these 17 countries, and obtained the results after the data being analyzed and calculated by data experts.

According to the Ipsos' survey among people in 17 countries, people around the world overwhelmingly support the achieving of sustainable development goals. Then, how do they think of the importance of the 17 goals related to a sustainable future?

Source: http://www.ipsos.com.cn/en/node/3086

402-43-19

Europeans Most Negative Toward Immigration

October 16, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Well before the flow of migrants into Europe reached crisis proportions this year, a Gallup study of attitudes toward immigration in 142 countries found people in Europe, on average, were the most negative in the world toward immigration. The majority of residents (52%) said immigration levels in their countries should be decreased. In every other major region of the world, people were more likely to want immigration levels in their countries to either stay at their present level or to increase, rather than to decrease.

These findings are among those featured in the International Organization for Migration's new report, How the World Views Migration, which is based on Gallup World Poll interviews with more than 183,000 adults across 142 countries between 2012 and 2014. Adults worldwide were asked two questions about immigration: "In your view, should immigration in this country be kept at its present level, increased or decreased?" and "Do you think immigrants mostly take jobs that citizens in this country do not want (e.g., low-paying or not prestigious jobs), or mostly take jobs that citizens in this country want?"

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Attitudes Toward Immigration Vary Throughout Europe

While Europe overall may be the most negative region in the world in regard to immigration levels, it's important to note that the regional average is largely affected by countries with large populations such as the United Kingdom and Russia, where 69% and 70% of their respective publics want immigration levels to decrease.

Britons and Russians are not alone in their attitudes, but they do not speak for all of Europe. Of the 40 countries included in the larger European region, residents in less than half (17 countries) are more likely to want immigration levels decreased than the other two options combined.

In fact, the majority of adults in nearly all of the 10 Northern European countries -- except the United Kingdom, Latvia and Lithuania -- would like the levels of immigration to stay the same or increase.

Elsewhere in Europe, sentiment is negative, if not more so, in many Mediterranean countries that historically have been the entry points to the continent for many migrants. In fact, adults in Greece -- one of the main countries of first arrival on the Eastern Mediterranean route -- are among the most likely in the world to want immigration levels decreased, with 84% expressing this view. This sentiment is shared by 56% of residents in Spain, 67% of those in Italy and 76% of those in Malta.

More Educated Europeans More Positive Toward Immigration

Negative and positive opinions toward immigration exist in every region and every country; however, certain characteristics are consistently associated with favorable or opposing attitudes toward immigration. The study finds that adults with a university degree are typically more likely than those with lower levels of education to want to see immigration kept at its present level or increased in their countries.

Generally, in Europe, those with the highest level of education (university degree) are more likely to be positive toward immigration than those with less education (secondary or lower education). However, among those with university degrees, opinions are divided, with 46% favoring increased or stable levels of immigration and an equal 46% favoring decreased immigration. In contrast, Europeans with secondary or lower education are solidly more likely to favor decreasing immigration than to favor increasing it or keeping it the same.

Europe is interesting because three different scenarios play out across the four major subregions and the profiles of those who are more positive or negative toward immigration look different. In Eastern Europe, for example, those with university degrees are more negative than those with primary education or lower. This is largely driven by attitudes in large countries such as Russia and Ukraine, as there are few differences in opinion by education in most of the other countries in the region. However, different dynamics are at play in these two countries.

Despite the economic stagnation in Russia during the global economic downturn, the reasons Russians want to see less immigration appear to have little to do with the economy. Russians mostly do not see migrants as competitors for their jobs: Majorities in the highest education groups (61% of respondents with university degrees and 55% of those with secondary education) say that migrants take jobs that regular citizens do not want, as do nearly half (47%) of those with primary or lower education.

In Ukraine, whose economy was in near ruins before the revolution in 2014, economics appears to be a factor in people's attitudes toward immigration. Only 26% in the most highly educated group say that migrants take jobs that citizens do not want. The majority say migrants take jobs that Ukrainians want or believe it is a mix of both situations. This indicates that many native citizens feel migrants are directly competing with them for jobs.

Implications

These findings, among many others presented in the new report, represent the first steps toward understanding the lenses through which people view immigration on a global level.

Looking at how most people in the world view immigration, rather than a particular region or a particular country, it appears that attitudes toward immigration are not as negative as often suggested. When the surveys were carried out, in every major region of the world, with the exception of Europe, people were more likely to want immigration levels in their countries to either stay at the present level or to increase, rather than to decrease.

At the same time, the results also reveal that negative and positive opinions toward immigration exist in every region and every country, illustrating the challenges that governments face in creating cohesive migration policies that align with their countries' needs and the public's desires.

Frank Laczko and Marzia Rango of IOM were contributing authors to the How the World Views Migration report.

Survey Methods

Gallup conducted a total of 183,772 interviews in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Most data for this report were collected in 2012 and 2013. In 2014, data were collected for Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, China, Switzerland and Norway. For this report, typically 1,000 interviews were done per country. A few countries such as India and China have higher sample sizes (more than 2,500 each), and all former Soviet Union countries included multiple survey administrations with a minimum of 1,000 interviews per administration.

With some exceptions, all country samples are probability based and nationally representative of the resident population aged 15 and older. The coverage area is the entire country including rural areas, and the sampling frame represents the entire civilian, non-institutionalized, aged 15 and older population of the country. Exceptions include areas where the safety of interviewing staff is threatened, scarcely populated islands in some countries and areas that interviewers can reach only by foot, animal or small boat. In Gulf Cooperation Council countries, at the time of data collection Gallup was able to interview only nationals and Arab expatriates.

Telephone surveys are used in countries where telephone coverage represents at least 80% of the population or is the customary survey methodology. In Central and Eastern Europe, as well as in the developing world, including much of Latin America, the former Soviet Union countries, nearly all of Asia, the Middle East and Africa, an area frame design is used for face-to-face interviewing.

Source: http://www.gallup.com/poll/186209/europeans-negative-toward-immigration.aspx?g_source=World&g_medium=newsfeed&g_campaign=tiles

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New global poll reveals the top 5 workplace challenges facing G20 women

Published:15 October 2015

Fieldwork:24 July - 25 August 2015

The results reveal even more on a country by country basis. The data show how perceptions of equality at work can vary greatly, likely because of different cultural expectations. In places like the UK and France women were much more likely to point out inequality in the workplace, while in Turkey and India they were more likely to point to other issues. There were also key findings when comparing age groups: younger G20 women were found to be more upbeat about their future in the workplace than older women.

· To find out more about the results and to download the data, please visit the Thomson Reuters Foundation website:The 5 key issues facing women working in the G20.

Technical note:
The survey was carried out online by Ipsos Global @dvisor from 24 July– 7 August 2015 and face-to-face in South Africa and Indonesia from 6 August – 25 August 2015. Respondents are aged 18-64 in the US and Canada, and 16-64 in all other countries. Data are weighted to match the population profile of each country.

Source: https://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/3632/New-global-poll-reveals-the-top-5-workplace-challenges-facing-G20-women.aspx