AMERICAS

Brazil

Brazilians have the largest majority of all countries polled who favour a more active government role in regulating businesses. They are also the third-largest majority calling for a larger government role in redistributing wealth, behind fellow Latin American countries Mexico and Chile.

• Forty-three per cent say that capitalism has flaws that can be resolved through regulation and reform; however 35 per cent say an alternative system is necessary. Only 8 per cent say that capitalism is fine without government action.
• Nine in ten (89%) call for greater government action in distributing wealth more evenly, while only 7 per cent call for unchanged action, and 2 per cent call for less action.
• Two-thirds (64%) support the government taking a more active role in owning or controlling major industries, compared to 17 per cent who say government should play the same role as now and 13 per cent who say less of a role.
• An overwhelming majority (87%) want more government regulation of business.

Canada

Canadians are below the international average in their support for increased government action in nationalization of industry, redistribution of wealth, and regulation. A relatively large majority agrees that the fall of the USSR was mainly a good thing.

• A majority (55%) believe that free market capitalism has problems that can be addressed through regulation and reform, while 20 per cent believe another system is required, and 15 per cent believe the free market economy functions well enough.
• Canadians are divided on their government’s role in owning or controlling major industries (34% favour a less active role, 32% same role, 29% more active role).
• More than half (56%) favour more assertive government action in redistributing wealth, compared to 30 per cent who favour the same role as present and 11 per cent who favour a smaller role.
• Forty-eight per cent support an increased government role in the regulation of business; however 33 per cent support the same role as now and 16 per cent support a decreased role.
• Three in four (73%) say that the collapse of the Soviet Union was a positive event, while 11 per cent say it was negative (16% gave no response).

Chile

Chileans are among the strongest in their support for a more active government. Nine in ten Chileans call for more government action in redistributing wealth (second only to Mexico), while another high percentage say the government should do more in regulating business (second only to Brazil). Roughly three-fourths, again among the highest, believe there should be more government control over industry.

• A plurality (48%) agree with the statement “free market capitalism has some problems, but these can be addressed through more regulation and reform”, but 20 per cent believe an alternative system is necessary and a mere 5 per cent believe the free markets are acceptable without changes.
• A large majority (72%) of Chileans approve of increased government control of major industries, while 11 per cent want less government control and 9 per cent prefer the current level.
• Nine in ten (91%) say their government should take a more active role in distributing wealth evenly; only 5 per cent say less active role and 3 per cent the same role.
• More than four-fifths (84%) call for a greater role for government in regulating business, while 9 per cent call for a smaller role and 3 per cent call for the same role as present.
• Six in ten (59%) believe the fall of the USSR was mainly a good thing, compared to 11 per cent who believe it was a bad thing (30% did not answer).

Costa Rica

Costa Ricans are the most positive majority among Latin American publics on the collapse of the Soviet Union. Furthermore, they are the most positive about addressing free market capitalism’s problems through regulation within their region.

• Slightly more than half (52%) agree that capitalism’s issues can be addressed with regulation and reform; however 25 per cent say an alternative system is necessary. Ten per cent say that capitalism works well and that more regulation would decrease its efficiency.
• Three-fifths (61%) of Costa Ricans believe their government should take a more active role in controlling major industries, 22 per cent believe the government should be less active, and 13 per cent believe its role should remain unchanged.
• A very large majority (82%) say that the government should be more active in redistributing wealth, while 12 per cent say it should be less active and 4 per cent say it should have the same role as present.
• Seven in ten (71%) want their government to do more to regulate business, while 19 per cent want less action and 7 per cent want the same level as now.
• A majority (63%) believe the fall of the Soviet Union was a good thing; 16 per cent believe it was bad (21% offered no answer).

Mexico

Mexicans have the largest majority among countries included in the poll to believe their government should do more to distribute wealth evenly. They are also second only to the French in viewing free market capitalism as a fatally flawed system, though this is not the most common response. Above average numbers of Mexicans say that the government should also do more to own and control major industries and regulate businesses.

• An exceptionally high 38 per cent believe that capitalism is irreparable and that there should be a new economic system, while four in ten think that free market capitalism is flawed but that it can be repaired through increased reforms. Just 2 per cent believe that it is sound and that reforms would make it inefficient.
• Sixty-one per cent of Mexicans believe that the government should take a greater role in controlling or owning major industries, compared with 17 per cent who believe that they should have a lesser role and 8 per cent who believe they should have a similar role as today.
• An overwhelming majority (92%)—the highest of all countries polled—support the government taking a greater role in distributing the wealth evenly.
• A strong majority (64%) say that the government ought to do more to regulate businesses, while 14 per cent say that there ought to be less regulation and 9 per cent say it ought to be the same as present.
• More than half (54%) believe that the fall of the Soviet Union was a good thing, while 4 per cent thought that it was a bad thing (43% did not provide an answer).

Panama

Panamanians believe in above average numbers that the government should be more active in intervening in the economy, with majorities supporting a larger role for government in the ownership and control of major industries, the redistribution of wealth, and the regulation of business. However, when compared to other Latin American countries, the numbers taking these positions are relatively low.

• Half (50%) believe that the free market capitalism is flawed but that it can be repaired through tighter regulation, while 26 per cent believe that it is fatally flawed and just 9 per cent believe that free markets work well now.
• Sixty-three per cent support the government taking a greater role in controlling or owning major industries, while 21 per cent support a smaller role, and 7 per cent support the government having the same role as present.
• An overwhelming majority (80%) think that the government should take a more active role in spreading wealth, while 12 per cent think that they should have a lesser role and 3 per cent believe they should have the same role as now.
• Seven out of ten (71%) say that the government should take a greater role in regulating businesses, however 16 per cent believe that there should be less regulation and 5 per cent say it should be the same as the present.
• Only a plurality (47%) think that the fall of the Soviet Union was a mostly good thing, while 17 per cent think it was a mostly bad thing (36% did not provide an answer).

United States of America

Americans have the largest majority viewing the Soviet Union’s collapse in a positive light, and the largest minority endorsing capitalism in its present form. They are one of only four countries with a majority calling for a less active role in government ownership or control of major industries.

• Most (53%) agree that problems generated by capitalism can be solved through reform and regulation; 25 per cent of respondents say that it works well and efforts to reform it will result in inefficiencies, and just 13 per cent say that a different economic system is required.
• A modest majority (52%) say that government should be less involved in the ownership and control of major industries, while 24 per cent of respondents say that it should more involved, and 20 per cent say that it should continue with its current level of involvement.
• Four in ten (41%) support a more active role for government in distributing wealth more evenly, compared to 37 per cent who support a less active role and 18 per cent who support the government’s current role.
• Forty-four per cent favour increasing government regulation of businesses, while 35 per cent favour decreasing regulation and 18 per cent favour existing levels.
• Eight in ten (81%) Americans view the disintegration of the Soviet Union mainly as a good thing, compared to just 8 per cent who view it as a bad thing (12% did not answer).

EUROPE

Czech Republic

Czechs look back on the fall of the Soviet Union in a more favourable light with a larger majority than the average and far more than their other former Warsaw Pact countries of Russia and Ukraine. Still a majority of Czechs support the government controlling and owning more of industry, and at a rate higher than the global average.

• Fifty-five per cent believe free market capitalism has flaws that can be addressed by regulation and reform, while 22 per cent believe an alternative system is required and 19 per cent believes capitalism works well enough as is.
• A majority (54%) says their government should have a larger role in the ownership and control of major industries, while 23 per cent say the role should be the same as now and 17 per cent say it should be smaller.
• Six in ten (60%) support more government action in distributing wealth evenly, compared to 19 per cent who favour the present level and 15 per cent who support less action.
• Slightly less than half (48%) of Czechs call for the government taking a more active role in the regulation of business, 24 per cent call for a less active role, and 21 per cent call for the same role as present.
• Sixty-three per cent say the collapse of the USSR was a positive event, while 14 per cent say it was negative (23% did not respond).

France

The French have one of the largest majorities who believe their government needs to do more to distribute wealth evenly. Moreover, while it is not the most common response among the French public, the four in ten who agree that “free market capitalism is fatally flawed, and a different economic system is needed” is the largest proportion taking this position out of all countries polled.

• Slightly less than half (47%) believe “free market capitalism has some problems, but these can be addressed through more regulation and reform”, but 43 per cent believe capitalism is beyond repair and that an alternative system is required. Only 6 per cent believe that capitalism currently works well.
• Fifty-seven per cent of French people call for their government to do more in controlling or owning major industries, while 20 per cent call for the same level as now and 19 per cent call for less.
• An overwhelming majority (87%) say the government should take a more active role redistributing wealth; only 7 per cent say this role should be the same as now and 4 per cent say the government should be less active.
• Three in four (76%) support more government regulation of business, compared to 15 per cent who support the same level as at present and 6 per cent who support less regulation.
• A large majority (74%) consider the disintegration of the USSR mainly a good thing, while 10 per cent consider it a bad thing (15% did not answer).

Germany

Germans are the most optimistic that problems in free market capitalism can be addressed with more regulation, with the largest majority among all country surveyed. They have one of the largest majorities saying that the fall of the USSR was positive.

• Three in four (75%) say that capitalism has issues that can be resolved through regulation and reform, compared to 16 per cent who say that capitalism works well enough now and 8 per cent who say a different economic system is needed.
• Half (50%) want the German government to be less active in the control or ownership of major industries, while 31 per cent want it to be more active and 17 per cent want the current level of involvement to continue.
• Seventy-seven per cent favour the government doing more to distribute wealth evenly, 14 per cent favour the government doing the same as now, and 8 per cent favour it doing less.
• Forty-five per cent of Germans think the government should be more active in regulating business, while 28 per cent think it should be less active and 24 per cent think regulation should stay the same as now.
• Eight in ten (79%) believe the collapse of the Soviet Union was mainly a good thing; 16 per cent believe it was mainly bad (5% offered no response).

Italy

Italian respondents comprise one of the largest majorities in the survey that call for their government to be more active in the redistribution of wealth. They are also among the most vocal of European publics in calling for increased regulation. An above average majority sees the disintegration of the Soviet Union as mainly a good thing.

• Six in ten (59%) agree “free market capitalism has some problems, but these can be addressed through more regulation and reform”.  However, 29 per cent believe an entirely different system is necessary, and just 5 per cent believe capitalism is fine as it is.
• Slightly more than half (53%) favour the government taking a more active role in the ownership or control of major industries, compared to 26 per cent who favour a less active role and 17 per cent who favour the same role as present.
• An overwhelming majority (89%) say the Italian government should do more to distribute wealth evenly, while only 7 per cent say it should do the same as now, and 2 per cent say it should do less.
• A large majority (70%) believe their government should take a larger role in the regulation of business, while 14 per cent believe it should take the same role as present and 10 per cent believe it should take a smaller role.
• Three in four (76%) look upon the fall of the USSR as a positive event; 13 per cent look at it as a negative (11% did not answer).

Poland

Poles have among the three largest majorities to view the disintegration of the Soviet Union positively. They are also among the least supportive of increasing government’s role in the even distribution of wealth, after Turkey and Pakistan. In Europe, Poland has the lowest support for increasing government regulation of businesses.

• Forty-four per cent believe that “Free market capitalism has some problems, but these can be addressed through more regulation and reform,” 22 per cent believe that it is “fatally flawed,” and 15 per cent believe that it “works well and efforts to increase regulation will make it much less efficient.”
• Four in ten (39%) Poles favour increasing the government’s role in the ownership and control of major industries, although 23 per cent favour its current role and 19 per cent favour reducing its role.
• Thirty-nine per cent would like government to be more active in distributing wealth more evenly; 22 per cent would like it stick with its current role, and 21 per cent would like it to play a lesser role.
• Slightly less than four in ten (38%) support increasing government regulation of businesses, compared to 23 per cent who favour less regulation and 21 per cent who favour the status quo.
• An overwhelming majority of Poles (80%) view the collapse of the Soviet Union in a positive light; only 9 per cent view it negatively (11% did not answer).

Russia

Russians are the second largest majority, after Egypt, who believe the disintegration of the USSR was mostly a bad thing. Furthermore, they are the most vocal of any public polled in calling for their government to take a more active role in nationalizing industries, with more than three-fourths of Russians taking this position. Still only one in four simply rejects capitalism.

• A plurality (44%) believe that free market capitalism is flawed but that it can be fixed with more regulation, 23 per cent believe a different system is needed, and 12 per cent believe that free market capitalism is sound as is.
• A strong majority (77%) of Russians believe that the government should have a greater role in controlling or owning major industries; however 12 per cent believe that it should have a smaller role and 6 per cent believe the role should be unchanged.
• Seventy-six per cent think that the government should do more to ensure more equal distribution of wealth, while 14 per cent think the government should do less and 5 per cent think it is doing enough.
• Seven–in-ten (68%) respondents say that the government should do more to regulate businesses while 19 per cent say it should do less and 6 per cent say the current level is acceptable.
• A majority (61%) believe that the fall of the Soviet Union was a mostly bad thing. Twenty-one per cent believe it was a mostly good thing (18% did not answer).

Spain

Among European countries polled, Spaniards are second only to the French in their calls for more government action in distributing wealth evenly and regulating businesses, both large majority positions. An above average number, but still a minority, believes capitalism is fatally flawed and needs to be replaced.

• A majority (56%) agree that capitalism has some problems but says they can be addressed through more regulation and reform. However, 29 per cent say that capitalism needs to be replaced because it is “fatally flawed,” while 5 per cent say that efforts to reform and regulate capitalism will only make it inefficient.
• Forty-five per cent support increasing the government’s role in owning and controlling major industries, but 23 per cent support decreasing government’s role, and 22 per cent support its current role.
• An overwhelming majority (83%) favour a more active role for government in distributing wealth more evenly, compared to 9 per cent who favour its current role and only 4 per cent who favour a less active role.
• Three in four (73%) support more government regulation of businesses, while 12 per cent support current levels of regulation and 9 per cent support reducing government regulation.
• Seventy-three per cent of respondents view the disintegration of the Soviet Union as a good thing, while 8 per cent view it as a bad thing (20% did not answer).

Ukraine

Ukrainians are one of three publics with a majority saying that the disintegration was a bad thing and are second only to Russians in their support for increased government ownership and control of major industries.

• A relatively modest majority (55%) say that capitalism has flaws that can be addressed through regulation and reform, although a third (31%) of respondents say that a different economic system is needed, and just 6 per cent say that it works well as it is.
• Three-fourths (75%) of respondents favour a more active role for the government in owning or controlling major industries, while 4 per cent favour keeping things as they are and just 8 per cent favour a smaller role.
• An overwhelming majority (80%) want the government to play a larger role in distributing wealth evenly, compared to 7 per cent who want it to play a smaller role and 2 per cent who want it to continue to play the same role it does now.
• Fifty-four per cent support more government regulation of businesses, 20 per cent support less government regulation, and 7 per cent support the current level of regulation.
• Most (54%) Ukrainians believe that the collapse of the Soviet Union was mainly a bad thing, but 27 per cent believe that it was mainly a good thing (18% did not answer).

United Kingdom

The British are among those most supportive of the idea that the Soviet Union’s disintegration was mainly a good thing, with a large majority taking the position. In Europe, they are among the least supportive of increasing government efforts to exert control over major industries.

• Most (57%) think that the problems associated with free market capitalism can be addressed through regulation and reform; however, 19 per cent think that capitalism is fatally flawed, and 13 per cent think that it works well as it is.
• Four in ten (40%) believe that the government should play more of an active role in owning or controlling major industries, 31 per cent believe that the government should play a less active role, and 23 per cent believe that it should continue to play the same role it does now.
• Two-thirds (67%) of respondents say the government should do more to distribute wealth more evenly, while 20 per cent say it should maintain its current level of involvement and 10 per cent say that it should do less.
• A majority (56%) favour increased government regulation of businesses, compared to 23 per cent who favour the status quo and 16 per cent who favour less regulation.
• A strong majority (76%) agree that the disintegration of the Soviet Union was a good thing; only 9 per cent disagree (15% did not answer).
  
  
  

MIDDLE EAST 

Egypt

Egyptians have the largest majority of all countries polled saying the collapse of the Soviet Union was mainly a bad thing. Despite this, most do not call for capitalism to be replaced with an alternative system and instead believe free markets can be improved with regulation and reform.

• A majority (61%) think that the negative effects of free market capitalism can be reduced with regulation and reform, 24 per cent think a different system is necessary, and 14 per cent think free market capitalism works efficiently now.
• More than half (55%) of Egyptians support a larger role for government in the ownership and control of major industries, compared to 30 per cent who support a smaller role and 14 per cent who support this role remaining unchanged.
• Two-thirds (65%) say the government should do more to distribute wealth evenly, while 23 per cent say it should do less and 11 per cent say it should do the same.
• Sixty-three per cent favour a more active government role in regulating business, while 23 per cent favour a less active role and 13 per cent favour the same role as present.
• A large majority (69%) look back on the fall of the Soviet Union in a negative light; 20 per cent see it positively (11% gave no answer).

Turkey

Turks are unique among countries included in the survey with a strong majority rejecting more government intervention: they are the most opposed to a more active government role in the control of industries, the redistribution of wealth, and the regulation of business. At the same time very few endorse capitalism in its present form.

• A plurality (39%) judge that free market capitalism has issues that can be reduced through regulation, 22 per cent judge that there needs to be another economic system, and 7 per cent judge that free market capitalism works well as is.
• A strong majority (72%) of Turks support less government control or ownership of major industries, while 9 per cent support more government control and 9 per cent support the current level.
• Seventy-four per cent say that the government should do less to distribute the wealth evenly, while 9 per cent say that they should do more.
• Seven in ten (71%) think that the government should regulate businesses less, while 9 per cent think the current level is appropriate.
• Thirty-nine per cent assert that the fall of the Soviet Union is a good thing, whereas 26 per cent believe it was mostly a bad thing (34% gave no answer).

AFRICA

Kenya

Kenyans have exceptionally high support for a more active government role in industry and wealth distribution. It has one of the smallest minorities saying that the collapse of the USSR was a bad thing, but an equally small number say that it was a good thing, although almost half did not answer. 

• Four in ten (40%) say free market capitalism’s flaws can be alleviated with further regulation, 27 per cent say a new system is needed, and 16 per cent say capitalism is fine as is.
• About half (52%) think the government should have a greater role in owning and controlling major industries, compared to 33 per cent who think it should have a smaller role and 12 per cent who say its role should remain the same.
• A very large majority (79%) support the Kenyan government doing more to distribute wealth evenly, while 19 per cent support it doing less and just 2 per cent support its role remaining unchanged.
• Sixty-five per cent believe the government should regulate business more, while 27 per cent believe it should regulate less, and 6 per cent believe regulation should remain the same.
• Kenyans have mixed views on the disintegration of the Soviet Union: 26 per cent view it positively and 28 per cent view it negatively (46% did not answer).

Nigeria

Nigerians are very close to the average of all countries on most questions.

• A majority (55%) say that capitalism “has problems that can be addressed through regulation and reform,” 27 per cent say that it is a flawed system in need of replacement, and 11 per cent say it works well and that attempts to reform it will make it inefficient.
• A slight majority (51%) say that government should have a larger role in owning and controlling major industries, compared to 38 per cent who say that government should have a smaller role and 9 per cent who are satisfied with its current role.
• Seven in ten (71%) want the government to do more to distribute wealth evenly, while 20 per cent want the government to do less and only 8 per cent want the government to continue with its current level of involvement.
• Sixty-one per cent favour a more active role for government in regulating businesses, while 32 per cent favour a smaller role and only 6 per cent favour the same role it has now.
• Forty-five per cent of Nigerians see the disintegration of the Soviet Union as having been a good thing, while 28 per cent see it as having been a bad thing (27% did not answer).

ASIA PACIFIC

Australia

An above average majority of Australians believe the collapse of the Soviet Union was a positive event.

• A majority (59%) believe that “free market capitalism has some problems, but these can be addressed through more regulation and reform”, while 18 per cent believe a different system is needed and 13 per cent believe capitalism works well enough now.
• Four in ten (42%) of Australians favour their government having a larger role in owning or controlling major industries, while 28 per cent favour the same role as present and 25 per cent favour a smaller role.
• Roughly three-fifths (62%) support the government taking a more active role in redistributing wealth, with 26 per cent supporting current policies and only 10 per cent calling for less of a role.
• Six in ten (59%) say the government should do more to regulate business, compared to 25 per cent who say it should do the same as it does now and 13 per cent who say it should do less.
• A large majority (73%) agree that the disintegration of the Soviet Union was mainly a good thing; only 11 per cent say it was mainly bad (16% did not answer).

China

Only one in five Chinese rejects capitalism, though most think it needs reform. Seven in 10 want their government to play a more active role in regulating business and distributing wealth more evenly. Half see the disintegration of the Soviet Union as mainly a good thing.

• Fifty-eight per cent say that free market capitalism has issues that can be resolved by regulation and reform, 18 per cent say a different system is needed, and 11 per cent say it works well enough now.
• A slight majority (52%) support the government taking more of a role in the ownership and control of major industries, while 20 per cent support the government’s role remaining the same and 18 per cent support less of a role.
• Seven in ten (71%) of Chinese want their government to do more to distribute wealth evenly, while 14 per cent want the same level of action as now and 9 per cent want less.
• A large majority (71%) favour more government action in regulating business, compared to 11 per cent who favour the same action as present and 10 per cent who favour less action.
• Half (50%) consider the disintegration of the Soviet Union a positive event and 21 per cent view it negatively (30% gave no response).

India

The Indian public is one of seven in which more people say that the fall of the Soviet Union was negative than say it was positive, though barely more than a third take this position. Indians’ support for more government activity in the economic sector is rather lukewarm, with below average support for an increased role.

• Thirty-four per cent think that capitalism has flaws that can be alleviated with more regulation, while 23 per cent think an alternative system is necessary and 13 per cent think free markets function well now.
• Roughly one-third (35%) favour their government doing more to control and own major industries, while 29 per cent favour it doing less and 19 per cent favour it doing the same as present.
• Four in ten (40%) say the government should take a larger role in redistributing wealth, 28 per cent say it should take a smaller role, and 15 per cent say it should do the same as it has been doing.
• Two-fifths (39%) support a more active role for government in regulating business, compared to 29 per cent who support a less active role and 15 per cent who favour the same role as now.
• A plurality (35%) say the disintegration of the USSR was a negative effect, while 29 per cent view it positively (36% did not answer).

Indonesia

Indonesians are substantially more favourable toward various forms of government intervention in the economy when compared to other publics. Within Asia they have the largest majorities supporting more government control of industry and redistribution of wealth, as well as the second largest majority supporting more regulation of business.

• Thirty-eight per cent believe “free market capitalism has some problems, but these can be addressed through more regulation and reform”, while 17 per cent believe a new system is required and 7 per cent believe free markets works well enough now.
• A majority (65%) of Indonesians say the government should have an increased role in the control and ownership of major industries, while 19 per cent say it should have a decreased role and 5 per cent say same role as present.
• Three in four (73%) call for their government to do more to redistribute wealth, compared to 15 per cent who call for it do less and 4 per cent who call for it do the same as present.
• Two-thirds (67%) favour the government being more active in the regulation of business, 18 per cent favour it being less active, and 5 per cent favour the status quo.
• Indonesians are divided in their feelings toward the fall of the Soviet Union—28 per cent say it was mainly a good thing and 31 per cent say it was mainly a bad thing (41% gave no response).

Japan

The Japanese express the most satisfaction with their government’s current role in the even distribution of wealth, regulation of businesses, and control over major industries, though these are not majority or plurality positions. After Germans, they are the least likely to believe that capitalism is fatally flawed and needs replacement; and along with the Poles, they are the second largest majority to view the disintegration of the Soviet Union in a positive light.

• Most (66%) Japanese respondents say that the problems associated with free market capitalism can be cured through reform and regulation; only 9 per cent say it needs to be replaced with another economic system, and just 8 per cent say it functions well enough as it is.
• Four in ten (39%) think that government currently plays an appropriate role in the ownership and control of major industries, but 33 per cent think it should play less of a role, and just 14 per cent think it should play a more active role.
• A slight majority (51%) favour increasing government’s role in distributing wealth evenly, while 32 per cent favour not making any changes and just 9 per cent favour reducing government’s role.
• Forty-one per cent support the current role of government in regulating businesses; however, 26 per cent support a more active role for government, and 20 per cent support a less active role.
• Eight in ten (80%) view the fall of the Soviet Union positively; only 2 per cent view the event negatively (18% did not answer this question).

Pakistan

Pakistan has some of the largest minorities calling for a less active government role in the economy. One in five, behind only Americans, believe that free market capitalism works well enough as is and that further regulation would only create inefficiencies. They are also among the five countries to have more people say that the demise of the Soviet Union was a bad thing than say it was a good thing.

• One-third (33%) favour less of an active role for government in the ownership and control of major industries, while 24 per cent favour more of an active role and 20 per cent favour its present role.
• Pakistanis are divided on whether their government should have more (34%) or less (32%) of an active role in distributing wealth more evenly. Only 17 per cent are satisfied with the role it has now.
• Almost four in ten (39%) say that capitalism has some problems which can be addressed through reform and regulation; however, one-fifth (21%) say that efforts to reform it will make it inefficient, and another fifth (19%) say that it is a flawed system in need of replacement.
• A plurality (36%) says that government should play a lesser role in the regulation of businesses; however, a quarter of respondents (25%) say that it should play a greater role, and one in five (21%) say that it should continue with its present role.
• One-third (34%) think that the disintegration of the Soviet Union was “mainly a bad thing,” and one-in four (24%) think it was “mainly a good thing” (42% did not answer).

Philippines

Filipinos are one of only three publics in which majorities say the government should be less involved in the ownership of major industries, the others being Turkey and the United States. They are also the second most likely to think that there should be less regulation of businesses, after Turkey. However, less than half say that the disintegration of the Soviet Union was a good thing.

• Sixty-eight per cent think that free market capitalism is flawed but that it can be fixed through regulation, 13 per cent think that it is fatally flawed and a new economic system needs to be implemented, while 9 per cent think that it is sound and that regulations would make it inefficient.
• A majority (54%) say that the government ought to have a smaller role in controlling or owning major industries, 22 per cent say that it ought to have a larger role, and 20 per cent believe it ought to have the same role as now.
• Two-thirds believe (66%) believe that the government must do more to spread wealth equally, while 21 per cent believe they should do less and 9 per cent believe they should do about the same as the present.
• Slightly less than half (47%) believe that the government should do less to regulate businesses, while 39 per cent believe that they should have a greater role and 12 per cent believe that it should be the same.
• Four out of ten (39%) say that the fall of the Soviet Union was a mostly good thing, whereas 22 per cent say that it was a bad thing (40% were unsure).