| Thursday 7 February 2008 |  |
Widespread Unease About Economy and Globalisation: Global Poll
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In 22 out of 34 countries around the world, the weight of opinion is that “economic globalisation, including trade and investment,” is growing too quickly, according to a BBC World Service Poll of 34,500 people. On average one out of two (50%) hold this view, while 35 percent say globalisation is growing too slowly.
In the G-7 countries — whose finance ministers are meeting this weekend — an average of 57 percent say globalisation is growing too quickly.
Related to this unease is an even stronger view that the benefits and burdens of “the economic developments of the last few years” have not been shared fairly. Majorities in 27 out of 34 countries hold this view — on average 64 percent.
In developed countries, those who have this view of unfairness are more likely to say that globalisation is growing too quickly – especially in France, Italy, Spain, South Korea, Japan and Germany (and to a lesser extent Britain and the US).
In contrast, in some developing countries, those who perceive such unfairness are more likely to say globalisation is proceeding too slowly. These include Turkey, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, Kenya, Mexico and the countries of Central America.
Only 19 percent overall say globalisation is growingmuch too quickly, while 32 percent say it is growing a bit too quickly. Steven Kull of PIPA comments, “Few want to slam the brakes on globalisation, though many want to press the brakes lightly. Also, people in some developing countries still want to accelerate globalisation and appear to believe that this will help break down some of the inequities in their country.”
The survey was conducted for the BBC World Service by the international polling firm GlobeScan together with the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland. GlobeScan coordinated fieldwork between October 31, 2007 and January 25, 2008.
Though interviews (except in India) were completed before the sharp fall in global stock markets in mid-January, there was already a predominant view that economic conditions were getting worse in their country (on average 52% worse, 41% better) as well as in the global economy (46% worse, 40% better).
GlobeScan President Doug Miller says, “There is real public unease about the direction of the economy, but it’s not only about a downturn. It also has to do with how fairly benefits and burdens are shared, and the pace of globalisation.”
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Perceptions of domestic economic conditions vary widely. In ten countries, a majority perceives improvement (led by China 84%, Canada 72%, Australia 71%, UAE 69%, Russia 63%, and India 56%), while in twenty-one a majority perceives their country worsening (led by Italy 86%, the Philippines 76%, Indonesia 76%, USA 74%, and Portugal 72%).