Global Poll Shows Support for
Increased Government Spending and Regulation 

Majorities around the world support governments playing an active role in stimulating and regulating their national economy in response to the current recession, according to a new poll across 20 countries conducted for BBC World Service.

The survey of more than 22,000 people, conducted by GlobeScan/PIPA, found that an average of three in five (60%) citizens—and majorities in 13 of the 20 countries polled—support “significantly increasing government spending to stimulate the economy.”  Support is especially strong for investments in renewable energy and green technology (72%) and for giving financial support to major industries and companies in trouble (62%).

Large numbers (67% overall) also want to see an increase in “government regulation and oversight of the national economy.” Among the major economies, this support was highest in China (94% support) and lowest in the US (50%) and Japan (38%).

The US government’s efforts to address the crisis, which have included far-reaching measures to stimulate the US economy, are being relatively well-received around the world. Nearly half (46%) of all respondents say they are satisfied with what the US has been doing, compared to 39% who are dissatisfied.

In comparison, 44% on average are satisfied with their own government’s response, 36% are satisfied with the actions of the World Bank and IMF, 32% with executives of major banks and 31% with the government of China. Overall people in developed countries show lower levels of satisfaction with all of these groups than do people in developing countries.

People’s satisfaction with their own government’s response varies greatly from country to country. Most express satisfaction in Australia (68%), Egypt (63%), Brazil (59%), Canada (57%), and Indonesia (57%). However, satisfaction is low in France (27%), Mexico (9%), Japan (18%), and the Philippines (24%). Americans are evenly split between those happy and those unhappy with their government’s response.

The results are drawn from a survey of 22,158 adult citizens across 20 countries, conducted for 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 19 June and 17 August, 2009. 

GlobeScan Chairman Doug Miller comments, “It is clear that citizens in many countries are still not seeing the kind of economic leadership they think is needed from their national government. Particularly low levels of satisfaction in Europe, Japan and Latin America suggest that stronger consumer confidence—seen as essential for economic recovery—will take more time in these parts of the world.” 

Steven Kull, director of PIPA, comments, “People around the world are looking for a dynamic approach to the economic crisis and are giving relatively good marks to the active efforts of the Obama administration.”