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Keep up to date with our latest news, webinars, and reports.

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Spanish losing faith in economic system as crisis worsens

The worsening labour market and government debt crisis in Spain is leading Spaniards to re-evaluate their attitudes towards their current economic system, according to GlobeScan’s latest global public attitudes tracking across 22 countries for BBC World Service.

Globally, views of the fairness of the economic system and of free market capitalism have remained broadly stable since 2009, when GlobeScan last looked at this question. There has been some polarisation in attitudes about the free market, with an increase in the proportion of people who feel that the system works fine and does not need reform, but also an increase in those who view it as “fatally flawed”’ and feel a new economic system is required.

However, the change in Spanish attitudes over the past few years is strikingly at variance with this picture. The number of Spaniards who regard free market capitalism as “fatally flawed” has jumped from 29% in 2009 to 42% this year, while the view that economic benefits and burdens have not been fairly shared in Spain is now almost universally held (up from 66% in 2009 to 92% this year). In both cases, these proportions are the highest of any nation polled.

These figures suggest that the new right-of-centre Spanish government may face significant public opposition to austerity measures whose impact is likely to fall heaviest on the less well-off.

 

Finding from a 25 April 2012 GlobeScan/BBC Poll 

For more information on this finding, please contact Sam Mountford (Read Bio)

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Poll Reveals Majority of Sustainability Experts Fear Rio+20 UN Summit Will Be Wasted Opportunity

Multinational Corporations Expected to Play Key Role at June Summit Download the Press Release (PDF) 26 April 2012 – According to a major international poll of sustainable development experts, a majority of opinion leaders surveyed (57%) view the Rio+20 United Nations Summit scheduled for June 20-22, 2012 as a critical opportunity to make progress on sustainability leadership, but very few (13%) think it will succeed. As part of The Regeneration Raodmap, the GlobeScan/SustainAbility Survey polled 642 experts in sustainability from business, … “Poll Reveals Majority of Sustainability Experts Fear Rio+20 UN Summit Will Be Wasted Opportunity”

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Ex-Prime Minister and Leading Corporate Sustainability Academic Join GlobeScan Board

Download the Press Release (PDF) 24 April 2012 – GlobeScan is pleased to announce the appointment of two new directors to our Board of Directors and welcomes the Right Honourable Joe Clark and Dr. Kellie McElhaney. “It is with great pleasure I am able to announce the appointments of our new directors, each one of whom brings vital perspective and experience to GlobeScan,” said GlobeScan’s Executive Chairman and CEO, Doug Miller. “Joe understands leadership and offers us global perspective and wise counsel. … “Ex-Prime Minister and Leading Corporate Sustainability Academic Join GlobeScan Board”

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Global Consumer Sentiment Remains Polarized

GlobeScan’s most recent tracking of consumer confidence around the world confirms that to talk about “global” economic sentiment is somewhat misleading.

The polarized picture we have noted in recent years continues, with consumers in the world’s major industrialized economies remaining predominately downbeat, while those in some of the major emerging economies are more likely to feel positive about their financial situation.

Notably, despite increasing talk of an economic slowdown, Chinese consumers appear much more upbeat about their financial situation than they did in 2011. The situation in India is more balanced, although those who report that their financial situation is better than last year still outnumber those who feel worse off than a year ago.

The contrast with the G7 is stark. If the recent improvement in US unemployment figures is translating into less negative sentiment among consumers there, the same cannot be said in France or, particularly, the UK, where sentiment remains heavily negative. There is little sign that Western consumers are ready to be the motor of any sustained economic recovery.

 

Finding from the GlobeScan Radar, Wave 1, 2012 

For more information on this finding, please contact Sam Mountford (Read Bio)

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Awareness of corporate CSR activity among public has stalled

Despite the ever-increasing attention being paid by many companies to developing and communicating a responsible approach to business, there is little evidence that consumers are connecting with the CSR and sustainability efforts being made by the corporate world.

GlobeScan’s international tracking reveals that the number of consumers across 26 countries who said they knew a lot about what companies were doing to improve their social and environmental performance actually decreased slightly between 2009 and 2011, while the proportion saying they were not well informed increased.

While this may reflect greater focus on companies’ financial performance (and job losses) during the recession, it may also reflect the disconnect that continues to exist in many companies between marketing and communications functions and CSR/sustainability functions. Our research suggests that many consumers and stakeholders have not yet been engaged by the way companies try to show what they are doing to be more responsible, and view corporate claims in this area with continuing skepticism.

 

Finding from the GlobeScan Radar, Wave 1, 2011 

For more information on this finding, please contact Sam Mountford (Read Bio)

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High Public Trust in NGOs, but is it Built on Shaky Foundations?

Over many years, GlobeScan’s regular tracking of global publics’ trust in different types of institutions has shown that NGOs are clearly the most trusted. Compared to global and national businesses, governments, and the media, trust in NGOs is significantly higher and continues to rise slowly.

To further investigate why this high level of trust exists, we asked people to say what NGOs had done recently to earn their trust. The word cloud derived from their responses starkly illustrates two key findings. The first is the prominence of “help” (and to a lesser extent “support”) along with two key recipients of that help, “people” and “environment.” This highlights how important tangible outcomes are to people’s willingness to see NGOs as trustworthy. It also adds weight to what GlobeScan found in its global public polling in 2008—that the consensus of public support for NGOs’ role in aid and assistance work is greater than for their political campaigning and advocacy.

Paradoxically, the other very frequent response is “nothing.” This raises an important question of whether the high level of trust in NGOs we witness is, at least in part, based on blind faith that NGOs can be trusted, simply because of what they represent. Indeed in recent research conducted in the US and UK, we found few people admit to knowing much about how non-profits and charities operate, despite most people believing they are the most effective change-makers.

NGOs should be wary of this potentially shaky foundation of public trust. Both historical and recent examples of scandals and controversies engulfing NGOs demonstrate how quickly trust can be wiped away, especially in the age of social media.

 

Finding from the GlobeScan Radar, Wave 2, 2011

For more information on this finding, please contact Sam Mountford (Read Bio)

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Most people still at least “somewhat” happy with their body condition despite changing social norms—particularly in developing world

Body image is generally more positive in the developing world than in the West, according to GlobeScan’s latest global public opinion polling. A week after a major health charity warned that more than half of British women’s waists are too large, GlobeScan’s opinion polling shows that while most of those polled across 23 countries (77%) are at least somewhat happy with their body condition, Indonesians are most content (92% say they are happy), followed by Kenyans (91%), Ghanaians (87%), and … “Most people still at least “somewhat” happy with their body condition despite changing social norms—particularly in developing world”

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Experts Again Name Unilever As Top Corporate Sustainability Leader

Download the Full Report (PDF) 28 March 2012 – Unilever has retained its top ranking among corporate sustainability leaders, according to a new survey of sustainability experts from around the world. But the survey also shows that perceptions of sustainability leadership have declined or stalled for nearly all institutional actors – including corporations, governments, NGOs and social entrepreneurs – in the last twelve months. The findings are drawn from The 2012 Sustainability Leaders: A GlobeScan / SustainAbility Survey of sustainability … “Experts Again Name Unilever As Top Corporate Sustainability Leader”

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Building public trust in business—still a long way to go

GlobeScan regularly tracks the level of trust that people around the world have in different institutions—in global and national businesses, governments, NGOs, the media, and others. Our recent research show that trust in business to operate in the best interests of society remains low—and finds that, while trust has increased somewhat in recent years, business continues to suffer from a significant trust deficit compared to the non-profit sector.

To investigate further, we asked people around the world to say what business had done to earn their trust recently. The word cloud derived from their responses starkly illustrates the cynicism that many feel, with the most common response, by far, being that companies have done “nothing” to earn trust. Those who are able to name a trust-building accomplishment most commonly cite the benefits to society that come from employment and from higher-quality products and services. This lack of awareness highlights how difficult it is for corporate CSR initiatives to “cut through” to the wider public: words such as “social,” “charity,” or “environment” are much less prominent in the cloud.

However, the picture diverges sharply between the world’s major industrialized economies, where cynicism about the motives of business dominates, and emerging economies, where the increased corporate activity associated with rapid economic growth also raises the profile of companies’ social investment, infrastructure projects, and environmental initiatives, as well as job creation.

Next week’s Featured Finding will look at trust in NGOs.

 

Finding from the GlobeScan Radar, Wave 2, 2011

For more information on this finding, please contact Sam Mountford (Read Bio)

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Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Majority of Canadians Believe Their Local Water Infrastructure is Good Enough for Now

National ‘pipe dream’ flies in face of reports outlining critical infrastructure gap Download Fact Sheet (PDF) Download Infographic (PDF) 22 March 2012 – Canadians believe that maintaining our drinking water supply is one of the most important areas for government funding (behind hospitals and tied with schools). Yet, more than 80 per cent feel there is no need for major and immediate investment in their community’s drinking water/wastewater facilities, which they believe to be in good condition, and in need of … “Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Majority of Canadians Believe Their Local Water Infrastructure is Good Enough for Now”

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Families Cutting Back on Food in Response to Rising Prices

The rise in global food prices over the last year is having a major effect on consumption habits in the global South, according to GlobeScan research on behalf of Save the Children, with many reporting that they have cut back on the amount of food they buy for their family.

The price of staple foods such as beans, wheat and other cereals increased substantially during 2011, following severe weather in some of the world’s biggest food exporting countries, which damaged supplies. GlobeScan’s findings reveal that majorities in Peru (56%) and Nigeria (54%) and substantial proportions in Bangladesh (49%), Pakistan (40%) and India (29%) say that they have reduced the amount of food they buy for their family as a result of rising prices.

The last time global food prices peaked, in 2008, food riots resulted in the Indian subcontinent, Africa and Latin America, and GlobeScan tracking found that the price of food and energy was a greater concern than the ongoing economic crisis.

 

Finding from GlobeScan research conducted on behalf of Save the Children, 2012 

For more information on this finding, please contact Sam Mountford (Read Bio)

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Economic System Seen as Unfair: Global Poll

[jumplinks] Download the Full Report (PDF)   25 April 2012 – Perceptions of economic unfairness have become further entrenched around the world over the past three years, according to the results of a new 22-nation global poll for BBC World Service. The poll, conducted by GlobeScan among 11,740 people, shows that majorities in 17 of the 22 countries surveyed believe that economic benefits and burdens are not fairly shared in their country. The question was asked previously in 2009, when there … “Economic System Seen as Unfair: Global Poll”

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Public Divided On Whether to Integrate Olympics and Paralympics: Global Poll

[jumplinks] Download the release 12 March 2012 – The public around the world is divided on whether the Paralympics should be integrated into the Olympic Games or should remain a separate event, according to a new 19-nation global poll for BBC World Service. The results of the poll of 10,294 people, conducted by GlobeScan, show that similar numbers favour making the Paralympics part of the Olympics (47%) and keeping it as a separate event (43%). At present, the Paralympic Games … “Public Divided On Whether to Integrate Olympics and Paralympics: Global Poll”

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Experts Split on Whether Growth and Sustainable Consumption Compatible

Recent GDP figures from some of the world’s major economies suggest that prospects for a return to sustained growth in the global economy remain uncertain. But many have also questioned whether a return to pre-crisis rates of economic expansion is even desirable, given the apparent link between GDP growth and negative environmental consequences such as rapid natural resource depletion and increased carbon emissions.

GlobeScan and SustainAbility’s regular tracking of specialists in sustainability around the world suggests that experts are split on whether economic growth can be reconciled with sustainable consumption. Those polled recently were divided on the question, with 40 percent agreeing that there was an “inherent conflict” between economic growth and sustainable consumption, and 43 percent disagreeing.

The findings reveal a difference in perspective on either side of the Atlantic. The North American experts polled are more optimistic that aspirations for growth can be reconciled with sustainable consumption, with 51 percent disagreeing that there is an inherent conflict between the two, and only 34 percent agreeing. In Europe, by contrast, experts are much less sure, with those who see a fundamental conflict between the two goals (44%) slightly outnumbering those who think they are reconcilable (40%).

Either way, with anemic growth rates in most of the G7 economies, the challenge for responsible companies is more likely, for now, to be focused on how to remain profitable yet sustainable in a flat economy.

 

Finding from The 2011 GlobeScan/SustainAbility Survey 

For more information on this finding, please contact Sam Mountford (Read Bio)

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Water insecurity dominates Indians’ concerns about the environment

The potency of water as a political issue in the world’s major emerging economies was underlined again this week when it was reported that water levels had plunged in the Siang river in India’s north-east. Allegations were levelled that China—where water stress is also a major concern—had diverted much of the water on the Chinese side of the border, preventing it reaching farmers and residents who depend upon on it in the Indian state of Assam.

This controversy is not surprising, given the central importance that Indian citizens attach to water as an issue, according to Globescan’s global attitudes tracking. Our most recent data reveal that Indians consider fresh water shortages to be the most serious of a range of environmental problems, with nearly seven in ten (68%) rating them as “very serious”—up nearly ten percentage points since 2008. Furthermore, water pollution was cited this year as the second most serious environmental problem, with 59% rating it “very serious,” well ahead of problems like climate change (47%).

With the Indian economy registering its seventh consecutive quarter of slow growth, water insecurity, already an important concern, is likely to become increasingly central to the politics of this huge emerging economy.

 

Finding from the GlobeScan Radar, Wave 2, 2011 

For more information on this finding, please contact Sam Mountford (Read Bio)

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US support for tariff barriers remains high

US Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has caused controversy this week because of his aggressive stance on America’s economic relations with China. He recently promised, if elected, to declare China a “currency manipulator” and impose tariffs on Chinese goods, prompting fears of a trade war.

But while Romney’s comments have attracted criticism from some on his own side, who argue the US has more to lose than gain from a tariff war with China, GlobeScan’s most recent public attitudes tracking suggests that Romney’s stance on tariffs is consistent with a majority of US public opinion. Since it was initially measured in 2002, American public support for trade barriers as a way of protecting jobs has remained consistently high, rising from 60% in 2002 to 65% in 2011.

However, other findings suggest this is not part of a new mood of economic nationalism. GlobeScan’s data also show that the numbers who think that government should prevent foreign companies from buying national companies has fallen significantly since 2006. Taken together, these findings suggest that in hard economic times, the need to safeguard US jobs is winning out over both free-market doctrine and patriotic sentiment among the US public.

 

Finding from the GlobeScan Radar, Wave 2, 2011

For more information on this finding, please contact Sam Mountford (Read Bio)

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Increased Foreign Investment will be “Good for Africa”: Global Poll

[jumplinks] Download The Press Release (PDF) 22 February 2012 – Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed in a new 22-nation poll for BBC World Service think that the recent increase in overseas investment in Africa will prove to be a good thing for the continent, with African citizens among the most upbeat. The findings of the poll, conducted by GlobeScan among 21,558 people, show that most respondents are relaxed about foreign companies purchasing long-term rights to African natural resources and land, … “Increased Foreign Investment will be “Good for Africa”: Global Poll”

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The global public worries about soaring price of food

Save the Children reported this week that the recent rise in global food prices was taking its toll on families across the developing world, and that half a billion children risk being born physically and mentally stunted over the next fifteen years if no concerted action is taken. GlobeScan’s recent polling for Save the Children, as well as its regular global attitudes tracking, confirm the scale of the problem.

GlobeScan’s own annual tracking research reveals high levels of concerns about the rising cost of food and energy among citizens across the world, with proportions saying this issue is “very serious” particularly high in the Philippines and the Latin American countries surveyed. The rising cost of food and energy is also of relatively high concern in China and Russia; concern has grown significantly in China over the past two years as food prices have continued to rise rapidly in that market.

In many developing countries, the effects of rising food and energy prices are particularly felt among those who have not benefitted from economic growth that has frequently been concentrated to specific sections of society, often leaving behind low-income and low-educated groups. In a recent survey fielded by GlobeScan on behalf of Save the Children in India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, and Bangladesh—countries where half the world’s malnourished children live—large majorities in all countries polled say that the rising price of food has become their most pressing concern this year. Concern is most acute in Nigeria and Bangladesh, where people overwhelmingly feel that food price rises are the most pressing issue they face.

A third of parents surveyed revealed that their children complained they didn’t have enough to eat. Around one in six parents (16%) – and nearly one in three in Nigeria (30%) – say they have allowed their children to skip school to help pay for their family’s food. The charity warns that if no concerted action is taken, half a billion children will be physically and mentally stunted over the next 15 years.

 

Finding from the GlobeScan Radar, Wave 2, 2011

For more information on this finding, please contact Sam Mountford (Read Bio)

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