International
Optimism on globalisation `grows'
New York, Feb. 1. The largest-ever public opinion poll on globalisation, covering countries with 67 per cent of the world's population, shows that people ncreasingly favour economic globalisation, despite high expectations in some areas that will be difficult to satisfy. Citizens also have concerns about perceived damaging impacts of globalisation. Conducted in late 2001 as part of the first comprehensive global survey of the post-11 September world, the research reveals that the majority of people in most countries surveyed expect that more economic globalisation will be positive for themselves and their families.
Across the world, over six in 10 citizens see globalisation as beneficial, while one in five sees it as negative. It also showed that positive views of globalisation have grown over the past year.
Especially in North America and Europe. Citizens, especially those in poorer countries, have high expectations that globalisation will deliver benefits in a number of economic and non-economic areas.
However, citizens also believe that globalisation will worsen environmental problems and poverty in the world, and reduce the number of jobs in their country. Especially in G-7 countries, most citizens do not believe that poor countries benefit as much as rich countries from free trade and globalisation. However, the opposite is true in low GDP countries.
The World Economic Forum poll involved 25,000 in-person or telephone interviews across mainly "Group of 20'' countries, and was conducted between October and December 2001 by respected research institutes in each participating country under the leadership of Environics International
Ltd of Toronto, Canada. Most people in 19 of 25 countries surveyed expect that more economic globalisation will be positive for themselves and their families.
Though a majority sees globalisation as positive, only one in seven is convinced of this.
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