- A majority of adults in Italy (78%), Great Britain (69%), the U.S. (66%), Germany (54%), and France (51%) as well as 40% of Spaniards believe that there will be greatly increased immigration into their country in the next three years;
- At least one-third of adults in all six countries, including almost two-thirds of Britons (63%) believe there will be the rise of religious fanaticism in their country in the next three years and over one-third in all six countries also believe there will be a drop in human rights/individual freedoms in their countries in the next three years; and,
- Looking at what might happen in neighboring countries, at least one-quarter of adults in all six countries, including almost half of Americans (47%) believe the bankruptcy of a neighboring country will happen in the next three years. Smaller numbers in all six countries believe there will be a military or other coup or a civil war in a neighboring country or a war between neighboring countries.
Besides what might happen in their country or a neighboring country, there are also things closer to home that are causing worries, especially keeping in mind the economy:
- At least two in five adults in all six countries say they worry a great deal or some about the inability to afford the basic running of their house, such as water, electricity and phones, anymore;
- Losing one’s job is also a worry for a majority of adults in Italy (65%) and Spain (52%), a plurality of adults in France (42%), Germany (42%) and the U.S. (40%) and 37% of Britons;
- Seven in ten Italians (70%) and 63% of French adults as well as majorities of Germans (53%) and Americans (51%) worry about not being able to afford necessary medical treatments;
- Two-thirds of French adults (68%), 60% of Italians and a majority of Germans (53%) worry about losing their retirement pensions; and,
- Lesser numbers in the six countries are also worried about the inability to feed their family as in the past, the inability to finance their children’s future, losing their savings because their bank/financial institution goes out of business, the inability to get around because they can’t afford their car, the inability to go on vacations as in the past and becoming homeless.
When it comes to solving the current economic crisis, one person instills the most confidence in all six countries – Barack Obama. Specifically:
- Three-quarters of Italians (76%), 60% of Spaniards, half of French adults (50%), 48% of Americans, 46% of Germans and one-third (33%) of Britons have the most confidence in President Obama to solve the crisis;
- No other single leader named garners over one-third of support from adults in any of the six countries; and,
- But there is also a sense that maybe none of the current leaders can do it. Over half of Britons (56%) as well as 43% of Germans and Americans and 39% of French adults say they do not have confidence in any of the leaders to solve the current economic crisis.
So What?
As economists say things may be turning a corner when it comes to the economic crisis that feeling does not seem to be trickling down to most people. There are constant worries about what might occur – both for people personally as well as what might occur in their countries because of the problems everyone is currently facing. Even if the economic numbers do show some positive news, until people around the world feel this sense of optimism themselves, perceptions will dictate that the economic crisis will continue.
