Brazil down, Great Britain up: global confidence in the economy
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Version 0 of 1. Brazil has been through a lot in the past couple of years (and that is not limited to the national football team’s 7-1 thrashing by Germany in the semi-final of their own World Cup). In June, the Latin American powerhouse posted its worst economic results in six years with a year-on-year drop of 1.6% in GDP. This economic faltering is being felt by the country’s inhabitants. Three years ago, 57% of Brazilians thought their economy was in good health, according to the results of a global poll by Ipsos Mori. But the latest figures for July this year show that figure has now dropped to just 12%, although that is a small rise on the 9% recorded in June. The other Bric nations are more optimistic about their finances. In China, 72% think their economy is in good shape, while in India, 82% do. However, in China’s case the optimism may be misguided – as Business Insider puts it, “huge chunks” of the country’s economy are in decline. Although in Russia the proportion saying their economic situation is good has declined on last July’s 50%, the 37% is in line with the levels recorded in 2012 and 2013. This is despite financial sanctions and low oil prices. In Great Britain, one in two think the economy is in good health, which is higher than the US, where the proportion is 43%. Two and a half years ago, 31% of Americans were rating their economy as good, compared with 13% of those in Great Britain, possibly reflecting the country’s positive economic data in recent years. Sentiment is less rosy elsewhere in Europe. Only one in10 Italian and French citizens believe their respective economies are in good situations, perhaps reflecting a more pessimistic outlook on their finances. Nine out of10 people in Saudi Arabia say their country’s economy is in good shape, which is the highest of any of the 24 nation surveyed. Citizens around the world are more likely to say that the economic situation in their country is in good health than at any time since late 2010. More than 40% of respondents agreed with that statement – the highest proportion since October 2010. The lowest percentage during the five-year period is 35%, recorded in November 2012 in the midst of the eurozone crisis. |