India bucks global trend of pessimism; 73% Indians feel India headed in the right direction: Ipsos What Worries the World Survey

India bucks global trend of pessimism; 73% Indians feel India headed in the right direction: Ipsos What Worries the World Survey

Ipsos

MUMBAI: Happy tidings for India; at least 73% Indians feel that India is headed in the right direction, a 3% climb from last round (in June). India has bucked the global trend of pessimism, where at least 58% of global citizens feel their country is on the wrong track. Further, of the 27 markets covered in the survey, at least 23 feel pessimistic and feel they are on the wrong track.

These are the findings of the Ipsos global monthly survey christened What Worries the World.

Which markets are the most buoyant? China (at 94%), Saudi Arabia (78%), India (73%) and Malaysia (60%).   And the markets most pessimistic that felt that their country is on the wrong track: Great Britain (78%), France (77%), South Africa (74%), Belgium (74%), Spain (69%) and Hungary (68%). 

Optimism apart, there are a number of issues worrying Indians.

What Worries Indians?

Unemployment is the top most worry of Indians – in the past few rounds, Unemployment has never appeared in the top worries of Indians.

The top five issues worrying Indians are – Unemployment (46%), Crime and Violence (37%), Financial & Political Corruption (34%), Terrorism (29%) and Poverty and Social Inequality (28%).

July 2019                                                          

June 2019

Unemployment – 46%                                           

-

Crime & Violence – 37%

+8

Financial & Political Corruption – 34%

-5

Terrorism – 29%

-2

Poverty & Social Inequality – 28%

-1

"Indians are highly optimistic about the direction in which India is heading (we see a further surge of 3% over previous month), at the same time, unemployment has appeared like a bolt from the blue and sits at the top of all worries for Indians. There is also concern for crime and violence, financial and political corruption (though it has dropped by 5% over previous month), terrorism (which too has receded by 2%) and poverty and social inequality (which too has decreased by 1%). Job creation needs to be the top most priority of the government," says Parijat Chakraborty, Country Service Line Leader, Public Affairs and Corporate Reputation, Ipsos India.    

Top 5 issues at the global level attaining gargantuan proportions?

Unemployment sits right at the top (32%), followed by Poverty & Social Inequality (32%), Crime & Violence (31%), Financial & Political Corruption (30%) and Healthcare (26%).

Top Global Issues (July 2019)

June 2019

Unemployment – 32%                                           

-2

Poverty & Social Inequality - 32%

+1

Crime & Violence - 31%

+1

Financial & Political Corruption - 30%

-1

Healthcare – 26%

+1

Looking at the top worries staring Indians in the face, we looked at some of the markets concerned with them as well.

Unemployment or job worry is most pronounced for South Korea (64%) and South Africa (62%) and least for Germany (8%), Poland (9%) and the US (10%).  India is placed 7th in the pecking order.

Crime and Violence is most nightmarish for Mexico (66%), South Africa (62%) and Peru (60%). India is 9th in the pecking order.

Political & Financial Corruption is a huge worry for South Africa (60%), Russia (57%), Peru (56%) and Hungary (53%). India is placed 12th in the pecking order. 

Terrorism – nations most worried about the scourge of terrorism were – Israel (45%), India (29%), Turkey (23%), France (21%) and US (17%).   

Poverty and Social Inequality were found to be bigger issues for Russia (60%), Serbia (52%), Hungary (46%) and Germany (45%). India is much lower in the global pecking order, is placed 18th. 

Technical note:

Full results available from www.ipsos-mori.com at 00.01 Friday 13rd September 2019.
The survey was conducted in 28 countries around the world via the Ipsos Online Panel system. The 28 countries included are Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, France, Great Britain, Germany, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the United States of America.
19,520 interviews were conducted between June 21st, 2019 – July 5th, 2019 among adults aged 18-64 in Canada, Israel and the US, and adults aged 16-64 in all other countries. Data are weighted to match the profile of the population.

In 17 of the 28 countries surveyed internet penetration is sufficiently high to think of the samples as representative of the wider population within the age ranges covered: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Poland, Serbia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Great Britain and United States.  The remaining 11 countries surveyed: Brazil, Chile, China, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Russia, Peru, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Turkey have lower levels of internet penetration and so these samples should instead be considered to represent a more affluent, connected population.  These are still a vital social group to understand in these countries, representing an important and emerging middle class.  

Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. Ipsos ranks third in the global research industry. With offices in 89 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across six research specializations: advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, public affairs research, and survey management.