71% Urban Indians adjudge Armed Forces, most trustworthy profession: Ipsos Global Trust in Professions Survey

According to a spanking new global survey by Ipsos, Armed Forces have been adjudged the most trustworthy profession by majority (71%) of urban Indians. Second and third places of trustworthiness in professions have been bagged by scientists and teachers. The survey christened Global Trust in Professions asked global citizens to rank professions by trustworthiness and untrustworthiness.

Untrustworthy professions?

At least 59% urban Indians rate Politicians as the most untrustworthy profession, followed by government ministers (52%) and advertising executives (41%).

Is it in the narrative?     

Parijat Chakraborty, Country Service Line Group Leader, Public Affairs & Corporate Reputation, Ipsos in India feels, it boils down to transparency and nobility:

“Armed Forces are perceived to be a dedicated force, who are defined by values of sacrifice, commitment, discipline etc. – they serve, like their motto of service before self; likewise scientists and teachers are seen as persevering professions, contributing to nation building.”

“Politicians, despite their efforts to clean up the system, have not yet won the trust of most. Also, the advertising professional, writing interesting copies and creatives, highlighting merits of brands, is viewed with skepticism,” says Chakraborty.          

Global Trustworthiness Index

Global Trustworthiness Index for each country was calculated, by taking the sum score of trustworthiness for all professions and subtracting the sum score of untrustworthiness of all professions.

The key objective being, to focus on the balance of negative and positive opinions within each country, revealing societies most marked by trust and distrust in professions. 

Interestingly, on the Global Trustworthiness Index, India has bagged the 2nd spot, after China.    

Most trustworthy professions globally?

Global citizens perceive Scientists (60%), Doctors (56%) and Teachers (52%) most trustworthy!

Most Untrustworthy professions globally?

Global citizens too rate Politicians (67%), government ministers (57%) and advertising executives (46%), most untrustworthy professions, mirroring views of Indians.

This survey is an international sample of 19,587 adults aged 16-74 (18-74 in the US, South Africa, Turkey and Canada). Fieldwork was conducted during October 2018. Approximately 1000+ individuals participated per country via the Ipsos Online Panel, except for Argentina, Belgium, Hungary, India, Mexico, Poland, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden and Turkey, where each have a sample approximately 500+.

15 of the 23 countries surveyed online generate nationally representative samples in their countries (Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Poland, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and the United States).

Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Turkey produce a national sample that is more urban and educated and with higher incomes than their fellow citizens.  We refer to these respondents as “Upper Deck Consumer Citizens”.  They are not nationally representative of their country.

Where results do not sum to 100 or the ‘difference’ appears to be+-1 more/less than the actual, this may be due to rounding, multiple responses or the exclusion of don't knows or not stated responses.

The precision of Ipsos online polls are calculated using a credibility interval with a poll of 1,000 accurate to +/- 3.1 percentage points and of 500 accurate to +/- 4.5 percentage points. For more information on the Ipsos use of credibility intervals, please visit the Ipsos website.