Coronavirus outbreak predicted to have an impact on financial markets and the global economy
According to an Ipsos online survey conducted between February 14 and 15th in nine large countries, Japan is the mostly likely to agree that the coronavirus outbreak will have an impact on the financial markets and the global economy (84% agree), followed by Australia (80%), Italy (78%), Russia (76%), Canada (76%) and France (73%). While still a majority, citizens of the United States (62%) and the United Kingdom (60%) were less likely to agree.
An analysis of the demographic profiles by country suggests that those in the higher income brackets are more likely to agree that the virus will have an impact on the financial markets.
The survey was conducted among 9,001 adults in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Two in three citizens in Japan see the virus as a very high or high threat to the world (66%), followed by Italy (59%), Australia (57%), Germany (54%), France (52%) and the US (52%). While slightly below a majority in the UK (47%), Russia (46%) and Canada (42%) still perceive a high or very high threat to the world. These findings are broadly consistent with a previous survey conducted February 7 to 9 2020:
- Slight increase in perception of threat: Germany (+5), UK (+4), Russia (+4), France (+3);
- No change to perception of threat: Japan, Canada; and
- Slight decrease in perception of threat: Australia (-4), US (-3).
By contrast, the perceived level of individual threat remains stable or decreases slightly in all countries other than Japan, where one in four citizens see the virus as a very high or high threat for them personally (up 9 points from last week). Perception of personal threat is the lowest in France (7%) and in Canada (5%).
A majority in each of the countries surveyed believe the outbreak will not be contained any time soon. Less than one in ten believe the virus is contained now, while about seven in ten state that the outbreak will take several months or longer to contain. This view is highest in Japan with 88% indicating that containment will take several months or longer and lowest in Russia and the U.S. (60% in each country).
