Britons among the most economically pessimistic worldwide

Around one in eight Britons (13%) rate the state of the economy as good while 87% describe it as bad according to new research from Ipsos’ Global @dvisor online survey conducted in 24 countries.

The 13% of Britons describing the country’s economic situation as good is the highest since June of last year. However, it still lags far behind that of Sweden and Germany where around seven in ten rate their economy as being in a good state (72% and 70% respectively).

The Japanese (8%), French (6%), Italians (5%), Spanish (4%) and Hungarians (2%) are all more negative about their own economy that Britons are. Americans on the other hand are more positive, although still only one in five Americans (21%) describe their country’s economic situation as good.

Britons are also particularly pessimistic in their outlook for the future with just one in ten (10%) expecting the economy in their local area to improve in the next six months. Even Italians (15%) and Spaniards (18%) are more optimistic than Britons on this measure.

Managing Director of Ipsos, Bobby Duffy, said:

“As European economies come together to help each other out it is interesting to note the stark contrasts in economic confidence between citizens in countries such as Germany and France where despite their prominent roles in Europe, attitudes could not be more different. Britain meanwhile remains among the gloomiest of nations in their economic outlook.”

Technical note

Global @dvisor is a monthly online survey conducted by Ipsos via the Ipsos Online Panel system in 24 countries around the world. For the results of the survey presented herein, an international sample of 21,245 age 18-64 in the US and Canada, and age 16-64 in all other countries, were interviewed between 3 and 16 January 2012. Approximately 1000+ individuals participated on a country by country basis via the Ipsos Online Panel with the exception of Argentina, Belgium, Greece, Indonesia, Ireland, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden and Turkey, where each have a sample approximately 500+. Weighting was employed to balance demographics and ensure the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to the most recent country Census data available and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe, (in the small number of developing countries where access to the internet is limited respondents are more likely to be affluent and well connected than the average member of the population.)