Ipsos Research Highlights - November 2016
Virtually every month in 2016 has brought some surprise or other: in November President-elect Trump got 2 million fewer votes than Hillary Clinton – more or less as the polls predicted – but won the Electoral College vote narrowly in three states where the polls were too close to call.
The world now awaits to see what impact his leadership has on both the US and the global economy. As human beings love looking for patterns we can discern an anti-globalisation, anti-immigrant, ‘left behind’ pattern on both sides of the Atlantic (and as always it is more complicated than that). The next manifestation of popular revolt against the elites comes in the Italian referendum shortly – which our polls say the government will lose – forcing a new election and the abandonment of vital reforms in Italy, and possibly more instability in the eurozone. Our latest global poll has 61% in 25 major economies saying their country is going in the wrong direction.
All that is certain is more uncertainty.
At home in the UK, the complexities of Brexit are becoming clearer and 48% think the government is not handling it well. Yet they remain much more confident in the government’s handling of the economy than the Labour party’s.
Economic confidence has stayed subdued, and house price expectations are falling. We know 67% of consumers are worried about price rises to come.
Elsewhere in this issue we look at motherhood in China, how America has reacted to its election, women in the Middle East, police with tattoos, housing, advertising effectiveness, managing customer expectations and more!
We do hope you can make our light-hearted review of the year in London on the evening of 13 December with David Aaronovitch of The Times, Justine Roberts of Mumsnet and me, among others. It will be a chance to reflect on a year that is memorable in all sorts of ways, and have a much needed drink or two.
I look forward to seeing you there – as ever, all feedback appreciated.
Ben Page Chief Executive Ipsos
