A new Pew Center "Global Attitudes" survey of adults in 24 countries finds actual enthusiasm for trade in many places, although not so much in the U.S.: Some Positive Signs for U.S. Image. GLOBAL ECONOMIC GLOOM – CHINA AND INDIA NOTABLE EXCEPTIONS 24-Nation Pew Global Attitudes Survey. (June 12). The Center surveyed 24,000 people in 24 countries from March 17 to April 21. Here's the section on trade attitudes from their report:
Majorities in all 24 nations surveyed say increasing trade and economic integration is a good thing for their countries. In fact, enthusiasm for trade is pervasive in a number of countries and not just in nations such as China, where there is widespread satisfaction with the economy. By contrast, of the countries surveyed, the U.S. is the least supportive of trade.
While enthusiasm for trade is broad based, some publics are more convinced of its value than others. For example, an overwhelming majority of Nigerians (91%) say increased trade ties are either “very good” or “somewhat good,” with six-in-ten (59%) saying “very.” Large percentages of other publics also feel strongly about such ties; more than four-in-ten in Pakistan, South Africa, India, Tanzania and Lebanon say increased trade is “very good."
There have been few large shifts in views about international trade over the last year. Still, some publics have grown slightly more supportive of trade, including Poland, Spain, Brazil and Nigeria, while a few have become slightly less supportive, including Mexico, Jordan, Turkey, Argentina and the United States.
While views of trade ties have fluctuated some between 2002 and 2008, the period is marked more by decreases than increases in enthusiasm for trade, most notably among the U.S. public.
And in America:
Among the 24 countries included in the survey, Americans are the least supportive of international trade – just 53% of Americans say trade with other countries is having a good effect on the U.S., down sharply from 2002, when 78% believed it was having a positive impact.
As in previous years, the American public’s views vary by age and income. More than six-in-ten (65%) of those younger than age 30, and 55% of those ages 30 to 49, believe that trade has a positive impact on the United States. By comparison, people ages 50 and older are more divided (47% good, 46% bad). Wealthier Americans are also slightly more likely to support international trade; roughly two-thirds (63%) of those with household incomes of $75,000 or more think it has a good impact, compared with 56% of those with incomes below $30,000.
Support for trade is basically the same among Republicans (55% good), independents (54%) and Democrats (54%). However, support has waned over the last year among both Republicans and independents. In 2007, nearly two-thirds of Republicans (64%) and independents (63%) said that trade was good for the U.S. while just over half of each group do now – a decrease of nine percentage points for both. Nearly equal percentages of Democrats held positive views of trade in 2007 (55%) as did in 2008 (54%).
They are more enthusiastic about trade as it relates to their countries than as it relates to themselves:
Publics worldwide are somewhat less enthusiastic about increasing international trade and business ties when considering it in relation to oneself and one’s family than in relation to one’s country.
In all but four of the countries surveyed (Lebanon, Argentina, Jordan and Egypt), majoritiessay that increasing economic and trade ties between their country and other countries are good for themselves and their family. In fact, more than three-quarters of the publics view increasing trade ties as being positive for themselves and their families.
Enthusiasm for trade in relation to its impact on families is not, however, as fervent. Fewer among all of the publics feel that the personal impact of international trade is “very good.”
There is not a lot of fondness for foreign investment:
Overall, publics worldwide are skeptical of the value of foreigners buying domestically owned companies: Half or more in 18 of the 24 countries surveyed say that it is bad when foreigners buy domestically-owned companies. In several countries, this negative sentiment is particularly pervasive; seven-in-ten or more in Germany (78%), Turkey (76%), Argentina (71%) and Egypt (70%) say that foreign buying of domestic companies is bad.
Some publics are conflicted; publics in Pakistan, Britain and Mexico are closely or evenly divided on the merit of foreign ownership of domestic companies.
Positive views of foreign ownership are less pervasive but they do prevail in three countries: Half or more among the publics in India, Spain and South Africa say foreign buying of domestic companies is a good thing.
There are more posts on public opinion on trade issues here:
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