Friday, October 23, 2009

Zone 3- Summary of Global Polls- Week # 89. Dated 7th-11th Oct 09'

EAST EUROPE
Russians’ Confidence Crumbles With Economy
(Gallup USA) Gallup surveys before and after the crisis hit last year show Russian consumer confidence sank with their economy: The percentage of Russians saying the economy is getting better plunged from a pre-downturn high of 46% to a record-low 11%.
October 14, 2009
New Conservative Party Gains in Czech Republic
(CVVM) The Tradition Responsibility Prosperity 09 (TOP 09) party has gained prominence in the Czech Republic, according to a poll by CVVM. 12.5 per cent of respondents would vote for the recently-created conservative party in the next legislative election, up three points since August.
October 14, 2009
Fidesz Set to Win Big in Hungary’s Next Election
(Tarki) Hungary’s main opposition party holds an overwhelming lead in the country, according to a poll by Tarki. 65 per cent of decided voters would support Fidesz in the next legislative ballot.
October 13, 2009

WEST EUROPE
Spaniards Decidedly Favour Regularizing Prostitution
(Instituto Noxa) A large majority of people in Spain back a proposal that would make prostitution a regular occupation, according to a poll by Instituto Noxa published in La Vanguardia. 76 per cent of respondents support regularizing prostitution, while 17 per cent oppose it.
October 17, 2009
Few Britons Want Blair as EU President
(ARS) The idea of Tony Blair becoming president of the European Council is not particularly popular with people in Britain, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies. 47 per cent of respondents oppose the former British prime minister taking on this role.
October 15, 2009
President Merz is Least Liked Swiss Politician
(Isopublic) Swiss president Hans-Rudolf Merz ranks last in a popularity list of five prominent politicians, according to a poll by Isopublic published in Le Matin. 47 per cent of respondents hold a positive opinion of the president.
October 15, 2009
Two Parties Almost Tied in Switzerland
(Isopublic) The Swiss political scene is still dominated by two parties, according to a poll by Isopublic published in Le Matin. 23.3 per cent of respondents would vote for the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) in the next legislative election, while 22.3 per cent would support the Social-Democratic Party of Switzerland (SPS).
October 13, 2009
Plan to Change Abortion Law Splits Views in Spain
(Instituto Noxa) People in Spain are divided in their assessment of a government proposal to modify existing abortion regulations, according to a poll by Instituto Noxa published in La Vanguardia. 44 per cent of respondents support the proposed changes, while 46 per cent oppose them.
October 12, 2009

NORTH AMERICA
Two in Three Americans Worry About Identity Theft
(Gallup USA) Identity theft debuts on Gallup's Crime survey as Americans' top-ranked crime concern. Sixty-six percent of U.S. adults say they worry "frequently" or "occasionally" about being a victim of identity theft, higher than the reported anxiety about 11 other types of crime and the only crime that a majority worry about at least occasionally.
October 16, 2009
Americans See Little Hope of Finding a Quality Job
(Gallup USA) Gallup finds 10% of Americans feeling that now is a "good time" to find a quality job, reflecting no improvement since February, and less than the 33% who held similar views as the recession began in January 2008 and the 14% recorded as the financial crisis hit the economy in full force last October.
October 15, 2009
Hillary Clinton Now More Popular Than Barack Obama
(Gallup USA) Hillary Clinton lost the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination to Barack Obama, but in one respect she now ranks ahead of Obama. The president's current favorable rating of 56% is down 22 percentage points since January. Over the same time span, Clinton's favorable rating has changed little, and now, at 62%, it exceeds Obama's.
October 15, 2009
U.S. Satisfaction Sinks to Six-Month Low
(Gallup USA) Americans' satisfaction with the United States is no better today than a month ago; if anything, it may be a bit worse. Twenty-six percent of Americans interviewed Oct. 1-4 say they are satisfied with the way things are going in the country, down slightly from 29% in early September. Currently, 71% are dissatisfied, the highest level since March.
October 14, 2009
Americans Perceive Increased Crime in U.S.
(Gallup USA) Gallup's annual Crime poll finds 74% of Americans saying there is more crime in the United States than there was a year ago, the highest measured since the early 1990s.
October 14, 2009
In U.S., Two-Thirds Continue to Support Death Penalty
(Gallup USA) Gallup's annual Crime Survey finds that 65% of Americans continue to support the use of the death penalty for persons convicted of murder, while 31% oppose it -- continuing a trend that has shown little change over the last six years.
October 14, 2009
The States of Marriage and Divorce
(Pew Research Center) Arkansas and Oklahoma men and women marry young and have above average share in divorced people in 2007 and 2008. In Massachusetts and New York people marry a bit late and have below average share in divorce in 2007 and 2008.
October 15, 2009
Most Still Oppose Gay Marriage, but Support for Civil Unions Continues to Rise
(Pew Research Center) A clear majority of Americans (57%) favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to enter into legal agreements with each other. This marks a slight uptick in support for civil unions and appears to continue a significant long-term trend since the question was first asked in Pew Research Center surveys in 2003, when support for civil unions stood at 45%.
October 09, 2009
Sharp Red, Blue Divide On U.S. Healthcare System
(Zogby International) U.S. adults of different political ideologies have extremely different views about the nation's healthcare system, according to a new Zogby International interactive poll. Overall 63% rate the U.S. healthcare system as excellent or good, but only 43% give those combined high marks to the system's value. Forty-seven percent believe that affordable healthcare is a right, and 30% say it is a privilege. Another 20% believe it is neither.
October 15, 2009
Conservatives Surpass 40% Mark in Canada
(ARS) The Conservative party has extended its lead in Canada, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies released by the Toronto Star. 41 per cent of respondents would support the Tories in the next federal election.
October 17, 2009

LATIN AMERICA
Colombians Back Referendum to Allow Uribe Bid
(Ipsos Napoleón Franco) Two-thirds of people in Colombia agree with a referendum on whether the Constitution should be amended to allow Álvaro Uribe to run for a third consecutive term as president, according to a poll by Ipsos Napoleón Franco released by Semana and RCN. 66 per cent of respondents express support for the plebiscite, while 34 per cent disagree with it.
October 16, 2009
Most Venezuelans Want Chávez Gone by 2012
(IVAD) Most people in Venezuela think Hugo Chávez’s term in office should end no later than 2012, according to a poll by IVAD. 27.9 per cent of respondents say Chávez should leave in 2010 after a recall referendum, while an additional 36.3 per cent say he should only stay until the 2012 election.
October 14, 2009
Panamanian Government Gets Good Grades
(Dichter & Neira) Most people in Panama are satisfied with the performance of the recently elected national government, according to a poll by Dichter & Neira released by TVN Noticias. 74.8 per cent of respondents say the ministers in the cabinet have done a very good or a good job so far.
October 13, 2009
Support for Chile’s Bachelet Soars as Election Nears
(Adimark Gfk) Chilean president Michelle Bachelet is set to end her term in office on a high note, according to a poll by Adimark Gfk. 76 per cent of respondents approve of Bachelet’s performance, up three points since July.
October 12, 2009
Public Safety is Main Concern for Costa Ricans
(Unimer) Many people in Costa Rica cite insecurity as the biggest challenge facing the nation, according to a poll by Unimer published in La Nación. 25 per cent of respondents think the biggest problem in the Central American country is lack of safety.
October 11, 2009

GLOBAL POLLS
Support for Afghan Mission Drops in UK, Canada
(ARS) Public backing for the mission in Afghanistan is eroding in two countries, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies. 59 per cent of respondents in Britain oppose the military operation involving UK soldiers in Afghanistan, up six points since July.
October 16, 2009
Asian Nations—but Not Japan—among World’s Most Confident Consumers: Global Poll
(Globescan) Consumers in the Asia-Pacific region are among the most confident in the world as economic recovery starts to take hold, a new GlobeScan poll across 22 countries finds. But the Japanese, who are deeply pessimistic about the future, are the exception.
October 16, 2009

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The complete detailed weekly reports of the project can be found on theGilani Research Foundation website.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Zone 3- Summary of Global Polls- Week # 88

EAST EUROPE

Russia Getting Old: How 30-Million Generation Lives?
(VCIOM) Majority of Russians have great respect for old age. Mostly it is believed that old age starts when you get to 60. But they are very critical of old people’s condition in the country and are annoyed of their government efforts. They want to continue working even after 60.
October 05, 2009

Russians Say Medvedev Acts on Putin’s Orders
A large majority of people in Russia think president Dmitry Medvedev governs under the influence of former president and current prime minister Vladimir Putin, according to a poll by the Yury Levada Analytical Center. 67 per cent of respondents say Medvedev conducts policy guided by Putin.
October 09, 2009

WEST EUROPE

Conservatives gain support among key groups since last general election
(Ipsos MORI) Since 2005, the Conservative Party’s share of voting intention among the public as a whole has increased by eight percentage points. However, while the Conservatives have made gains across the board, Ipsos MORI’s analysis shows that they have made some of their best inroads among groups where their support was relatively low in 2005.
October 05, 2009

‘Chris’ Should Remain in Christmas
(ComRes) The results of a poll of over a thousand adults, published today by Theos, reveal that the overwhelming majority of people in Britain want to keep Christ in Christmas. Over eight in ten disagreed with the statement that 'Christmas should be re-named to reflect our multi-cultural society'.
October 05, 2009

Dutch Back PM Balkenende as EU President
(TNS Nipo) Most people in the Netherlands would support current head of government Jan Peter Balkenende becoming president of the European Council, according to a poll by TNS Nipo. 58 per cent of respondents share this opinion, while 37 per cent are opposed.
October 09, 2009

Crisis Hurts Financial Institutions' Credibility in Europe
(Gallup) Confidence in financial institutions fell significantly in 10 of 12 European countries Gallup surveyed between 2006 and 2008, prior to the global economic collapse, and again after the downturn last fall. The biggest declines were seen in Ireland, Romania, the United Kingdom, and Portugal. Only in Italy did confidence in banks and other financial organizations improve in 2009, compared with polling conducted prior to the onset of the global recession.
October 06, 2009

NORTH AMERICA

Obama’s Nobel Prize: Public Opinion Context
(Gallup) The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to President Barack Obama comes at a time when Americans give Obama slightly below-average job approval ratings overall, and a 53% rating for his handling of foreign affairs.
October 09, 2009

Public Supports Military Action Against Iran to Prevent Nuclear Weapons
(Pew Research Center) The public approves of direct negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, although most Americans are not hopeful the talks will succeed. And a strong majority (61%) says that it is more important to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, even if it means taking military action.
October 06, 2009

Americans Divided on Sending More Troops to Afghanistan
(Gallup) As the debate intensifies over the next steps for the United States in the war in Afghanistan, a new poll finds Americans about evenly divided over whether the U.S. should increase its troop presence there. Forty-eight percent say they would favor a decision by President Obama to send more troops, while 45% would oppose it. Two weeks ago, the public leaned against a troop increase.
October 08, 2009

In U.S., Opposition to Healthcare Legislation Drops Modestly
(Gallup) Americans' views on healthcare legislation have shifted modestly over the past three weeks, with a slight plurality (40%) now supporting the passage of a new healthcare bill, and with fewer (36%) saying they oppose a new bill. When the leanings of those without an opinion are taken into account, 51% of Americans favor or lean toward favoring a bill, while 41% oppose it or lean toward opposition -- a more sizeable gap in favor than three weeks ago.
October 05, 2009

Mixed Views of Economic Policies and Health Care Reform Persist
(Pew) Public opinion is conflicted regarding the two major domestic issues of the day -- the economy and health care reform. On the economy, most Americans remain optimistic that Barack Obama's policies will help, but the public expresses mixed views of the steps he has taken so far and sees no clear signs of recovery at this point.
October 08, 2009

Key Health Care Proposals Get Bipartisan Public Support Despite Debate's Increased Political Polarization
(worldpublicopinion.org) A poll of WPO show a complex portrait of how Americans view health care reform and the policy debate surrounding this polarizing issue.
October 08, 2009

Americans Least Happy in Their 50s and Late 80s
(Gallup) Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index interviews conducted in 2008 and 2009 shows that happiness is highest among Americans who are in their early adulthood. Happiness drops among Americans in their 30s and 40s, and -- in particular -- among those in their 50s; it is higher among Americans in their 60s, drops among Americans in their late 70s and 80s, and then rises again among those older than 90.
October 05, 2009

LATIN AMERICA

Serra Keeps Lead but Loses Momentum in Brazil
(Instituto Sensus) The conservative candidate in Brazil’s race for the presidency is losing popularity, according to a poll by Instituto Sensus. 39.5 per cent of respondents would vote for Sao Paulo governor Jose Serra of the opposition Brazilian Party of Social Democracy (PSDB) in next year’s election, down 6.2 points since March.
October 07, 2009

Costa Ricans Endorse Plan to Reduce Pollution
(CID Gallup) A large majority of people in Costa Rica support a proposal enacted in San José, the capital city, which prohibits every car from being on the road one day a week, according to a poll by CID Gallup. 72 per cent of respondents support this new regulation a lot, and an additional 10 per cent support it moderately.
October 06, 2009

AUSTRALASIA

Australians Agree with Beazley, Nelson Appointments
(Essential Research) Many people in Australia approve of recent appointments to two important embassies, according to a poll by Essential Research. 54 per cent of respondents agree with former Australian Labor Party (ALP) leader Kim Beazley becoming ambassador to the United States.
October 06, 2009

Global Poll

Muslims Integrated, Europeans Themselves Isolated[1]
(Gallup Coexist Index) Gallup Coexist Index finds that the general public in France, Germany and UK is more likely than its respective Muslim population to be classified as isolated. Americans and Canadians tops the list of integrated publics while in Asia Afghanistan and Israel has the highest number of isolated.
[1] http://www.muslimwestfacts.com/mwf/118249/Gallup-Coexist-Index-2009.aspx