[opiniojuris] Roger Alford: Global Contentment on the Rise

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Posted by Roger Alford:
Global Contentment on the Rise
http://www.opiniojuris.org/posts/1194366869.shtml


   The Pew Research Center has just published a [1]wonderful survey on
   rising contentment in the developing world. According to the survey
   those surveyed in Asia, Africa, and Latin America are more satisfied
   with the state of the nation than those surveyed in Europe and the
   United States. "Throughout much of the world, rising incomes are
   improving national conditions and increasing life satisfaction. While
   people in rich countries generally remain happier with their lives,
   the rest of the world is catching up, and looking into the future,
   people from poor and middle income countries are the most likely to
   think their quality of life will improve in the coming years. Citizens
   from these countries are also the most likely to favor the key tenets
   of economic globalization, welcoming both international trade and
   multinational corporations." Just take a look at this graph and survey
   results:

   In addition, the survey also reveals that people in the developing
   world are the most enthusiastic about globalization and international
   trade. "[N]o one is more enthusiastic about economic globalization
   than the citizens of lower income countries. Growth in these countries
   is generally more modest than in middle income nations, and they have
   not experienced the same large increases in personal well-being. But,
   while they have not yet fully benefited from participation in a global
   economy, they welcome global commerce and investment â trade and
   foreign companies receive their highest marks in some of the poorest
   countries in Africa and Asia. Throughout the world, people have
   worries about globalization â its effects on tradition and national
   culture, its impact on the environment, its potential for adding to
   the gap between rich and poor â but low income publics clearly embrace
   its key economic features, despite the downsides." This graph (click
   to enlarge) is particularly revealing on that score, with the United
   States among the most pessimistic about trade and countries in Africa,
   Asia, and the Middle East among the most optimistic:

   

References

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   1. http://pewglobal.org/commentary/display.php?AnalysisID=1025

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   2. file://localhost/files/roger-trade.gif