Global poll gives thumbs down to austerity

A global public opinion poll – said to reflect the views of more than one billion citizens – has revealed a worldwide distrust of governments and economic decision-makers.

The unprecedented poll of 13 countries, including the UK, was commissioned by the International Trade Union Confederation. It will be presented to world leaders at the G20 summit in Mexico on 18 June.

The results show widespread opposition to austerity measures, pessimism about the fate of future generations, and feelings of political disempowerment.

The UK came near the top of most of the negative findings.

“This poll proves that across the world people agree that governments that are obsessed with cutting deficits have got it wrong,” said UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis today.

“UNISON has long been calling on the UK coalition government to ditch its failed austerity agenda and kickstart growth by getting people working.”

Mr Prentis said that UNISON was working with the Italian General Confederation of Labour and Germany’s biggest union, Ver.di, to campaign for a fairer alternative to austerity measures across international borders.

“Over the coming months we will continue to reach out to charities, community and faith groups in the UK to make sure the TUC march through London on 20 October sends the government a strong message – that we want a future that works.”

Commenting on the poll, ITUC general secretary Sharan Burrow said that the “democratic contract” with voters had been broken in many countries.

“Governments must pay heed to their people, or we risk increasing political and economic instability.”

She said that given a choice of economic policies, 66% of people supported government action to invest in job creation – to allow economies to grow – compared with only 24% who wanted debts paid off immediately by reducing government spending.

She also noted that this poll of the general public showed strong support for laws that protect workers’ rights.

The poll was conducted in Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, UK and the USA.

Approximately 1,000 people were interviewed in each of the 13 countries, 14% of whom were trade union members. Anker Solutions, the Dutch company that has analysed the results, estimates that these selected views reflect those of 1.4 billion people, or 20% of the current world population.

The global findings included:

  • 58% of people think their country is moving in the wrong direction;
  • 66% think that future generations will be worse off;
  • 67% think that international banks and financial institutions have too much influence on the economic decisions of their governments – and 67 % think that voters don’t have enough influence;
  • 78% of people think international banks and financial institutions should pay more for the global financial crisis;
  • 58% of people say their income has fallen behind the cost of living;
  • One in three people think their jobs are less secure than two years ago.

Responses in the UK revealed a more negative picture:

  • 61% believed the country was moving in the wrong direction – the 7th worst national result;
  • 79% thought that future generations would be worse off;
  • 87% described the economic situation in the country as “very bad”;
  • 91% identified banks and large corporations as having the most important influence on the government’s economic policy, with unions at 5% and voters 3%;
  • 0% believed that their family income has fallen behind the cost of living.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber is to discuss the poll when he leads a trade union delegation to meet prime minister David Cameron.

“Two thirds of people believe that future generations will be worse off than today – a telling indictment of the failure of global austerity measures,” he said.

“But this understandable pessimism needn’t become a reality. Unions are making the case for an alternative to austerity – one that invests in young people and prioritises growth over a failed economic doctrine that is failing across Europe.”

Download the poll here