Urban Indians are most optimistic about global economy: BBC

A recent BBC World Service survey across four metros indicates that India is one of the few countries where people believe economic conditions around the globe are getting better. In fact, India emerges as one of top three countries that were the most optimistic about the global economy.

Fifty-five per cent of the Indian respondents were optimistic, second only to urban China (68 per cent). In India, the survey was conducted in Mumbai, Calcutta, Delhi and Chennai.

Over half of the Indians surveyed – 55 per cent - were also positive about their national economic performance. Countries where urban residents shared this view about their own national economy were China (88 per cent), South Africa (62 per cent), Chile (57 per cent) and established economies such as Australia (61 per cent), Canada (61 per cent) and the United Kingdom (57 per cent).

Asked about their family’s economic conditions, urban Indians were again very optimistic (77 per cent) as were the urban residents in China (86 per cent), and the Philippines (68 per cent).

The polling was commissioned by BBC World Service before the tsunami disaster and conducted by the international polling firm, GlobeScan, together with the Programme on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland, US.

Lloyd Hetherington, vice-president of GlobeScan, commented: “It makes sense that India and China, both benefiting in their primary urban environments from the growth of the global economy such as offshore manufacturing, out-sourcing etc, would be most likely to agree that economic conditions in the world are better. The benefits are tangible and visible, making it easier to link strong global demand with economic prosperity for their families.”

Steven Kull, director of PIPA, added: “The optimism expressed by Indians about their economic future is not surprising given that India’s growth rate was 6.4 per cent in 2004 and is projected to go up to 6.7 per cent in 2005 (IMF). However, these findings are from polling done in the major cities, which have benefited from the effects of globalisation more than the countryside.”

Almost 22,000 people were polled on five continents in this survey. The sample size

in India was 1,005 people. In India the poll was conducted between December 4 and 15 2004.

The poll was conducted in 21 countries – Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Philippines, Poland, South Africa, South Korea, Spain and Turkey. In addition to the 21 countries polled, a poll of 1,000 Americans was conducted. In eight countries, including India, the sample was limited to major metropolitan areas.

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