Poll Finds Strong Populist Mood in Europe and to a Lesser Extent in the USA

A new Financial Times/Harris Poll of cross sections of adults in the five largest European countries and the United States finds that majorities in all these countries are critical of a number of major economic trends and the way their economies are developing. These results indicate a considerable sense of alienation, fueling a strong populist mood.

Large majorities in all six countries believe that the gap between the rich and poor is getting larger. Very small proportions of adults in each country admire the top managers who run their countries’ largest companies, and large majorities think they are paid too much. Majorities in all six countries believe that the rich should pay more tax and the poor should be taxed less. Majorities in four European countries and pluralities in Germany and the United States think that globalization is having a negative effect in their countries, and many people think that their governments should do more to protect them from the adverse affects of globalization.

These are some of the results of a Financial Times/Harris Poll conducted online by Harris Interactive® among a total of 6,360 adults within France; Germany, Great Britain, Spain, the United States, Italy, between July 5 and 13, 2007.

Very large majorities (varying from 91% in Germany to 66% in Spain) believe that the gap between the rich and the poor in their countries is getting larger.

Majorities in all five European countries and the United States do not think that people of all social backgrounds have the same opportunities to fulfill their potential. However, a much greater proportion of adults in the United States than adults in Europe thinks that all people have equal opportunities in their country.

In five of the six countries, majorities of adults do not admire those who run the largest companies. However, in Italy a majority admires them—combining those who admire them a great deal (9%), quite a bit (24%), or a fair amount (21%). More than seventy percent of adults in each of the countries, except for France, think that senior executives in their countries earn too much. In France a modest fifty-four percent majority feels this way. Very small proportions of adults in each country say that they earn too little.

Majorities in Britain (60%), France (63%), Italy (64%) and Spain (62%) think that their governments should set pay caps for the heads of companies. In Germany a forty-seven percent plurality supports this proposal. In the United States a forty-seven percent plurality opposes it.

Majorities of between sixty-six percent (in Spain) and fifty-two percent (in France) think that those who earn the highest incomes should pay more tax than they do now.

Substantial majorities, from fifty-nine percent (in the USA) to eighty-three percent (in Italy) think that those who earn the lowest incomes should pay less tax.

In general, globalization is unpopular. Relatively few people think that globalization is having a positive effect on their countries. The largest supporters of globalization are in Germany (36%) and Italy (25%). Germany is currently the world’s leading exporter and is perhaps the biggest single beneficiary of global trade. Modest majorities in Britain (53%), France (53%), Italy (55%) and Spain (54%) believe that globalization is having a negative effect in their countries. In the United States, a forty-five percent to seventeen percent plurality sees globalization having a negative effect with more than a third of all adults not sure.

In Europe large majorities of those who think that globalization is having a negative effect believe that the European Union should do more to protect people from the adverse affect of globalization.

While attitudes to globalization are generally cool or negative, there’s much greater support for the concept of "free competition". Majorities of adults in Italy (81%), Spain (61%) and Germany (69%) think "free competition" should be one of the European Union’s objectives. Pluralities in Britain, France and the United States are also supportive of the concept of "free competition".

"Regardless of their social background, do you believe all people in your country have the same opportunities to fulfill their potential?"

Base: All EU adults in five countries and US adults

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding

"Do you feel that the gap between the rich and the poor in your country is getting larger or smaller?"

Base: All EU adults in five countries and US adults

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding

"How much do you admire those who run [your country’s] largest companies?"

Base: All EU adults in five countries and US adults

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding

"In your opinion, do senior executives in your country earn too much each year in salaries and bonuses, too little, or about the right amount?"

Base: All EU adults in five countries and US adults

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding

"Do you think that your country’s government should set pay caps for heads of companies?"

Base: All EU adults in five countries and US adults

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding

"Do you think that the income tax structure in your country correctly taxes those who earn the highest incomes?"

Base: All EU adults in five countries and US adults

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding

"Do you think that the income tax structure in your country correctly taxes those who earn the lowest incomes?"

Base: All EU adults in five countries and US adults

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding

"Do you think the role politicians in your country play in managing the economy is…?"

Base: All EU adults in five countries and US adults

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding

"Do you think Globalization is having a positive or negative effect in [your country]?"?"

Base: All EU adults in five countries and US adults

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding

"Should the European Union do more to protect people from the adverse effects of globalization?"

Base: All EU adults in five countries and US adults who think that Globalization as a negative effect

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding

"Should ‘free competition’ be one of the European Union’s objectives?"

Base: All EU adults in five countries and US adults

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding

This FT/Harris Poll was conducted online by Harris Interactive among a total of 6,360 adults (aged 16 to 64) within France (1,020), Germany (1,046), Great Britain (1,040), Spain (1,116) and the United States (1,054) and adults (aged 18 to 64) in Italy (1,084) between 5 and 13 July 2007. Figures for age, sex, education, region and Internet usage were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online.

All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, Harris Interactive avoids the words "margin of error" as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Interactive surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult populations of the respective countries. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the Harris Interactive panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

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