There is a striking contrast between the economic outlook in four emerging markets – Brazil, China, India and Turkey – and the European Union and the United States, according to the latest Pew Global Attitudes Project survey of 21 countries conducted this spring.

People living in the emerging economies are twice as likely as Americans and more than three times as likely as Europeans to think economic conditions in their countries are good. A median of 61% in the emerging economies say this, compared with 31% in the U.S. and 16% in the EU.

These populations also are generally more likely than Americans or Europeans to say that they are doing better than their parents. A median of 74% in the emerging economies say this, compared with 60% in the U.S. and 59% in the E.U.

They are three times more likely than Europeans and more than twice as likely as Americans to say that they are financially better off compared with five years ago. A median of 60% say this, compared with 27% in the U.S. and 20% in the E.U.

And, while people in emerging markets also worry about the economic mobility of their children, they are four times more optimistic about the future for their kids than the Europeans and twice as optimistic as Americans. A median of about one-third express such optimism in the emerging economies (35%), compared with 14% in the U.S. and 9% in the E.U. countries surveyed. Read More

Russell Heimlich  is a former web developer at Pew Research Center.