--- title: "Americans, Like Many in Other Advanced Economies, Not Convinced of Trade’s Benefits" description: "People in advanced and emerging economies generally agree that growing trade and business ties with other nations are good for their country, but fewer are convinced such ties lead to more jobs, higher wages or lower prices at home." date: "2018-09-26" authors: - name: "Bruce Stokes" job_title: "Former Director, Global Economic Attitudes" link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/bruce-stokes/" url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2018/09/26/americans-like-many-in-other-advanced-economies-not-convinced-of-trades-benefits/" categories: - "Business & Workplace" - "Economic Policy" - "Global Economy & Trade" - "Global Trade" datasets: - name: "Spring 2018 Survey Data" url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/dataset/spring-2018-survey-data/" --- # Americans, Like Many in Other Advanced Economies, Not Convinced of Trade’s Benefits ## Table of Contents 1. [Americans, Like Many in Other Advanced Economies, Not Convinced of Trade’s Benefits](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2018/09/26/americans-like-many-in-other-advanced-economies-not-convinced-of-trades-benefits/markdown) 2. [1. Spotlight on views of trade in the U.S., EU and Japan](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2018/09/26/spotlight-on-views-of-trade-in-the-u-s-eu-and-japan/markdown) 3. [2. Trade widely seen as good](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2018/09/26/2-trade-widely-seen-as-good/markdown) 4. [3. Advanced and emerging economies differ over trade’s impact on job creation](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2018/09/26/advanced-and-emerging-economies-differ-over-trades-impact-on-job-creation/markdown) 5. [4. Nearly half of adults in emerging markets say trade raises wages](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2018/09/26/nearly-half-of-adults-in-emerging-markets-say-trade-raises-wages/markdown) 6. [5. Public views on trade and prices are at odds with economic theory](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2018/09/26/public-views-on-trade-and-prices-are-at-odds-with-economic-theory/markdown) 7. [Acknowledgments](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2018/09/26/acknowledgments-global-public-opinion-trade/markdown) 8. [Methodology](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2018/09/26/methodology-global-public-opinion-trade/markdown) 9. [Appendix: Economic Categorization](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2018/09/26/appendix-global-public-opinion-trade/markdown) ![A German container ship at the UK's Port of Felixstowe, near Ipswich. (Tim Graham/Getty Images)](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/09/PG_18.09.26_Trade_Featured-Image.jpg) *A German container ship at the UK’s Port of Felixstowe, near Ipswich. (Tim Graham/Getty Images)* [![Chart showing that international publics back trade in principle, but many question its benefits.](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/09/PG_2018.09.18_global-trade_0-01.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2018/09/26/americans-like-many-in-other-advanced-economies-not-convinced-of-trades-benefits/pg_2018-09-18_global-trade_0-01/) Publics in advanced and emerging economies alike generally agree that growing trade and business ties with other nations are good for their country, at least in theory. But far fewer are convinced that increased trade results in more jobs, higher wages or lower prices at home – all benefits frequently touted by economists and proponents of international trade. Americans and publics in advanced economies are especially skeptical of trade’s role in boosting wages – only about three-in-ten in the United States and across the other advanced economies surveyed subscribe to this view. Slightly more Americans think trade lowers prices and generates new jobs (37% and 36%, respectively). Among the other advanced economies polled, a median of 47% link trade to job creation, while 28% say prices decrease thanks to trade. People in emerging markets are even more dubious of trade’s impact on prices – a median of just 18% in these countries say it drives prices lower. But publics across the nine emerging markets surveyed are enthusiastic about trade’s other economic benefits: A median of 56% think trade leads to more jobs and 47% say it improves wages. These are among the key findings from a Pew Research Center survey conducted among 30,133 respondents in 27 countries from May 14 to Aug. 12, 2018. The nations included in the survey account for roughly two-thirds of the global gross domestic product. [![Table showing that more Americans and Poles now believe trade creates jobs.](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/09/PG_2018.09.26_Global-trade-0-02.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2018/09/26/americans-like-many-in-other-advanced-economies-not-convinced-of-trades-benefits/pg_2018-09-26_global-trade-0-02/) In many of the 22 nations polled in both 2014 and 2018, public views of trade’s impact on jobs and wages have not changed substantially. But there are exceptions. In the U.S., the share of adults who believe trade creates jobs has risen 16 percentage points over the past four years. In Poland, it has increased 10 points. Conversely, faith that trade generates employment has fallen 26 points in Argentina and 20 points in Tunisia. [![Table showing that Tunisians are now less likely to think trade increases wages.](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/09/PG_2018.09.26_Global-trade-0-03.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2018/09/26/americans-like-many-in-other-advanced-economies-not-convinced-of-trades-benefits/pg_2018-09-26_global-trade-0-03/) Similarly, the belief that growing international trade and business ties boost wages is up 14 percentage points among Americans since 2014. Among Poles, it is up 14 points. Again, public opinion in Tunisia and Argentina has moved in the opposite direction. The share of Tunisians who say trade increases wages is down 22 percentage points and the share of Argentines who hold that view is down 13 points. In many of the 22 nations polled in both 2014 and 2018, public views of trade’s impact on jobs and wages have not changed substantially. But there are exceptions. In the U.S., the share of adults who believe trade creates jobs has risen 16 percentage points over the past four years. In Poland, it has increased 10 points. Conversely, faith that trade generates employment has fallen 26 points in Argentina and 20 points in Tunisia. [![Chart showing that people who think their economy is doing well are more likely to believe trade creates jobs and raises wages.](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/09/PG_2018.09.26_Global-trade-0-04.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2018/09/26/americans-like-many-in-other-advanced-economies-not-convinced-of-trades-benefits/pg_2018-09-26_global-trade-0-04/) Among the 27 nations surveyed in 2018, attitudes toward trade are closely associated with education and income levels. In 19 countries, those with higher levels of education are more likely than those with less education to think trade creates jobs.[1. For the purpose of comparing educational groups across countries, we standardize education levels based on the UN’s International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). The lower education category is below secondary education and the higher category is secondary or above in Brazil, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa and Tunisia. The lower education category is secondary education or below and the higher category is postsecondary or above in Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, UK and U.S.] In 20 countries, those with an income higher than the national median are more likely than those with an income below that line to believe trade generates employment.[2. Respondents with a household income below the approximate country median are considered lower income. Those with an income at or above the approximate country median are considered higher income.] More broadly, views on trade seem to reflect a public’s general economic mood. Globally, among respondents who think their economy is doing well, a median of 53% across 24 countries say trade creates jobs and 39% believe it increases wages. Among those publics who say their economy is doing poorly, just 43% believe trade generates jobs and 29% say it boosts wages. *CORRECTION (December 2018): The data in this report and the accompanying topline have been corrected to reflect a revised weight for Australia in 2018. The changes due to this adjustment are very minor and do not materially change the analysis of the report.* --- **Next:** [1. Spotlight on views of trade in the U.S., EU and Japan](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2018/09/26/spotlight-on-views-of-trade-in-the-u-s-eu-and-japan.md)