Large shares in many countries are pessimistic about the next generation’s financial future
A median of 70% of adults across 19 countries say children in their country will be worse off than their parents financially when they grow up.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
A median of 70% of adults across 19 countries say children in their country will be worse off than their parents financially when they grow up.
Despite an uptick in positive views of the economy in some places, many say that children will be worse off financially than their parents.
Dissatisfaction with the functioning of democracy is linked to concerns about the economy, the pandemic and social divisions.
Unfavorable opinion of China in the U.S. is at its highest level in 14 years of polling. Americans also increasingly see China as a threat, and more than half see friction in the current bilateral economic relationship.
More countries still name the U.S. as the foremost economic power than say the same of China. And, even in nations that welcome China’s economic growth, few feel similarly about its growing military might.
Japanese feel better about their economy than at any time in nearly two decades. But they also believe average people are worse off than before the Great Recession and worry about their children’s futures.
Those surveyed are generally disgruntled about the state of their economy, and many are also pessimistic about the financial prospects of the next generation.
The urgency expressed by Pope Francis on global poverty and inequality is grounded in harsh reality. 4.4 billion people – 71% of the global population of 6.2 billion – lived on $10 or less per day in 2011, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of the most recently available data.
China’s incredible economic expansion has led the Chinese to be overwhelmingly happy with their economic situation and optimistic about their future, but there are underlying complaints about inflation, inequality and corruption.
The world’s third largest economy faces long-term challenges, including pessimistic forecasts from the Japanese public, the hollowing out of Japan’s working-age population and the nation’s exorbitant public debt.
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