Faith in banks and financial institutions remains low
February 2, 2012
Europeans' and Americans' confidence in their financial institutions has followed a similar trajectory throughout the global economic crisis, suggesting a strong link between the two struggling economies.
In most countries, pluralities say it is a bad time to find a job
January 27, 2012
A median of 12% of EU residents in 2011 said it was a good time to find a job where they live, while a median of 80% said it was a bad time. Residents of Greece were most pessimistic, while Germans were most optimistic.
A median of 36% confident in government; 43% confident in financial institutions
December 22, 2011
Europeans had little faith in their national governments and financial institutions in 2011 compared with other key institutions, likely reflecting dissatisfaction with the economic turmoil gripping the EU. Europeans trusted their military (69%) and honesty of elections (59%) the most.
Greeks, Spaniards, Italians say their governments make it hard to start and manage businesses
December 16, 2011
Residents in some of the EU's most debt-laden countries are also among the most likely to say their government makes it hard to start and manage a business. The climate for entrepreneurs is most inhospitable in Greece, where more than 8 in 10 residents see their government as an obstacle.
Older people fare better in wealthier European nations
June 16, 2011
Older Europeans are generally less happy than those who are younger -- 57% of those aged 75 and older say they experienced happiness "yesterday" versus 66% of younger residents. However, happiness among older people doesn't decline as much in European nations with higher GDPs and longer life expectancies.
Greeks and Romanians predict their lives will be worse than they are now
January 14, 2011
In the next five years, people in nearly all EU countries expect their lives to be better than they are now. Greeks and Romanians alone predict their lives will be worse.
Nearly all in Ireland, Greece, Spain, and Slovakia said it was a bad time to find a job
January 4, 2011
Most EU residents are likely hoping 2011 brings jobs. EU residents almost universally agreed 2010 was a bad time to hunt for work, including more than 9 in 10 in Ireland, Greece, Spain, and Slovakia.
A median of 29% saw their living standards getting better in 2010
December 30, 2010
While EU residents' optimism about their standard of living in 2010 doesn't indicate a full recovery from the economic crisis, Gallup surveys show their outlooks are improving. Between 2009 and 2010 the percentage who saw their living standards getting better increased or stayed the same in nearly every country.
Those dissatisfied with their local communities are most likely to desire to migrate
December 14, 2010
Although the United Kingdom is one of the top desired destinations for would-be migrants around the world, Britons are among the most likely in the European Union to say they would like to move permanently to another country if given the chance.
Median U.S. leadership approval remained stable at about 50% in the European Union between 2009 and 2010. Approval did drop, however, in countries where the effects of the global financial and economic crisis remain severe, including Greece, Ireland, and Portugal.
