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.
Greeks are by far the most negative; pessimism soars Portugal and Italy
December 1, 2011
Views about local economic situations are deteriorating in several EU countries hard-hit by the European debt crisis, including Italy and Portugal. Those in Greece, Portugal, and Ireland are among the most negative, while views in Finland, Germany, Luxembourg are the most positive.
Eighty-five percent see corruption widespread in government
November 16, 2011
Italians' dissatisfaction with their government goes beyond disapproval of their former prime minister, extending to their entire political leadership. Eighty-five percent of Italians surveyed in March perceive corruption as widespread throughout their government.
Worldwide desire to migrate abated between 2007 and 2010, but Gallup finds 14% of the world's adults -- or about 630 million people -- would still like to migrate to another country if they had the chance.
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.
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.
