Trade and foreign investment engender both faith and skepticism around the world, according to a new Pew Research Center survey of 44 nations. Global publics generally agree that international commercial activity is a good thing, particularly people in developing and emerging economies. But not everyone is convinced, especially in advanced […] Read more »
Betting Markets Not Budging Over Poll on Scottish Independence
A poll published over the weekend suggesting that a majority of Scots will vote for independence Sept. 18 has both tanked the British pound and put the issue squarely in the international spotlight. … But political prediction markets, in which people bet on the likely outcome, are all about evaluating […] Read more »
Bigger Government Makes for More Satisfied People, International Study Finds
People living in countries with governments that spend more on social services report being more contented, according to a Baylor University study. “The effect of state intervention into the economy equals or exceeds marriage or employment status — two traditional predictors of happiness — when it comes to satisfaction,” said […] Read more »
What do citizens of Ukraine actually think about secession?
… A survey, which was conducted for my research project by Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) in Ukraine, except Crimea, from April 29 to May 11, shows that the representation of separatism in Donbas by the Ukrainian and the Western governments and the media as small groups of Russian […] Read more »
Russian Approval of Putin Soars to Highest Level in Years
President Vladimir Putin’s popularity in Russia is now at its highest level in years, likely propelled by a groundswell of national pride with the annexation of Crimea in March on the heels of the Sochi Olympic Games in February. The 83% of Russians saying they approve of Putin’s leadership in […] Read more »
Global Opposition to U.S. Surveillance and Drones, but Limited Harm to America’s Image
Revelations about the scope of American electronic surveillance efforts have generated headlines around the world over the past year. And a new Pew Research Center survey finds widespread global opposition to U.S. eavesdropping and a decline in the view that the U.S. respects the personal freedoms of its people. But […] Read more »