Thursday, July 26, 2007

Poor, happy & hopeful

NEW DELHI : The world seems to be a happier place for people living in the developing world. Their incomes may be low and lives tough, but the mood is upbeat.
They are more satisfied with their personal lives, incomes and national conditions as compared to the developed world. And, they are optimistic about the future as well.
In fact, 64% Indians say the next generation will have a better quality of life, according to Global Opinion Trends 2002-2007, a survey conducted by the Pew Global Attitudes Project in 47 countries, involving 45,000 interviews.
This is in sharp contrast to the prevailing mood in many developed nations like the US, UK, Germany and France, where people are not overtly excited about the present - possibly because their per capita GDP gains have been less robust compared to many developing counties. They are not too enthusiastic about the future either - most have a negative feeling about the kind of life the next generation would lead.
The survey, the largest ever undertaken by Pew Global Attitudes Project, examines how people around the world view their lives and their future, their countries and national institutions, as well as their most pressing national problems.
In France, for example, 80% say that when their children grow up, they will be worse off than people are today। Smaller but substantial majorities in Germany, Japan, Italy, Great Britain, the US and Canada also are pessimistic regarding the next generation's overall prospects. Unlike in the developing world, satisfaction with national conditions is flat or has declined in most advanced nations where trends are available.
Compare this with Africa, where most people surveyed say their lives will be better five years from now. A majority also feels their children will grow up to be better off. This belief is widespread in other developing and emerging countries as well. In China, for instance, 86% of the respondents look ahead to a better life for their kids.
Nearly 41% Indians surveyed said they are satisfied with their own lives, while 42% said they are satisfied with the nation. And, here's the surprise: A whopping 77% Indians said they are satisfied with the government and leadership.
As for national problems, crime, political corruption, drugs, the spread of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases, and pollution emerge frequently as top issues in the survey. While crime is the dominant issue for most Asian and African countries, for Indians, pollution and terrorism are the biggest bug-bears. Eight out of 10 people in India see pollution as a major problem.