A survey that questioned 64,000 people in 53 countries which aimed to measure levels of optimism about personal well-being and the state of the economy in 2011. In Gallup International’s ‘Global Barometer of Hope and Despair’, Brazil, China and India emerged as having the most upbeat populations whilst those in the UK were particularly pessimistic about the year ahead.
Interestingly, the powerful and wealthy developed nations of the G7 – France, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US and the UK – had the greatest number of gloomy respondents whilst the rapidly developing BRICS were firmly in the hopeful camp.
UK respondents were found to be particularly downbeat in four key topics – “Will 2011 be a year of prosperity?” – those in the UK answered 8% ‘yes’ whilst the world average was 30%; “will unemployment rise?” – UK: 37% ‘yes’, world average: 17; “will you find a job quickly if you become unemployed?” UK: 17% yes, world average: 31% and “will 2011 be better than 2010?” UK: 23% yes, world average: 42%.
Samantha Gore, Sales Manager for Brazil estate agents www.uv10.com, based in Natal, is unsurprised by the findings, “As the G7 struggles back into positive growth figures, Brazil is positively booming. GDP is projected at 7.5% for 2010 and 4.5% for 2011 and Brazil certainly offers the best growth and opportunities in Latin America. Brazilians also have little reason to be fearful of their jobs. With abundant land, oil discoveries and self-sufficiency in energy and commodities, the unemployment rate was at a record 5.7% in November 2010 with outgoing president Lula da Silva stating that figure will drop even further in 2011. Brazil’s future is compelling and the country will provide great foreign investment opportunities for many years to come.”
Samantha continues, “It would be tricky for the locals not to feel optimistic about Brazilright now. It’s a nation of fantastic beaches, year-round sunshine, amazing food at fabulous prices and an incredible party atmosphere courtesy of a very friendly, dynamic society. As the build-up to 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Rio Olympics gathers pace, all of this will become very apparent to the watching world, and for the feel-good-factor the only way is up.”
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