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Hope and happiness, we fly low for 2022 between pandemics and economic fears - Lifestyle

2021-12-29T13:51:42.234Z


(HANDLE) The hopes, fears and expectations of the world population: At the end of 2021, levels of hope and happiness around the world are affected by the pandemic and still have to deal with persistent fears of imminent economic difficulties. Despite this, there are significant differences between the various macro-regions and the individual countries, which in any case manage to support the doubts related


The hopes, fears and expectations of the world population: At the end of 2021, levels of hope and happiness around the world are affected by the pandemic and still have to deal with persistent fears of imminent economic difficulties. Despite this, there are significant differences between the various macro-regions and the individual countries, which in any case manage to support the doubts related to the economic situation alongside hope for a better future. These are some of the evidences that emerged from the End of Year survey - the historic survey conducted globally since 1979 by research institutes belonging to the Gallup International network, of which BVA Doxa is a part and is responsible for data collection in Italy. Made in more than 40 countries and based on over 40,000 interviews,research is a consolidated tradition all over the world, with his own

Hope and Happiness Index

and the tracking of the trend of

expectations on the economic situation

.


The situation in Italy


Almost half of Italians (48%) say that

next year will be very similar to 202

1, while the share of those who believe that 2022 will be worse than 2021 stands at 36%. Only a little more than one in ten Italians (14%) sees 2022 as a better year than the one that is about to end. Young people, graduates and citizens of the North-West are more optimistic looking to 2022, while the most pessimistic are those over 54 and residents of the North-East. In terms of expectations on the economic situation, the majority of Italians believe that

2022 will be characterized by difficulties

(46%) or from a situation equivalent to that already experienced in 2021 (41%). Again, one in ten Italians is convinced that 2022 will be a year of economic prosperity. Despite the picture dictated by the pandemic emergency, young people are also more positive about the possibility of overcoming economic difficulties. Although the pandemic is not leaving ample space for scenarios other than those experienced this year, it seems that

positive feelings

prevail among Italians

: 39%, in fact, say they are happy, against only 7% who declare themselves unhappy, while the majority they say neither happy nor unhappy (53%). Also in this case, young Italians, together with graduates and citizens of central Italy are the happiest people in our country.

The North-East, on the other hand, is confirmed as the area with the highest share of pessimists

.


Hope in the world


With 2021 nearing its end, there is hope all over the world for a better future, even if it does not reach the same levels as a few years ago.

In fact, 38% of the world population today thinks that 2022 will be better than 2021, 28% expect a worse year and 27% believe that 2022 will be the same as 2021

. The picture appears similar to what was seen at the end of 2020. As for the comparison with the recent past,

2008 is still the year in which there was the highest rate of pessimism towards the future globally

.


According to the Gallup International Association Hope Index, given by the difference between the "best" and "worst" responses given by citizens around the world to the question about expectations for the new year, the

top 5 of the optimistic countries are as follows: Indonesia (+72), Albania (+65), Azerbaijan (+53), Nigeria (+51), Mexico and Vietnam (both with a score of +47)

.


The top 5 of the least optimistic countries, on the other hand, see Turkey and Bulgaria in first place (both with a score of -34), followed by Afghanistan (- 32), Poland (-30) and the Czech Republic (-25). . Compared to an analysis relating to macro-regions and larger countries, the relationship between optimism and pessimism shows a relatively stable picture in recent years.

Europe, Russia and the Middle East tend to be more pessimistic, while the remaining Asian countries are more optimistic. Hope in the US, Germany, UK, Australia and India is down sharply from last year's survey, while in Japan, Mexico and South Korea it is growing.


Expectations on the economy in 2022


Expectations on the economy reveal some

concern around the world

, even if there is no growth compared to last year. Today 26% of people expect a period of economic prosperity for their country in 2022, 41% are prepared for economic difficulties and 26% believe that 2022 will be the same as 2021 in terms of economic situation. Europe as a whole says it is pessimistic, especially in the East, confirming once again this year a picture that has already emerged in recent years with the previous Gallup surveys. Developing macro-regions, on the other hand, are more optimistic. Finally, optimism at the national level is not only a question of economic well-being, but also of the age of the population and perception of future growth possibilities.


Happiness in the world


Despite the pandemic and economic difficulties,

personal happiness prevails again this year

. In terms of personal happiness, people all over the world say they are quite satisfied. 56% of the world population now considers themselves "quite happy or very happy", over a tenth say they are more or less unhappy, while almost a third say they are "neither happy nor unhappy". According to Gallup's Happiness Index, the top 5 countries with the happiest citizens are as follows: Colombia (+79), Kazakhstan (+76), Albania (+74), Malaysia (+73) and Azerbaijan (+70) . Conversely, the top 5 countries with the most unhappy citizens include: Ghana (+2), Afghanistan (+9), Hong Kong (+11), Iraq (+17) and Russia (+18). As has often happened in the past, Latin America, Africa and East Asia are among the happiest macro-regions in the world. Europe, the Middle East and Russia, on the other hand, are more unhappy. Finally, the United Statesthey total a score on average with the world data.


Kancho Stoychev, president of the Gallup International network, comments on the results of the End of Year survey: "Financial support from governments to their citizens and companies has played a positive role and, in a certain sense, has limited the spread of pessimism. mass in the world, without however stopping it. When the crisis started in March 2020, the majority of the world's population was convinced it would be over by the autumn. 2021, on the other hand, was characterized by the confidence that vaccines would be the solution to the problem.

In view of 2022, the perception is that we are rather in a situation in which it is not yet possible to hypothesize a clear end to the global emergency

. The massive inflow of money into the markets made inflation growth predictable which, although it has exceeded the 5% threshold in recent weeks, in many countries will still generate strong fears about the state of the economy. Furthermore, the concern about the economy is not so much that inflation will hit double-digit highs, but rather that it will last significantly longer than the usual few months. Together with the global logistics crisis and rising energy prices, the world population is now facing unprecedented challenges that will fuel political tensions, not only in less developed countries ”. Adds Vilma Scarpino, CEO of BVA Doxa "Despite the protracted pandemic, the Italians have not been discouraged and

we see positive signs

in some geographical areas as well as among young people, hoping that for the next year these trends will mark a clear change of pace ".

Source: ansa

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