According to the German Marshall Fund of the United States, in
all six countries it surveyed in 2005 and 2006, people's views on
globalization are more favourable compared to last year. Majorities
in each country favour foreign companies investing in their
markets. Most people in Europe also support lowering tariffs and
other trade barriers.
So far so good. But 55% of people questioned in France and 31%
in the United States do not favour freer trade, because of fears
over job losses and competition.
Perspectives on Trade and Poverty Reduction, a survey
of transatlantic public opinion now in its third year, shows that
most Americans and Europeans appreciate the economic benefits of
free trade and believe it contributes to democracy, global
stability and prosperity.
But when asked about the impact of freer trade on jobs and
businesses, many remain anxious about import dependency, and most
are concerned about competing against China's growing economic
power.
Skills gap is a worry
When it comes to meeting the competitive challenge, the vast
majority (94%) of Americans and Europeans believes that investing
in education, job training and technology comes before pro-business
tax and regulation reforms (74%), trade and foreign direct
investment promotion (64% and 70%), or making it easier to hire and
fire workers (49%).
Aid for trade is a win-win
Three out of four surveyed are keen to promote trade with poor
countries, a level of approval that is in line with transatlantic
support for development assistance. Just as many believe "aid for
trade" - aid that helps poor countries benefit from international
commerce - will benefit their own economies.
The German Marshall Fund used computer-assisted telephone
interviews to conduct the survey, except in Poland and Slovakia. It
interviewed a random sample of approximately 1,000 people, 18 years
of age and older, in each country, between 5 and 25 September
2006.
The German Marshall Fund of the
United States is an American non-partisan public policy
and grant-making institution dedicated to promoting greater
cooperation and understanding between the United States and
Europe.
All references to Europe refer to France, Germany, Italy,
Poland, Slovakia and the United Kingdom. Slovakia was new in the
survey in 2006.
Surveys like this one are in scarce supply, especially in
developing countries. There is little information available about
how people view trade, particularly comparing attitudes between
countries and regions.
We've highlighted findings we think will be of interest to
Trade Forum readers: aid for trade,
competitiveness and the link between trade and democracy.
This article and the charts opposite draw from the survey's
Key Findings Report 2006. For the full report, see http://www.gmfus.org/doc/GMF_TradeSurvey%202006.pdf