Perception of inequalities

for
Perception of inequalities
Comparison of views in 12 countries
Ifop contact :
Jérôme Fourquet
Directeur adjoint
Département Opinion et Stratégies d’Entreprise
Tel : 01 45 84 14 44
April 2010
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Methodology
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Structure
Survey carried out by Ifop for :
Sample :
La Fondation Jean Jaurès
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France
603
Great-Britain
607
Germany
600
Spain
600
Italy
604
USA
602
Brazil
601*
Netherlands
599
China
594*
Switzerland
589
Australia
603
Poland
601
Target : aged 18 and over
Total number of interviews: 7203
Samples representative of population
aged 18 and over residing in each
country*
Sample representativity ensured by
quota method (sex, age, socioprofessional category/income bracket)
after regional stratification.
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Interview method :
Interviews conducted using online CAWI (Computer Assisted Web Interviewing) self-completion
questionnaire.
Field dates :
April 2nd to 6th, 2010.
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Findings
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Only in Australia, the USA, and the Netherlands does a majority of the population consider society to
be fair. By contrast, the French appear at the opposite end of the scale, with almost three-quarters
believing they live in an unfair society, a score similar to that in China.
Question :
Today, would you say that our society is a very fair society, a reasonably fair society, a rather unfair society
or a very unfair society?
65%
35%
54%
46%
54%
46%
56%
44%
36%
29%
64%
71%
71%
29%
72%
28%
27%
73%
79%
21%
16%
84%
5
A split is apparent between a Europe with a majority perceiving an increase in inequalities
and on the other hand Anglo-Saxon countries and countries having experienced strong
economic growth, where perceptions are more evenly balanced.
Question : Overall, in the last 10 years, would you say that inequalities in your country…?
6
Inequalities of pay are unanimously considered the unfairest of all. In second place come
inequalities of access to health care, which in Australia and in Brazil
prevail over the question of pay
Question :
And more particularly in your country, among the following inequalities, which 2 do you think are the most
unfair?
N
123
F
R
A
N
C
E
G
E
R
M
A
N
Y
…of pay
69
56
…of access to housing
39
…of access to health care
G
R
E
A
T
N
E
T
H
E
R
L
A
N
D
S
S
W
I
T
Z
E
R
L
A
N
D
B
R
A
Z
I
L
S
P
A
I
N
P
O
L
A
N
D
I
T
A
L
Y
48
66
83
56
55
69
44
4
31
40
14
16
16
17
29
40
28
9
45
28
23
…between nationals and
immigrants
16
16
44
28
5
33
…of access to education
16
22
16
13
8
…in property
15
30
12
19
25
#$!
Inequalities …
B
R
I
T
A
I
N
A
U
S
T
R
A
L
I
A
C
H
I
N
A
U
S
A
36
53
41
29
28
26
12
19
55
44
15
40
34
26
2
33
5
22
14
10
13
40
22
17
21
29
23
27
11
14
51
31
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Summary of inequalities seen as the most unfair
Question :
And more particularly in your country, among the following inequalities, which 2 do you think are the most
unfair?
Inequalities of pay
Inequalities of access to health care
Inequalities in property
Chine
Etats-Unis
Allemagne
Italie
Suisse
Pologne
Pays Bas
Espagne
France
Australie
Grande Bretagne
Brésil
Inequalities of access to housing
Espagne
France
Grande Bretagne
Brésil
Australie
Chine
Suisse
Italie
Pays Bas
Pologne
Etats-Unis
Allemagne
40%
39%
31%
29%
28%
26%
17%
16%
16%
14%
12%
4%
Inequalities between nationals and
immigrants
Grande Bretagne
Pays Bas
Italie
Australie
Espagne
Suisse
Etats-Unis
France
Allemagne
Pologne
Chine
Brésil
44%
34%
33%
33%
28%
26%
22%
16%
16%
5%
5%
2%
51%
31%
30%
29%
27%
25%
23%
19%
15%
14%
12%
11%
Inequalities of access to education
Brésil
Allemagne
Australie
Etats-Unis
Chine
France
Grande Bretagne
Italie
Espagne
Suisse
Pays Bas
Pologne
40%
22%
22%
21%
17%
16%
16%
14%
13%
13%
10%
8%
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Disillusion over any real possibility of fighting against social inequalities is expressed by a
minority only, except in countries marked by communism. France is situated mid table.
Question : Which of these two statements do you feel most closely reflects your sentiments?
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France, with its tradition of Colbertism, adopts an unfavourable view of globalisation, unlike the USA, with
its tradition of liberalism, and developing countries such as Brazil or Poland for whom globalisation
represents an opportunity to catch up economically
Question : Do you personally think that globalization and the development of economic exchanges contribute more to8889:
10