Datastream
How People Around the World Feel About Their Economic Prospects
The Briefing
- Economic prospects are at an all-time low in nine countries, including the U.S., Canada, Germany, Japan, and China
- China and the U.S. experienced the biggest year-over-year drops, at -8 p.p. and -6 p.p., respectively
How Countries Feel About Their Economic Prospects
Each year, the Edelman Trust Barometer report helps gauge the level of trust people place in various systems of power.
The report is also a useful tool to gauge the general mood in countries around the world—and when it comes to how people in developed economies feel about the near future, there’s a very clear answer: pessimistic. In fact, optimism about respondents’ economic prospects fell in the majority of countries surveyed.
Here’s a full look how many respondents in 28 countries feel they and their families will be doing better over the next five years. Or, put more simply, what percentage of people are optimistic about their economic circumstances?
Country | % who are optimistic | All-time low? | Change from 2021 (p.p.) |
---|---|---|---|
🇯🇵 Japan | 15% | ✅ | -1 |
🇫🇷 France | 18% | ✅ | -1 |
🇩🇪 Germany | 22% | ✅ | -2 |
🇮🇹 Italy | 27% | ✅ | 0 |
🇳🇱 Netherlands | 29% | ✅ | -1 |
🇬🇧 UK | 30% | +2 | |
🇷🇺 Russia | 31% | +1 | |
🇨🇦 Canada | 34% | ✅ | -1 |
🇪🇸 Spain | 36% | +1 | |
🇰🇷 South Korea | 39% | +6 | |
🇺🇸 U.S. | 40% | ✅ | -6 |
🇦🇺 Australia | 41% | -2 | |
🇮🇪 Ireland | 42% | -1 | |
🇸🇬 Singapore | 43% | -1 | |
🌐 Global | 51% | 0 | |
🇲🇾 Malaysia | 55% | ✅ | 0 |
🇦🇷 Argentina | 60% | -2 | |
🇹🇭 Thailand | 60% | -2 | |
🇨🇳 China | 64% | ✅ | -8 |
🇿🇦 South Africa | 66% | -2 | |
🇲🇽 Mexico | 68% | -1 | |
🇧🇷 Brazil | 73% | 0 | |
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 73% | 0 | |
🇦🇪 UAE | 78% | +6 | |
🇮🇳 India | 80% | 0 | |
🇮🇩 Indonesia | 81% | +11 | |
🇨🇴 Colombia | 83% | -1 | |
🇳🇬 Nigeria | 87% | n/a | |
🇰🇪 Kenya | 91% | -2 |
Interestingly, nine countries (those with checkmarks above) are polling at all-time lows for economic optimism in survey history.
Whose Glass is Half Empty?
Japanese respondents were the most pessimistic, with only 15% seeing positive economic prospects in the near term. Only 18% of French respondents were economically optimistic.
While most developed economies were slightly more optimistic than Japan and France, all are still well below the global average.
As tensions between China and the U.S. continue to heat up in 2022, there is one thing that can unite citizens in the two countries—a general feeling that economic prospects are souring. As the U.S. heads into midterm elections and China’s 20th National Party Congress takes place, leaders in both countries will surely have the economy on their minds.
Whose Glass is Half Full?
Of course, the mood isn’t all doom and gloom everywhere. The United Arab Emirates saw a 6 percentage point (p.p.) jump in their population’s economic prospects.
Indonesia saw an 11 p.p. increase, and in big developing economies like Brazil and India, the general level of optimism is still quite high.
In some ways, it’s no surprise that people in developing economies are more optimistic about their economic prospects. Living standards are generally rising in many of these countries, and more opportunities open up as the economy grows. Even in the most pessimistic African country surveyed, South Africa, the majority of people still see improving circumstances in their near future. In Kenya and Nigeria, an overwhelming majority are optimistic.
Diverging Outcomes
One major prediction that experts agreed on for the year ahead is that economic outcomes will begin to diverge between countries with differing levels of vaccine access.
While this doesn’t seem to have affected attitudes towards economic optimism yet, it remains to be seen how this will play out as the year progresses.
Source: 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer
Data notes: This data is derived from Edelman’s annual Trust Barometer survey, which includes 30,000+ respondents in countries around the world.
Datastream
Can You Calculate Your Daily Carbon Footprint?
Discover how the average person’s carbon footprint impacts the environment and learn how carbon credits can offset your carbon footprint.

The Briefing
- A person’s carbon footprint is substantial, with activities such as food consumption creating as much as 4,500 g of CO₂ emissions daily.
- By purchasing carbon credits from Carbon Streaming Corporation, you can offset your own emissions and fund positive climate action.
Your Everyday Carbon Footprint
While many large businesses and countries have committed to net-zero goals, it is essential to acknowledge that your everyday activities also contribute to global emissions.
In this graphic, sponsored by Carbon Streaming Corporation, we will explore how the choices we make and the products we use have a profound impact on our carbon footprint.
Carbon Emissions by Activity
Here are some of the daily activities and products of the average person and their carbon footprint, according to Clever Carbon.
Household Activities & Products | CO2 Emissions (g) |
---|---|
💡 Standard Light Bulb (100 watts, four hours) | 172 g |
📱 Mobile Phone Use (195 minutes per day)* | 189 g |
👕 Washing Machine (0.63 kWh) | 275 g |
🔥 Electric Oven (1.56 kWh) | 675 g |
♨️ Tumble Dryer (2.5 kWh) | 1,000 g |
🧻 Toilet Roll (2 ply) | 1,300 g |
🚿 Hot Shower (10 mins) | 2,000 g |
🚙 Daily Commute (one hour, by car) | 3,360 g |
🍽️ Average Daily Food Consumption (three meals of 600 calories) | 4,500 g |
*Phone use based on yearly use of 69kg per the source, Reboxed |
Your choice of transportation plays a crucial role in determining your carbon footprint. For instance, a 15 km daily commute to work on public transport generates an average of 1,464 g of CO₂ emissions. Compared to 3,360 g—twice the volume for a journey the same length by car.
By opting for more sustainable modes of transport, such as cycling, walking, or public transportation, you can significantly reduce your carbon footprint.
Addressing Your Carbon Footprint
One way to compensate for your emissions is by purchasing high-quality carbon credits.
Carbon credits are used to help fund projects that avoid, reduce or remove CO₂ emissions. This includes nature-based solutions such as reforestation and improved forest management, or technology-based solutions such as the production of biochar and carbon capture and storage (CCS).
While carbon credits offer a potential solution for individuals to help reduce global emissions, public awareness remains a significant challenge. A BCG-Patch survey revealed that only 34% of U.S. consumers are familiar with carbon credits, and only 3% have purchased them in the past.
About Carbon Streaming
By financing the creation or expansion of carbon projects, Carbon Streaming Corporation secures the rights to future carbon credits generated by these sustainable projects. You can then purchase these carbon credits to help fund climate solutions around the world and compensate for your own emissions.
Ready to get involved?
>> Learn more about purchasing carbon credits at Carbon Streaming
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