US and Europe more skeptical about globalization than Asia: poll

People in Western countries also believe less in social mobility.

The poll pointed to a general divide between more optimistic Asian countries and more pessimistic Western countries, which were less likely to support globalization | Robert Laberge/Getty Images

People in Western countries are less likely to support international cooperation and believe in social mobility than those in Asian countries, according to a poll published by the World Economic Forum ahead of its annual meeting in Davos.

Just 54 percent of Germans said their country “has a responsibility to help other countries in the world,” according to the poll of people in 29 countries.

They were followed by Americans (57 percent), Argentines (58 percent), Brits and French (both 60 percent).

In contrast, 95 percent of Indians, and 94 percent of Pakistanis and Indonesians said their country should help other countries in the world.

While the number of people surveyed by country was small, meaning there is a higher margin of error when comparing individual countries, the poll pointed to a general divide between more optimistic Asian countries and more pessimistic Western countries, which are less likely to support globalization.

Less than a third of Americans and Europeans said it is “extremely important that countries work together towards a common goal,” compared to 50 percent of South Asians.

People in Western countries are also less likely to support migration and more skeptical than developing countries about whether it is good for them when leaders from different countries worked together.

The poll found that 21 percent of Western Europeans and 33 percent of North Americans believe that it is common or “somewhat common” for hard-working people to start poor and become rich — in contrast to people in countries of the Middle East and North Africa, where 51 percent believed in social mobility, and South Asia, where 64 percent said self-made individuals are common.

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