Survey: Information and political leanings shape opinions about global poverty reduction
The results of the second survey of the ETH Swiss Panel Global Cooperation 2022 are out. Over 3,000 Swiss residents shared their views on Swiss policies regarding global poverty, migration, and climate change.
Most Swiss residents feel well-informed about global inequality, but almost half of the population desires more information. Updating knowledge about global inequalities can shift attitudes towards global cooperation. For example, 49% of respondents say spending on foreign aid should increase. However, most respondents overestimate the current level of Swiss spending; when informed about the actual expenditure of about 450 CHF per person, 65% of respondents are in favour of strengthening international cooperation.
In general, opinions on Switzerland's role in combatting global inequality are divided. Yet, the survey shows that often mentioned socio-economic factors, such as age, wealth, gender, migration background and the recently much-debated urban-rural divide do not play a significant role in forming people’s opinions. Political leaning, informed by values about how societies should live together, is the only factor significantly correlated with people's position on global challenges and how policies should address them.
To the reports and data of the Swiss Panel Global Cooperation 2022