Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Many argue that the political influence of the rich is the deciding factor
This press release has been translated into Italian from English, the original language of the editorial team.
A new survey by the Pew Research Center conducted in 36 countries, released today, finds widespread public concern about economic inequality. When asked what leads to these inequalities, most people in the surveyed countries state intersection of wealth and politics.
- A median of 54% of adults in the countries surveyed say so the gap between the rich and the poor it is a a very big problem in your own country; the median of 30% says that a moderately big problem.
- A median of 60% believe it excessive political influence of the rich to contribute largely generate economic inequalities. Of the six factors examined, this is the one most supported by respondents, ranking at the top of the list in 31 of the 36 countries surveyed.
Our research also revealed deep concern around the world about the future of the economy and a strong desire for economic reform.
- A median of 57% of adults surveyed expect this the children of their own country, when they grow up, will be worse off than their parents from an economic point of viewwhile a median of 34% say they will get better. In 15 of the 31 countries for which trends are available, the share of the public who think children will be economically worse off than their parents is higher today than in pre-pandemic polls.
- In the countries where the research was conducted, there is broad support for modification of the economic system. In all but three countries (Singapore, the Netherlands and Sweden), most people say their economic system should profound changes (median 52%) or one complete reform (median 20%).
Of the European countries surveyed, Italian adults are the most likely to say that the presence of some people who work harder than others, combined with the presence of some people who were born with greater opportunities, contributes greatly to economic inequality in the country. The majority states that this is the case in all measures. Around eight in ten Italians (79%) also believe that today’s children will experience a worse economic situation than their parents in the future.
Additional key findings from the report:
Factors believed to contribute to economic inequality
- Most people in almost all surveyed countries believe that all six examined factors at least partially cause economic inequalities. However, there are differences in whether each contributes significantly to this.
- A median of 48% of adults say there are problems in their country’s education system they largely contribute to economic inequalities. Of all the countries surveyed, Sri Lanka and Turkey are the only two countries where this is seen as the biggest deciding factor.
- About four in ten respondents said that some people are born with more opportunities than others (40%), and some people work harder than others (39%). they are factors that greatly contribute to economic inequalities.
- Smaller numbers point to the impact of robots and computers doing work previously done by humans (31%) or discrimination against racial or ethnic minorities (29%).
- Brazilians are more likely to believe that racial or ethnic discrimination is one of the main factors that determine economic inequality: 64% say so, the highest percentage of any country surveyed.
Perceptions of inequality and discrimination at the global level
- In our survey, we asked respondents the scale of the problem of various types of inequality in their countryincluding the gap between rich and poor (median of 54% consider it a problem very seriously), discrimination based on a person’s race or ethnicity (34%), unequal rights between men and women (31%) and discrimination based on religion (29%). Many respondents in the countries covered by the research consider them to be moderately serious problems.
- Many people see them as problems Very seriously in your country. In 35 out of 36 countries, more respondents say this about the gap between rich and poor than about any other issue.
- In general, there is less concern about religious discrimination than about the other issues examined. However, in five countries (Bangladesh, France, India, Nigeria and Sri Lanka), half or more of the people surveyed believe that religious discrimination is a very serious problem.
- People from middle-income countries are more likely than people from high-income countries to view all forms of inequality as a serious problem.
(consultedAppendix A for the classification of middle-income countries and high-income countries.)
Below are key findings from a new Pew Research Center survey that was conducted between January 5 and May 22, 2024, and included 45,103 adults.
Read the full report (in English): https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/01/09/economic-inequality-seen-as-major-challenge-around-the-world/
READ ALSO: Economic evaluations in 34 countries are more negative than positive
Methodology: https://www.pewresearch.org/2025/01/09/methodology-inequality/
Key research findings: https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2025/01/pg_2025.01.09_inequality_topline.pdf
