Public Opinion
Recent research and publications on public opinion
Joint Public Issues: The Lies We Tell Ourselves – ending comfortable myths about poverty Finds 13 million people, including 3.6 million children, are living in poverty in the UK (1st March).
Survation: Living Wage Poll shows 60% of the public support compulsory, universal Living Wage if it costs jobs. Working class voters were most likely to support this. (22nd February)
British Future: The State of the Nation survey ranked income inequality as the UK’s third most divisive issue. (13th January 2013)
Department for Work and Pensions: Charted public views on child poverty. (February 2013)
Grant Thornton: Survey by accounting firm says two thirds of bosses think senior executives are paid too much (20th August 2012)
Washington Post-ABC News. Poll showing the majority of Americans say unfairness in the economic system is a bigger problem than over-regulation of the free market (10th April 2012)
Survation: First UK Poll On Regional Public Sector Pay. Finds 28% think the proposal is fair while 56% say it is unfair (30th March 2012).
BIS: The Kay Review of UK Equity Markets and Long-Term Decision Making, Interim Report. Finds 83% of personal shareholders said “too much emphasis is placed on performance related pay” (29th February 2012)
ComRes: Political poll for the Independent. Shows a majority of people want George Osborne to increase taxes for the rich in next month’s Budget so he can take more low-paid workers out of tax. (28th February 2012)
ICM/ High Pay Centre: Executive pay survey. Public opinion poll finding that 70% are in favour of “binding powers” from shareholders to be able to block pay packages to top executives, and only 1% believe that senior bosses were worth the £4 million that they are earning (30th January 2012)
Bloomberg: Bloomberg Global Poll. Interviews with investors find most think income inequality hinders economic growth and 70% say it risks widespread social unrest (25th January 2012)
National Centre for Social Research: British Social Attitudes 28. Shows that, in 2010, 74% of people in England thought income inequality was too high (but most are sceptical about redistribution). Also finds that private education perpetuates a form of “social apartheid”, giving rise to a political class drawn from a “segregated elite” (7th December 2011).
European Commission. Special Eurobarometer – Social Climate. Finds the majority of Europeans say the way inequalities and poverty are addressed, is bad (January 2010).