Recent research and publications on public opinion

Survation: First UK Poll On Regional Public Sector Pay. Finds 28% think the proposal is fair while 56% say it is unfair (30^th 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” (29^th 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. (28^th 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 (30^th 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 (25^th 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).