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• February 2012
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home > news > International surveys > Worldwide Barometer of the Financial Crisis - April 2009

Worldwide Barometer of the Financial Crisis - April 2009

WIN conducted the second wave of the WIN Crisis Index interviewing 20,325 respondents in 25 countries from mid February to the end of March. The objective of the survey is to evaluate the respondents’ perception of the financial crisis in their countries.

• The global perception on the economic situation has plateaued.
• Even though optimism has increased in 10 of the 25 surveyed countries, economic prospects still remain negative in 20 of the 25 surveyed countries.
• Economic perspectives in the BRIC and Arab countries remain more positive than in the G8 countries.
• Level of trust in the governments’ ability to manage the financial situation, and in the stability and solidity of the banks and stock market has decreased.
• The clothing/footwear/accessories, entertainment/restaurant/cinema, major household purchases, holiday/travel and grocery expenses are the sectors mostly affected by the economic crisis.

Our conclusion

The impact of the economic crisis on the perceptions and behaviors of populations
The survey results show that there are four distinct groups of countries according to the perceptions of their population towards economic perspectives and buying behaviors.

• Stronger Economy: Populations of  Brazil, China, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are the ones who are less affected by the economic crisis, they have an above average outlook of the economic future of their country and have not significantly reduced their spending.  Citizens from these countries tolerate the current economic crisis.

• Weakening Economy: Populations of India and Russia economic perceptions are above average but have reduced their personal spending in stronger proportion than the world average. Consequently, the economy remains fragile in the short term.

• Declining Economy: Populations of Austria, Canada, Germany, and Switzerland have a below average outlook on their economy but have not yet significantly reduced their personal spending. Negative perspectives should, at least in the short term, motivate them to reduce their spending.  They will remain in a negative economic cycle longer.

• Failing Economy: Populations of  Argentina, Australia, France, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States of America are those who suffer the most from the economic crisis.  Economic perspectives are below average and they have already drastically reduced their personal spending in comparison with the national average.  They will probably take longer to recover.

Memo
The WIN Crisis Index is conducted every 3 months. The countries of the G8: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, included in the 25 countries surveyed, are also included in each table. The same has been done for the countries known as BRIC: Brazil, Russia, India and China.