A new survey of more than 14,000 respondents in 10 countries, including Australia and across Europe and North America, reveals positive opinion on policies that can deliver for both the environment and the economy. Though the poll did not include specific national programs, the results suggest international support for policies similar to those that have formed the core of the Biden administration’s agenda—such as the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
The survey, which was developed by Global Progress Action* and YouGov, a leading international internet-based market research firm, polled respondents in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Canada, Sweden, Poland, the Netherlands, and Australia. The poll explored public opinion on a variety of policies related to security, the environment, and the economy—with a focus on inflation and taxation.
Overall, respondents said they believe that it is more important for governments to invest in jobs in the carbon-free and green technology industries than it is to cut taxes, with even more believing that job creation should be prioritized in these investments. Forty percent of respondents across all 10 countries reported believing that the government should borrow to support these investments—with 51 percent of respondents in Spain supporting this approach. Fewer than 1 in 3 people supported stopping green taxes.
While 63 percent of respondents did not favor an increase in taxation to support public services, many still supported continued government investments in health (59 percent), education (47 percent), elderly care (54 percent), and pensions (49 percent), known as Social Security in the United States.
Inflation—identified in polling from 2022 as a key concern—remained a top priority across all countries. Three in 5 individuals said they believe that reducing inflation and the cost of living should be the government’s “main” priority, while raising wages was a secondary priority, at only 11 percent. People also saw inflation as the more urgent priority: Respondents said they believe controlling inflation is more important than reducing unemployment, ensuring salaries kept up with cost of living, or maintaining low interest rates.
Finally, the survey revealed broad support for immigration policies that would more quickly integrate migrants into the economy. Sixty percent of respondents supported pathways to legal work for migrants, with broad support for migrants looking to enter a country for work, study, or investment.
The multination survey was designed and written by Global Progress Action and YouGov and carried out online by YouGov in August and September 2023. Results are nationally representative for each of the 10 countries. Surveys were launched in both English and languages local to each country.
A full slide deck presentation of the major findings—produced by Hans Anker, Marcus Roberts, Amy Dacey, and Johan Hassel for the Global Progress Action Summit in Montreal on September 15–16, 2023, hosted by the Center for American Progress Action Fund and Canada 2020—can be viewed here.
* Global Progress Action is an initiative of the Center for American Progress Action Fund.