蓋洛普民意：53%美民眾認為中國是世界領先的經濟強國

　　據蓋洛普國際調研組織網站2月10日消息，該網站發起的一向面對美國公民的調查顯示，有53％的美國人認為中國是「世界領先的經濟強國」，而選擇美國和日本的美國人比例分別為33％和7％。

　　蓋洛普公司2月2日至5日對全美50個州逾千名18歲以上成年人進行了電話調查，在回答美國、歐盟、俄羅斯、中國、日本、印度哪一個是當今世界領先經濟強國或共同體的提問時，53％的美國人選擇中國，3％選擇歐盟，選擇印度和俄羅斯的人分別佔2％和1％。

　　該報告指出，在此次調查中，中國以較為明顯的優勢領先。在2000年進行的一項同類調查中，65％的美國人認為美國是世界領先的經濟強國，屬於壓倒性多數。當時日本位居第二（16％），中國在第三位（10％）。

　　報告分析稱，當前美國經濟的每況愈下和中國經濟的不斷擴張，可能是美國民眾態度發生劇變的根本原因。不過仍有共計14%的民眾認為世界領先經濟強國既非中國也非美國。

　　該調查還顯示，46%的受訪美國民眾認為未來20年內，中國仍將在經濟領域居於世界領先地位，而認為20年內美國將位居首位的民眾佔到38%。2000年的同類調查當中，認為美國在未來20年內在經濟領域領跑的人佔55%，而相信中國將崛起為世界第一經濟大國的人只有15%。

　　此外，從年齡分佈來看，越年老的受訪者越傾向於相信美國是世界領先經濟強國，而多數18至29歲的年輕人則傾向於選擇中國，不同年齡段的受訪者對未來20年的展望亦符合這個規律。從政治傾向上來看，支持共和黨與民主黨的人投票結果大同小異，但是有54%中立人士認為中國將在20年內在經濟領域領先，這一比例遠高於共和黨與民主黨的支持者。

來源：參考信息網 2012-02-12

February 10, 2012
Americans Still View China as World's Leading Economic Power

Expect China to be leading power in the future

by Jeffrey M. Jones

PRINCETON, NJ -- Americans believe China is the leading economic power in the world today, by a significant margin over the United States. This is the second consecutive year the majority of Americans have viewed China as economically dominant; previously, China held a smaller lead. By contrast, in 2000, Americans overwhelmingly believed the U.S. was the leading economic power.


The U.S. economic downturn and the continued expansion of the Chinese economy are the likely factors behind Americans' belief that China is the world's top economic power.

Still, the vast majority of Americans name either the U.S. or China as the world's leading economic power. Relatively few Americans regard Japan (7%), the European Union (3%), India (2%), or Russia (less than 1%) in those terms. Japan has ranked third in recent years, but finished ahead of China in 2000.

China Also Viewed as Likely Power in the Future

Looking ahead, Americans still expect China to be the leading economic power in 20 years, but by a slightly smaller margin over the United States, 46% to 38%. These opinions, though similar to last year's, have shifted in the past. In 2000, when the U.S. economy was strong, and in 2009, shortly after Barack Obama took office, more Americans believed the U.S. rather than China would be the top economic power in the future. In 2008, just as the recession was beginning, and in the last two years as the economy has continued to stagnate, a plurality of Americans have thought China would be the top power in the future.


Seniors View U.S. as Leading Economic Power

At least a plurality of Americans in all key subgroups believe China is the leading economic power today, with one notable exception -- senior citizens. Among Americans aged 65 and older, 50% say the United States is the leading economic power and 41% say China. Americans under 50 are particularly likely to believe China is the leading economic power.


Seniors, as well as those aged 50 and older, are also less inclined than younger Americans to believe China will be the leading economic power in the future.


Democrats, independents, and Republicans hold similar views as to which country is the leading economic power today. However, they differ with respect to the future -- independents believe China will be the leading power, while Democrats and Republicans are divided as to whether China or the United States will be.


Implications

Officially, the United States still has a larger economy, based on gross domestic product, than China. However, if China sustains its current economic growth rate, it will surpass the United States' economy as the largest in the coming decades.

Americans clearly acknowledge the growing influence China has on the world economy, and believe it is already the leading economic power in the world. That view likely has been affected by the economic downturn in the United States in recent years, which means opinions could change if the U.S. economy starts to recover.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/152600/Americans-View-China-World-Leading-Economic-Power.aspx