Looking on the bright side all over the world

Despite the constant stream of 'bad news' stories in the media these days ranging from terrorism and climate change to swine flu and MPs' expenses the vast majority of people all over the world are optimistic. A joint study by the University of Kansas and Gallup surveyed more than 150,000 adults in over 140 countries. It found that 89% of people expected the next five years to be as good as, or better, than their current life and 95% of people expected their life in five years to be as good as, or better, than their life was five years ago. Optimism was highest in Brazil, Ireland, Denmark and New Zealand and lowest in Zimbabwe, Egypt, Haiti and Bulgaria.

You can find out more about this research at

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090524122539.htm