By Berta Gomez
Washington File Staff Writer

New York City -- A new survey of 25,000 people in 25 countries indicates that a majority support economic globalization, although a significant number worry that globalization may harm the environment, cause job losses and widen the gap between rich and poor countries.

The poll also found a wellspring of support for foreign aid to developing countries -- even among populations that have traditionally viewed official assistance programs with skepticism. Asked if they would be willing to pay an additional 1 percent in taxes to help the world's poor, 63 percent of those surveyed in the United States, 92 percent in Italy, 84 percent in Venezuela, 60 percent in China and 88 percent in Qatar either "agreed" or "somewhat agreed" with the proposition.

The poll was sponsored by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in conjunction with Toronto-based Environics International, and released during the WEF's annual gathering, held this year from January 31 to February 4 in New York. The interviews were conducted from October to December 2001 in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Russia, Qatar, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, United States, and Venezuela.

"Both sides of the globalization debate will find things to welcome and to be concerned about in these research results," WEF Communications Director Charles McLean told reporters February 1.

Majorities in 19 of the 25 countries surveyed said they expected more globalization to be good for themselves and their families. The country showing the most support was the Netherlands, where 87 percent of respondents expressed pro-globalization views, followed by Venezuela (82 percent), India (79 percent) and Qatar (78 percent). In Argentina and Turkey -- both of which have experienced serious financial turmoil -- respondents registered the most negative views of globalization.

Forty-eight percent of Argentines and 61 percent of Turks surveyed said they expected globalization to have a detrimental effect on their lives.

Overall, of the 25,000 people interviewed, six in ten saw globalization as positive for themselves while one in five saw it as negative, the WEF said.

At the same time, even respondents who generally approve of globalization believe that it will have negative effects in certain areas. A majority of people in ten countries -- including in much of Europe -- believe more globalization will exacerbate environmental degradation.

About half of those surveyed said that the benefits of globalization are unequally spread. Interestingly, this view is most prevalent in rich countries, where six in ten people said they did not agree with the statement that globalization "benefits poor countries as much as rich countries." In the lower-income countries surveyed, a majority of respondents told interviewers that poor countries benefit equally.

According to McLean, the results overall show the public's "growing appreciation" and high expectations for globalization, but he warned political leaders that citizens' views of globalization are volatile, and could change if these expectations are not met.

Environics International President Douglas Miller urged leaders to capitalize on the apparent shift in public opinion following the terrorist attacks against the United States.

"In this post-11 September world, citizens in the richest countries feel new urgency to ensure that those in the poorest countries gain some tangible advantage from globalization," he said. "Society may be at an historic moment when the importance of addressing global poverty is matched by the self-interest, the willingness and the capacity to do so."

Richard Samans, director of global issues for the WEF, said the public "is still coming to judgment on important aspects of globalization" and said governments and international organizations should use upcoming conferences in Monterrey, Mexico, and Johannesburg, South Africa, to tackle issues such as poverty, job growth and environmental protection. "Major commitments in these areas will be needed to solidify public support for global integration," he said.