The U.S. is still more trusting of the financial services industry than other developed economies, but the industry is only trusted by a majority of people in 9 markets, according to a new report.
Edelman, Chicago, published this finding in the 2012 Edelman Trust Barometer, the public relations firm’s 12 annual trust and credibility survey. The company polled 30,000-plus respondents in 25 countries, all college-educated individuals between the ages of 25 and 64 and who are in the top 25% of household income per age group in each country.
The survey discloses that 41% of U.S. respondents trust the financial services industry. This compares with 31% of Swedes, 29% of Brits, 20% of the French and just 16% of Spaniards.
The survey finds much higher levels of trust in the industry in less developed economies, including China (72%), Malaysia (67%), Indonesia (66%) and Singapore (64%).
Trust in financial services is higher than trust in business generally in 9 of 25 global markets. But, the survey reveals, the U.S. is more trusting of business (44%) than of financial services (41%).