There is a widespread increase in optimism – in comparison with a survey carried out four months ago – about the recovery of global economy, particularly in the United States and the BRIC countries, i.e. Brazil, Russia, India and China.
For the survey, a total of 11,000 businessmen in the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Austria, the Netherlands, Greece, the Czech Republic, Poland, Brazil, Russia, India and China talked about their perspectives for the fields of industry and services in the coming 12 months.
Brazil was the most optimistic in the two segments, according to data disclosed by KPMG.
The survey showed an increase in optimism in the 17 countries surveyed regarding economic activity in the industrial sector. As for the services sector, only 12 countries were surveyed – Austria, the Netherlands, Greece, the Czech Republic and Poland were not included – and overall, there was a slight decline in optimism.
Optimism in Brazil, according to KPMG, may be ascribed to a strong domestic and foreign demand for products and services.
The United States recorded the second highest rate of optimism among businessmen, higher than the BRICs.
According to KPMG’s director general, the survey indicates that the global crisis may have been overcome, but indicates different levels of recovery.
According to him, at the top level are the BRICs, confident and concerned solely with inflation and foreign issues that they have no control over.
In second come the United States and stronger European economies, with cautious optimism and doubts concerning recovery after the end of stimulus packages.
On the third level are other countries, such as Greece. In the latter, businessmen have no confidence, because these nations are at a more delicate stage of recovery.