Economic fear is creating record levels of polarization around the globe, particularly in developed nations with slow-growth economies, like Spain and Japan, according to Edelman's latest annual Trust Barometer survey.
In 24 of the 28 countries surveyed, confidence in the economy has plummeted to all-time lows, per the study. Only respondents in China believe that they and their families will be better off in five years.
Six countries globally — U.S., Colombia, South Africa, Argentina, Spain and Sweden — are considered severely polarized, according to the data. Levels of polarization and economic distrust are lower in authoritarian regimes like UAE and Saudi Arabia, in part due to more economic optimism in those countries.Polarization, by Edelman's definition, occurs as a result of several factors, including economic pessimism, distrust in media and government, systemic inequality and a lack of shared identity.