Indians most optimistic about future: AXA survey

Indians are the most optimistic about their future life, according to a recent global survey by AXA Asia-Life - a part of the AXA Asia Pacific Holdings.

The survey found that about 87.2% Indians are optimistic about their life for the next five years.

AXA's Life Outlook Index survey covered India, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, and showed that the most optimistic people after Indians were the Filipinos who polled 85%.

"India and the Philippines stand out as the most satisfied markets while the more developed markets of Hong Kong and Singapore show the least current satisfaction," the report said.

According to the study, job security and opportunity to use one's skills in the next five years have the greatest impact on career outlook. Also, India and China attribute optimism mainly to job security, prospects and work-life-balance; but China also attributes it highly to the opportunity to use one's skills and ability.

Interestingly, Singaporeans were the least optimistic about their future life (59.2%).

The survey, which covered 2,400 respondents from the eight countries, focussed on the mass affluent population aged between 25-50 years in each market. It was conducted through online and face-to-face interviews in August 2007.

"Most mass affluent Asians are not willing to sacrifice their existing living standards for an earlier retirement with the exception of India and the Philippines where the need for some trade-off is more readily accepted," the report said.

Even though Indians are optimistic are about providing their children with the best education over the next five years, about 76% Indians are concerned about the rising cost of education.