In India and China, 81 percent and 96 percent of respondents respectively, say their country is headed in the right direction, compared with 47 percent of Americans and Germans, 37 percent of British, and 31 percent of French.

In another marked contrast to the West, nearly seven out of 10 respondents in India and China rate the reputation of large multinational corporations as good or excellent, compared with 30 percent of Americans, 29 percent of Germans, 24 percent of French, and 13 percent of British.

In India and China, banks are the No. 2 most trusted industry. In the US, trust in every industry experienced double-digit growth, except technology, which was already high but climbed another eight points, from 72 percent to 80 percent.

The survey, conducted from May 26 through July 3, was based on telephone surveys of 1,675 adults aged 25 to 64 in six countries. Respondents were screened to be college educated, have a household income in the top quartile for their country and to follow the news.

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)