Why Is Australian Optimism the Bottom of LG's Global Optimism Survey?
Why Is Australian Optimism at the Bottom of LG's Global Optimism Survey?
By Victor Perton
The latest LG Global Optimism Survey, conducted across 16 markets, asks a crucial question: How optimistic are people worldwide about their future?
In answering, Australians ranked among the least optimistic, alongside France and the United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, countries such as Saudi Arabia, India, and the UAE emerged as the most optimistic, with citizens in these nations expressing confidence in their personal and collective futures.
This finding is consistent with other recent studies. The Ipsos-Halifax study revealed that only 34% of Australians agree that "more things are getting better in the world these days than are getting worse," a 14-percentage-point drop from 2023. Similarly, the GHD Crossroads study ranked Australia at the bottom of the optimism pack in the ten countries surveyed.
These results prompt us to ask: What has caused Australia's fall from optimism, and what can be done to turn the tide?
The decline of optimism in Australia reflects more than just statistics; it signals a broader crisis of confidence in our national narrative, institutions, and future.
Yet, as with all things, the key to understanding lies in the question we ask—and the question is not merely why optimism has declined, but how we can revive it.
What Has Contributed to Australia's Declining Optimism?
1. Economic Discontent and Uncertainty
Like many other countries, Australians face rising living costs, stagnant economic growth, and polycrisis. A constant media rhetoric of a "cost of living crisis" reinforces these fears, but it begs the question: Compared to whom? Similarly, the phrase "Australians are doing it hard" is often repeated, but with little context to compare Australia's challenges to those faced in other nations. Are Australians "doing it hard" compared to citizens in India, who remain optimistic despite significantly lower income levels? Or compared to Saudi Arabia, which balances transformative projects with its own economic pressures?
The University of Sydney's "optimism effect" research highlights how producer optimism, particularly business confidence, drives productivity and innovation. Without economic confidence, Australians feel uncertain about their future, even as their standard of living remains relatively high globally.
2. Media Narratives that Perpetuate Pessimism
The stories we hear shape the way we see the world. In Australia, the media often amplifies negativity: political dysfunction, economic challenges, or global uncertainty. As The Optimism Principle explains, persistent negative narratives suppress optimism by overshadowing stories of success, resilience, and possibility.
3. Declining Trust in Leadership and Institutions
Trust is a cornerstone of optimism, and many Australians feel disconnected from their leaders and institutions. Infectiously optimistic leadership—leaders who acknowledge challenges but inspire confidence in overcoming them—has been largely absent from the national stage. Without this, people are left without a unifying vision for the future.
4. The Absence of a Positive National Narrative
Historically, Australia has been united by a strong, shared identity as a land of opportunity and fairness. Today, that identity feels fragmented. Economic divides, generational conflicts, and political polarisation have undermined a collective sense of purpose. Without a positive national narrative, people struggle to find optimism, hope, and meaning in shared progress.
5. The Complacency of High-Income Nations
High-income nations like Australia often face the challenge of "complacent stagnation." By contrast, countries such as Saudi Arabia, India, and the UAE are energised by rapid transformation and ambitious national projects. Their optimism is driven by a sense of momentum and the promise of a better future—a dynamic that Australia must work to reclaim.
Asking the Right Questions: What Can We Learn from the Most Optimistic Nations?
In Saudi Arabia, India, and the UAE, the question leaders and citizens ask is not what's wrong. But what's possible? Their optimism is rooted in a forward-looking mindset supported by transformative leadership, ambitious goals, and cultural cohesion. These nations offer valuable lessons for Australia:
- Create a collective vision for the future that inspires action and unity.
- Embrace leadership that communicates optimism as a practical, actionable strategy.
- Build trust by aligning national goals with people's everyday lives.
How Can Australia Reignite Optimism?
1. Reframing the National Narrative
Australia must ask: What story do we tell ourselves as a nation? A new national narrative should emphasise resilience, inclusivity, and shared opportunity. By celebrating Australia's successes and recognising its potential, we can inspire confidence in the future.
2. Embracing Infectiously Optimistic Leadership
Leadership matters. From government to community organisations, leaders must adopt a mindset of realistic optimism—acknowledging challenges while inspiring hope. By asking questions like What makes us optimistic?, leaders can engage Australians in a collective vision for progress.
3. Asking Better Questions
The quality of the questions we ask directly influences the optimism we foster. At board meetings, executive sessions, and team gatherings, simple but powerful questions can shift the tone and energy of the discussion. Instead of starting with challenges or negativity, ask:
- What has brought you joy this week?
- What makes you optimistic for the future?
These questions encourage reflection on positive experiences and build a forward-looking mindset, helping teams and individuals focus on opportunities and strengths rather than problems. By normalising optimism in conversations, we can create workplaces and communities that are more hopeful, resilient, and collaborative.
4. Teaching People to Make Their Media Feeds More Positive
The media we consume shapes how we view the world. Teaching Australians to curate their social media and news feeds toward more positive and inspiring content is a simple yet powerful way to reignite optimism. LG's "Optimism Your Feed" campaign is an inspiring example of how brands can help.
Kim Hyo-eun, vice president and head of LG's Brand Management Division, highlighted the brand's commitment to optimism: "As a brand that is passionate about spreading optimism, we strive every day to be the most customer-focused we can possibly be. Consumers want tools to feed their optimism and belief in the future, and providing this is a key part of LG's mission. That is why we launched our 'Optimism Your Feed' campaign, which empowered users to pull more optimistic content into their social media feeds. The campaign has been proven to help consumers boost positive feelings, with 78 percent of people saying they felt more optimistic after seeing the campaign versus before exposure."
Australia can take inspiration from this campaign by teaching individuals how to surround themselves with uplifting, forward-looking content, which can foster resilience and hope.
5. Investing in Community and Youth
Communities are the bedrock of optimism. Programs that foster connection, inclusivity, and opportunity—particularly for young Australians—can lay the foundation for a hopeful future. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has commended the importance of fostering optimism in young people: "Cultivate students' optimism to improve their well-being and health outcomes." Optimistic students are better equipped to handle stress, form healthy habits, and envision a positive future.
Encouraging conversations like What makes you optimistic? Schools, workplaces, and neighbourhoods can create ripples of positivity. Incorporating optimism-building activities and programs into school curriculums could be transformative, helping Australian youth build resilience and confidence in their abilities to shape the future.
6. Balancing Media Narratives
Media plays a critical role in shaping public sentiment. Australian media outlets must balance stories of challenge with stories of resilience and innovation. Highlighting what's working well can help shift the national conversation from problems to possibilities.
Conclusion
The LG Global Optimism Survey, Ipsos-Halifax study, and GHD Crossroads report collectively highlight a troubling decline in Australian optimism. Yet, the question isn't simply why Australians feel this way—it's how we can inspire a brighter outlook. By reframing the national narrative, fostering infectiously optimistic leadership, asking better questions, teaching individuals to curate their media feeds for positivity, investing in youth, and shifting public discourse, Australia can rediscover the spirit of hope that once defined it.
As with all great transformations, it begins with the questions we ask.
So, let us ask: What makes us optimistic? And What can we do to inspire hope in others? Through these questions, we can build a stronger, more optimistic Australia.
What question will you ask to spark optimism today?