Global Perspectives on New Technologies: A Large-Scale International Study on the Influence of Economics and Personal Values on Attitudes Towards Technological Change

This study examines how socioeconomic factors and personal values influence optimism and pessimism toward technological change across seven countries with diverse economic and cultural contexts (USA, UK, Germany, Japan, Italy, Brazil, South Africa). Based on a large-scale international survey (N=7000), findings indicate that individuals from emerging economies (Brazil, South Africa) tend to be more optimistic about technological change than those from developed nations. Across all countries, younger age, higher income, and higher education levels were associated with greater optimism. However, personal values—especially career and status orientation—were stronger predictors of technology attitudes than socioeconomic factors or nationality. Individuals who prioritized career/status were the most optimistic about technology’s impact on personal and societal well-being. These insights highlight the importance of considering both national and personal factors in designing technologies that are widely accepted and beneficial across diverse populations.