Latvians among most optimistic about 2002

When it comes to their expectations for the year ahead, Latvians are among the world's most optimistic people, according to poll results announced by Roy Morgan Research and Gallup Interational. Fifty-four percent of poll respondents in Latvia said they think 2002 will be better than the previous year. Residents of Kosovo were the most optimistic (83 percent), followed by New Zealanders (65 percent), Canadians and Latvians (both 54 percent) and Australians and Danes (both 53 percent). Rounding out the Top Ten most optimistic nations were the United States, Russia, Norway and Sweden. The poll examined residents' opinion about economic prosperity, the prospect of strikes and industrial disputes and the prospects for international peace. Residents of Japan and Turkey were least optimistic, according to Roy Morgan Research. The company bills itself as the largest independent Australian research company. It is an affiliate of Gallup International, which coordinated the global survey.