Reduced purchasing power, conflicts, climate change. Italians face new and old concerns that make them generally more insecure than the average European. All this despite the fact that the tendency to ask for loans and mortgages to buy a house or a car is returning, and the percentage of those who want to take out a credit protection policy is increasing. These are some of the results that emerged from a new survey conducted by BNP Paribas Cardif, one of the main Italian insurance companies, in collaboration with Ipsos, among a sample of 21,000 people in 21 countries on three continents.
Italians’ concerns, from the economic sphere to healthcare
Turning to the details of the research, Italians worry more than other EU citizens about their declining purchasing power (81% vs. 73% of Europeans), no climate change (78% vs. 72%) and other economic aspects such as interest rate hikes (73% vs. 62%) e unemployment (71% vs. 60%). 46% of citizens, in line with the European average (45%), feel particularly vulnerable to the risk of reduced earnings.
Taking into account “personal” fears instead, if loss of income (74%), serious illnesses (70%) and chronic conditions (68%) remain among the most mentioned, the increase in previously considered “trivial” concerns is striking.
compared to 2021 Fear of accidents increased by +7 percentage points (69%), which is related to disability by 8 points. There was also a double-digit increase in cases of personal data theft via the Internet (65%, +8% compared to 2021) and car theft (61%, +8%). Other secondary fears are on the rise, such as fears of violence in the event of aggression or attack (+3 percentage points compared to 2021) and natural disasters (+4 percentage points compared to 2021).
On the other hand, Italians are confident in their work. those who fear losing it are significantly lower than in 2021 (58%, -8 pp).
Gender differences also lurk in anxieties
Italian women worry more than men in all areas. In particular, the fear of suffering from reduced income affects 78% of women compared to 70% of men.
Similar evidence emerged for serious (77% vs. 63%) and chronic illnesses (72% vs. 61%). Differences in the perception of fears and risks related to the current context, such as aggression (62% vs. 49%), terrorist attacks (45% vs. 31%) and loss of independence (77% vs. 62%), are also very pronounced.
The need for greater insurance protection is on the rise
Despite various fears, almost two out of three Italians (63%), in line with 2021, still state that they generally feel “protected” from unforeseen events, although they remain below the European average (70%) and even if only 8- the A percentage of the sample feels “very well protected”. But what are the risks that Italians would like to feel more protected against? Compared to 2021, the percentage of those who indicated serious diseases (46%, +6 per cent), accidents (32%, +6 per cent) and natural disasters (29%, +5 per cent) increased. Job loss also tops the list (38%, +2 pp).
“This year too, after the 2019 and 2021 editions, we renewed our partnership with Ipsos, which interviewed more than 21,000 people in 21 countries on three continents. As for our country, the results show a new sense of calm, but also a greater awareness of the importance of properly protecting itself.” he announced Alessandro Deodato, CEO of BNP Paribas Cardif in Italy. “Italians want to look to the future by making plans again, and they rely on insurance to protect their families and assets. Therefore, we intend to work even harder every day to offer simpler, more comprehensive and affordable solutions.”
Tendency to repay loans, but there is a problem of interest rates
After years of uncertainty, Italians seem more inclined to pursue projects that remain key, with a new inclination to take out a loan to buy a first or second home (65%, +9 pp) or a car (58). %, +7 pp). A trend that is also confirmed in other areas such as renovation work (65%, +6 pp), furniture purchase (40%, +5 pp) and even holidays (25%, +11 pp). The only hesitation on this issue is the concern of not being able to repay loans and mortgages due to rising interest rates, a concern shared by 73% of the sample, 11 points above the EU average.
In this context of economic uncertainty, insurance policies to protect financing continue to gain popularity among Italians. Compared to 2021, the percentage of those who believe the policy helps preserve family assets has increased by 5 points (82%) and by 4 points for those who rely on their loved ones to protect them (80%). At the same time, the number of those willing to sign them is increasing, now 20% (+4%). This popularity is due to a good perception of the benefits of these policies and the belief that they facilitate the implementation of plans for the future, providing greater peace of mind (72% and 77%, respectively, increases of 8 and 9 points compared to 2021. )