The Ties That Don’t Bind

In desperate moments, where does one turn for help? Poor countries are often assumed to have relatively weak government safety nets, but also strong social networks -- extended families and friends who can pitch in during hard times. Yet when Gallup asked respondents in selected countries, "If you were in trouble, do you have relatives or friends you can count on to help you whenever you need them?" the results pointed to a different conclusion: The strength of informal support networks roughly mirrors a country's economic and political stability.

Below are percentages of poll respondents by country who answered "yes":

• 48% Pakistan
• 54% Afghanistan
• 62% Cambodia
• 62% Iran
• 80% China
• 95% United States
• 98% Ireland