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Original text is from Japan for Sustainability

According to the seventh "Global HABIT" report issued on February 15, 2013, by Hakuhodo Inc., a major Japanese advertising agency, residents of Asia feel their family financial circumstances are improving and the future looks bright. The report analyzed the family financial circumstances, perceptions toward money, and investments for building wealth of resident respondents in 14 cities in Asia (Hong Kong, Taipei, Seoul, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Metro Manila, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City, Delhi, Mumbai, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, and, for comparison, Tokyo).

More than 50 percent of the respondents in seven out of the 14 cities feel "better than last year" about their financial circumstances and future outlook (compared to about 10 percent in Tokyo). Over half of the respondents in 13 of the 14 cities expect things will "get better" in the future (about 20 percent in Tokyo). Residents in Delhi, Mumbai and Metro Manila were especially positive about the future.

"Saving a set amount of money each month" ranked first or second in 13 cities, and "making decisions based on money is common" was in the top five responses in all 14 cities. These were two responses common across all cities surveyed. Ranking first in Tokyo was "worrying about future pension benefits" (75.1 percent), which was more than 25 percent ahead of the next most common response.