No one knows the ins and outs of life in a corporate-dominated society as well as the residents of America and other highly developed affluent nations. That's probably why they trust corporations less than anyone.

A new global survey of both corporate executives and regular people found this, via the Wall Street Journal:

Only 52% of the public in developed markets have a "favorable" view of corporations, compared with 72% in emerging markets such as China, Brazil, India, Mexico and Turkey. Nearly three-fifths of the public in emerging markets favor corporations that are "strong and influential" because they are "engines of innovation and economic growth." Just over one-third of the public in developed markets agree. In developed markets, 45% say corporations have "too much influence over government," compared with 30% in emerging economies.

Emerging markets: see how you feel about this after you emerge.

[Photo: Flickr]