Businessmen are more trusted than politicians by the Maltese - even though they are deemed to be more interested in their pockets and exploit their employees, a new survey has shown.
Politicians have the worst reputation among various categories and professions, including entrepreneurs, civil servants, lawyers, architects and managers.
The survey was commissioned by the European Commission on a scientifically selected sample of 500 carried out by Misco.
Nearly a third of Maltese respondents, 32 per cent, see politicians in a negative light. Twenty per cent, meanwhile, view them favourably.
On the other hand, businessmen are viewed positively by almost half the respondents (49.5 per cent), followed by managers (45.6 per cent), and civil servants (40 per cent).
The most negatively viewed professions after that of politicians are civil servants (15 per cent) and lawyers (10.8 per cent). Only 5.3 per cent viewed businessmen negatively.
The survey's main intention was to gain a better understanding in the EU of entrepreneurship, identify the reasons that encourage people to become entrepreneurs, and to find out which obstacles exist.
The results of the Maltese survey show that although the level of entrepreneurship is quite strong, many still prefer to have a fixed job rather than set up their own business.
Just over a third said they would prefer to be self-employed, with 56 per cent saying they would rather be employed. The reasons given are varied, though the prevailing arguments in favour of a fixed job are stability and a regular fixed income.
On the other hand, 61 per cent of those who would prefer to be their own bosses cited personal independence as the main reason, while a quarter mentioned better income prospects.
Sixty-three per cent said businessmen were only interested in making money while 65 per cent believed they exploited workers. At the same time, 89 per cent agreed that businessmen are job creators and provide jobs for many people.
Asked a hypothetical question on what would they do if they inherited a large sum of money, the majority of Maltese respondents, 30.3 per cent, said they would save it in a bank or invest in shares, while 28.4 per cent said they would spend it on things they never had the opportunity to do, such as going abroad and buying cars.
Only 12 per cent said they would use the money to start their own business while 21.1 per cent said that they would invest the money in property.
Compared with the rest of the EU, the survey shows Malta's entrepreneurial spirit is lower than the EU average, where 45.1 per cent of respondents said they would like to work on a self-employed basis.