High cost of living and unemployment, worse headaches

financial problems like high cost of living and unemployment they represent the biggest headache for Panamanians in their homes, to which corruption is added.

The Poll Gallup Panama in May he describes this situation, along with pessimism about the family’s financial situation and the lack of security in the country, among the main social scourges.

When asked about the course of the country, 86% believe that this is not trueor, while only 8% think they are on the right track.

And when he internalizes why the Panamanian thinks that way, he believes that it is cost of living (34%), unemployment (28%) and insecurity (12%)affect their well-being in the environment in which they live.

These three problems trumped the otherswhich, despite the fact that they are also a priority to solve, are not in people’s minds as urgent.

These are access to health services (8%), education (6%), housing (3%) and covid-19 (2%).

More than half of those consulted (56%) He believes that the economic situation in his home is “much worse” than a year ago, compared to 13 percent who think things have gotten better.

With May, there are four months in a row in which more than 50% of the population believe that they have fared worse in the last 12 months.

And when he extrapolates his situation At the national level, 62% believe that the country’s economy is in a worse situation than a year ago, against 13% of those who think the opposite.

Continuing with the topic, when asked by Fr economic opportunities which they represent, 41% believe that they are decreasing, against 16% who estimate that they are improving.

Corruption

At the country level, the population puts aside their economic problems and puts them corruptionas the main corrosive element of society.

That’s what 31% of respondents in the survey thinkwho believe that the costs of living (25%), unemployment (18%) and insecurity (10%) follow in that order.

“This perception has created a feeling of dissatisfaction and lack of trust according to state institutions and political leaders”, interprets the Gallup Panama team.

He adds that this phenomenon is considered as the main obstacle to the development and progress of the country, because it undermines transparency, efficiency and fairness in public administration.

1,200 interviews from the May survey, conducted by Gallup Panama, were formulated at the national level between May 13 and 19, 2023.

It was applied face to face, in the house of the informantwith a confidence level equal to 95%, have a margin of error equal to ± 2.8 points.

“Polls are opinion studies that do not reflect certainty of results.”