A study and analysis by the Pew Research Center based on surveying Brazil’s population has found that consumer confidence and business optimism may finally be returning in that nation.
In an online summary of polling data posted by Washington-based Pew Research on July 6, 2017, the organization also notes that political upheaval and a slow recovery process from its recession continue to weigh on the minds of Brazilians.
After conducting telephone and face-to-face interviews throughout Brazil, Pew Research Center offers a statistical breakdown of the poll’s results and offers what it calls five key findings arising from the polling. Those findings are:
- The public’s views about the economy have soured, and estimates from the country’s national statistical institute indicate more than 14 million Brazilians are out of work. Pew Research says “Young adults are especially affected by the economic crisis: Nearly 3 in 10 Brazilians (28.8 percent) between the ages of 18 and 24 are jobless.” Pew’s polling has indicated “about eight-in-ten Brazilians (82 percent) say their country’s economy is bad, [which] is double the share of the public who said this in 2013.”
- On the positive side, the Brazilian public expects a recovery soon, with much of the Brazilian public confident the economy will bounce back in the near future. “Nearly 7 in 10 Brazilians (69 percent) say the country’s economic situation will improve over the next 12 months, with roughly a third (34 percent) believing it will improve a lot,” according to Pew Research.
- Brazilian President Michel Temer has been charged with corruption and bribery allegations, but Pew Research notes, “even before the scandal, when Brazilians were asked about their views of the country’s current and previous presidents, Temer’s favorability trailed that of his immediate predecessors.”
- Corruption societywide is “overwhelmingly seen as a problem by Brazilians,” according to the Pew data. Investigations into corruption involving representatives from each major political party means that now “95 percent of Brazilians say that corrupt political leaders are a big problem, with more than 6 in 10 (63 percent) saying corruption is a very big problem.”
- Unfortunately, only about a quarter of Brazilians believe that political instability will get better, according to Pew Research. “About 4 in 10 Brazilians (42 percent) believe the political instability will get worse in the next five years, 29 percent say the problem will stay the same and roughly a quarter believe the instability will get better,” notes the organization.