---
title: "Argentines pessimistic about economy, political system leading up to election"
description: "There is widespread, consistent pessimism among Argentines about the nation’s direction. Many say the country’s economic situation is bad.  "
date: "2019-10-23"
authors:
  - name: "Christine Tamir"
    job_title: "Former Research Analyst"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/christine-tamir/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2019/10/23/argentines-pessimistic-about-economy-political-system-leading-up-to-election/"
categories:
  - "Economic Conditions"
  - "Politics & Policy"
  - "World Elections"
  - "World Elections"
---

# Argentines pessimistic about economy, political system leading up to election

[![Republicans with high science knowledge are particularly likely to see scientists as open to bias](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2019/08/FT_19.08.09_PartisansScientists_Republicans-high-science-knowledge-particularly-likely-see-scientists-open-bias.png?w=300)](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2019/08/FT_19.08.09_PartisansScientists_Republicans-high-science-knowledge-particularly-likely-see-scientists-open-bias.png)

![](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/FT_19.10.23_Argentina.jpg)
*Campaign posters for presidential candidates in Buenos Aires ahead of Argentina’s primary elections in August 2019. The country’s general elections are set for Oct. 27. (Ricardo Ceppi/Getty Images)*

Argentines are headed to the polls for their general election on Oct. 27. They will cast their votes against a backdrop of wide discontent with the way things are going in the country and little faith in their elected officials and public institutions, according to a Pew Research Center survey.

The election comes as the nation’s economy tries to recover from an [August financial crisis](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/02/world/americas/argentina-foreign-currency-restrictions.html). The peso lost [over 30% of its value](https://www.reuters.com/article/emerging-markets-latam/emerging-markets-most-latam-currencies-edge-lower-amid-trade-worries-idUSL2N26L17U) and the main stock market dropped 38% immediately following incumbent President Mauricio Macri’s second-place finish during the [Aug. 11 primaries](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-argentina-election-polls/argentina-pollsters-emerge-after-primary-fail-forecast-huge-win-for-fernandez-idUSKCN1VU212).

The August financial shock is the latest of a long series of crises that have plagued Argentina’s economy. According to a 2018 [report by the World Bank](http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/693981558012501931/pdf/Summary.pdf), the nation has experienced 14 financial crises since 1950, not including [this latest recession](https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2019/10/03/argentinas-difficult-road-to-redemption?frsc=dg%7Ce).

Here are five findings about the public mood in Argentina as the election approaches:

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![](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/FT_19.10.23_Argentina_Widespread-dissatisfaction-way-things-going-Argentina_2.png)

There is widespread pessimism among the Argentine public about the nation’s direction. About eight-in-ten (82%) express dissatisfaction with the way things are going in Argentina today. Younger Argentines (ages 18 to 29) are significantly more likely than those 50 and older (87% vs. 73%) to say they’re dissatisfied with conditions in the country. Similarly, women are more likely than men to hold this view (86% vs. 78%).

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![](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/FT_19.10.23_Argentina_Majority-Argentines-dissatisfied-economy.png)

Roughly eight-in-ten Argentines (83%) say the country’s economic situation is bad. This share is lower than in 2002, when 98% said the economic situation was bad following [an economic crisis](https://www.imf.org/external/np/pdr/lessons/100803.pdf). Currently, only 15% say the economic situation is good. (Our survey was conducted before the market shock that occurred in August.)

Assessments of the current economic situation vary by political party. A near universal share of adults (94%) with an unfavorable view of Cambiemos, the current ruling party, say the economic situation is bad, while a smaller majority of those who view the party favorably (57%) say the same. Similarly, 94% of those with a favorable view of Kirchnerismo, the party that [defeated Macri](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/18/cristina-kirchner-fiery-ex-president-returns-crisis-argentina) in the August primary, say the economic situation is bad, while 76% of those with an unfavorable view share the same view.

When it comes to the financial future of children in Argentina, the public is split – 42% believe their children will be better off than their parents, while 47% say they’ll be worse off.

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![](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/FT_19.10.23_Argentina_Argentines-mostly-pessimistic-political-system-positive-culture.png)

Discontentment among Argentines extends across a wide range of conditions in the country. Overall, 72% of Argentines say they are pessimistic with how the political system works when thinking about the future. Those with a favorable view of the ruling party are less likely to feel pessimistic about the way their political system works than those with an unfavorable view (58% vs. 78%), though majorities of both are still pessimistic.

Roughly half of the Argentine public reports feeling pessimistic about the possibility of reducing the gap between the rich and poor (52%), the nation’s education system (52%) and the availability of well-paying jobs (51%).

On a positive note, a majority of Argentines express optimism about their country’s culture when looking ahead (61%).

**Argentines express little trust in elected officials and public institutions.** One-in-five (20%) agree that the state is run for the benefit of all people and that most elected officials care what people like themselves think (21%). Adults ages 18 to 29 are less likely than those 50 and older to agree that the government is run for the benefit of all people (16% vs. 26%). Those with a favorable view of Cambiemos are also more likely to agree that the state works for everyone (39%) than those with unfavorable views (13%).

![](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/FT_19.10.23_Argentina_Argentine-adults-express-skepticism-state-elected-officials.png)

Despite the dissatisfaction with aspects of the political system, Argentines are optimistic about democratic participation – 55% say that voting gives people like themselves some say in how the government runs things.

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![Argentines with unfavorable views of Cambiemos are less satisfied with their country's democracy](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/FT_19.10.23_Argentina_Argentines-unfavorable-views-Cambiemos-less-satisfied-country-democracy_2.png)

A majority of the Argentine public is dissatisfied with the state of their democracy. About six-in-ten (61%) express dissatisfied views, which fits the trend exhibited in recent years.

Roughly six-in-ten adults with a secondary education or below (63%) express dissatisfaction, while about half (48%) of those who have attained more education say the same. Similarly, 70% of those who make less than the median income are dissatisfied with democracy’s functioning, while roughly six-in-ten (57%) of those with an income above the median share the same view.

There are differences by political views. The only group with a majority that expresses satisfaction with the way democracy functions are those who have a favorable view of the ruling party. Majorities of those with favorable views of Kirchnerismo and Peronismo express dissatisfaction with democracy’s functioning (68% and 60%, respectively).

*Note: See [full topline results](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/FT_19.10.23_Argentina_Topline.pdf) and [methodology](https://www.pewresearch.org/methods/interactives/international-methodology/all-survey/all-country/all-year).*