Spanish citizens evaluate Spain's economic status through the prism of their ideological orientation. Depending on their political positioning, they see the country's economic status in one way or another. Researchers at the School of Communication of the University of Navarra, Jordi Rodríguez Virgili, Alfonso Vara and Aurken Sierra, have compared the CIS data of May 2013, January 2018, May 2019, January 2021 and July 2023.

The study's findings suggest that, although there is a correlation between income levels and the perception of family economic status , ideological orientation plays a crucial role in the assessment of the national economic status . Citizens tend to align their opinions about the country's Economics with their political leanings, showing a greater susceptibility to the influence of political speeches and media coverage.

The increase in political polarization, according to the researchers, becomes especially pronounced after a financial crisis. This is because citizens turn to their ideology to interpret and justify their economic perceptions, which can exacerbate social divisions and make it difficult to find consensual solutions.

Jordi Rodríguez-Virgili, one of the authors of research, stressed the importance of understanding this phenomenon in the current context: "Political polarization and economic perception are closely intertwined in Spanish society," he said. "To effectively address economic and political challenges, it is crucial to take into account how these forces interact and affect individual and collective decisions."

The study highlights the need for greater attention to the quality of public discussion and rigor in media coverage of economic issues, in order to mitigate the negative effects of polarization in decision-making and promote a constructive dialogue on economic and social policies in Spain.

The complete study can be found at link.