Exploring the Correlates of Presidential Satisfaction in the Philippines using the Misery Index

• Main Authors: Canare, Tristan A, Mendoza, Ronald U, Yap, Jurel K, Jaminola, Leonardo M, III
• Format: text
• Published: Archīum Ateneo 2022
• Subjects: approval; misery index; net satisfaction rating; economic well-being; the Philippines; Economics; Political Economy; Political Science; Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Online Access: https://archium.ateneo.edu/asog-pubs/268; https://www.muse.jhu.edu/article/870557
• Institution: Ateneo De Manila University

Notwithstanding their widespread use in many modern democracies; surveys on leadership satisfaction have generated much debate regarding the possible factors driving public opinion. As a contribution to the literature; this study empirically examines data on Philippine presidential net satisfaction generated by the Social Weather Stations; one of the most well-established survey firms in the archipelagic country. Using Presidential Net Satisfaction data from 1998 to 2019; this study aims to show the links (or lack thereof) between survey results on citizens' satisfaction with leadership on one hand; and objective and subjective indicators of economic well-being on the other. This study finds scant evidence that economic variables such as inflation and unemployment are tied to presidential satisfaction; despite the primacy of the economy in Philippine surveys of key policy issues.