MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Insecurity and unemployment haunt Argentines

Insecurity figures among the top two priority concerns of metropolitan Buenos Aires residents, according to surveys undertaken by two leading public opinion consulting firms last February.

Equis and Nueva Mayoría coincide in that after unemployment, the lack of security is a paramount concern in metropolitan Buenos Aires, (anywhere between 6 and 8 million people) ahead of corruption, the economy, shortages in education and health and poverty. Actually 78% of those interviewed do not perceive a drop in the levels of public insecurity in the last twelve months.

According to Nueva Mayoría, 26% believe insecurity is the main problem to solve just behind unemployment with 31%. However the surge of insecurity during the last twelve months was top of the list for 373 of the 1070 people consulted, followed by unemployment 307; corruption 260; deficient education system 198 and poverty 181.

Compared to the previous poll of last August, insecurity rocketed from 6%, and unemployment dropped from 56%.

For Equis consultants, based on 960 interviews, unemployment is the main priority with 64,9%, and insecurity follows with 58,4%.

Comparing with previous polls, in 2002 insecurity was the most demanding issue for 10,8% interviews; a year later it had jumped to 26,8% and last February the index doubled.

Two years back unemployment was the top concern for 47,4% of interviews. In 2002 even recession and the economy 38,3%; the performance of the political class 35,1%; misery and poverty 17%; lack of resources for health and education 12%, were perceived as more demanding than insecurity.

Even last year poverty (30,5%) was above insecurity in the agenda of problems to solve that was indisputably headed by unemployment with 49,4%. In 2003, recession and politicians delivery, had dropped to levels almost equal to the rising delinquency and insecurity fears, 25,5% and 26,6%.

Nueva Mayoría resumes the situation stating that "the growing priority of insecurity in the public opinion agenda responds to the fact that the economy expansion and the decrease in unemployment gives more opportunity for people to be concerned about insecurity plus the social impact of broadcasting beastly crimes such as rapes".

Reports conclusions indicate that combating unemployment, insecurity and corruption are the three priority demands of Argentine public opinion, with a significant priority jump for the lack of security.

As people perceive that the economy is improving, unemployment decreasing as well as the fears of loosing jobs, law and order becomes a growing priority.

Although there has not been a significant quantitive increase in crime, public exposure to beastly details has influenced negatively the perception of public opinion.