Unpacking Presidential Satisfaction: Insights from Survey Data on Philippine Presidents

ASOG WORKING PAPER 20-003

46 Pages Posted: 19 Feb 2020

See all articles by Tristan Canare

Tristan Canare

Asian Institute of Management - Policy Center

Ronald U. Mendoza

Ateneo De Manila University - Ateneo School of Government

Leonardo M. Jaminola

The University of the Philippines Diliman

Jurel Yap

School of Government, Ateneo de Manila University

Date Written: January 2020

Abstract

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 well-established survey firms in that country, as well as a unique survey commissioned by the authors of this study. Using both macro- and microlevel data, this study unpacks the links between survey results on citizens’ satisfaction with leadership and policies in the Philippines to try and advance our understanding of the possible factors that may drive them. This study finds scant evidence that economic links are tied to presidential satisfaction, despite the primacy of the economy in Philippine surveys of key policy issues. Instead, there is evidence of herd behavior and partial evidence of disinformation possibly linked to presidential net satisfaction. The findings here suggest there should be more caution in interpreting presidential satisfaction indicators.

Keywords: presidential net satisfaction ratings, herd behavior, fake news, misery index

JEL Classification: D70, I39, O53

Suggested Citation

Canare, Tristan and Mendoza, Ronald U. and Jaminola, Leonardo and Yap, Jurel, Unpacking Presidential Satisfaction: Insights from Survey Data on Philippine Presidents (January 2020). ASOG WORKING PAPER 20-003, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3519651 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3519651

Tristan Canare

Asian Institute of Management - Policy Center ( email )

Eugenio Lopez Foundation Bldg
Joseph McMicking Campus, 123 Paseo de Roxas
Makati City, Metro Manila
Philippines

Ronald U. Mendoza (Contact Author)

Ateneo De Manila University - Ateneo School of Government ( email )

Katipunan Road
Loyola Heights
Quezon City, 1108
Philippines

Leonardo Jaminola

The University of the Philippines Diliman ( email )

Philippines

Jurel Yap

School of Government, Ateneo de Manila University ( email )

Pacifico Ortiz Hall, Fr. Arrupe Road
Social Development Complex, Loyola Heights
Quezon City, Manila 1108
Philippines

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