2021-09-19-UNDP-COVID-19,_democratic_governance_and_the_039_barely_middle_class_039_in_Latin_America_6页_512kb

COVID-19 during 2020 exacerbated pre-existing social unrest in Latin America, significantly impacting citizens' views of governance. UNDP's survey in ten countries revealed that the 'barely middle class' (lower-middle and middle classes) experienced vulnerabilities similar to those of the poor. However, they demonstrated strong support for democracy while expressing intense dissatisfaction with state responses, particularly regarding fairness and effectiveness during the pandemic. Compared to the upper-middle and upper classes, this group showed higher endorsement of government accountability, human rights protection, and anti-corruption. They prioritized wealth redistribution, anti-corruption, and social protection in post-pandemic recovery. This underscores the need to address such disparities to strengthen democratic resilience.