Spain’s image in Latin America has fully recovered after the deterioration it suffered as a result of the 2008 economic crisis. This was stated by the Elcano Royal Institute, the main Spanish think tank, which presented this Wednesday its barometer on the image of Spain. This time Spain focused on Latin America.
The study is based on 4,035 online interviews conducted last May by the company Netquest in eight countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico and Peru). The original plan was to include Venezuela, but was ultimately scrapped because it was “impossible to obtain a representative sample of the population.” The authors recognize that the use of the Internet to conduct interviews emphasizes urban populations and those with greater purchasing power.
According to this study, Spain’s positive rating in the region (those who give it a score of 6 or more on a scale of 10) has increased by 15 points over the last decade, rising from 67% to 82%; while rejection fell by the same percentage, from 33% to 18%. The improvement puts Spain’s image above that of 2003, before the crisis, when positive opinions reached 76% and negative opinions 24%.
When respondents are asked to rate Spain, the country receives a score of 6.9 out of 10, which is almost remarkable, but slightly lower than that of France, the United States or Italy and far from the one with the best rating receives. Germany (7.5). Of course, in all countries where the survey was conducted, except for Mexico, Spain’s image is more favorable than that of the country itself.
What influences the most is what happens next. So you don’t miss anything, subscribe.
Subscribe to
The image of Spain, as of Europe in general, is “more positive among people who describe themselves as right-wing,” with a score of 7.3, compared to 6.5 among those on the left; and among those who have a higher level of education (university students give a 7 and those who have only completed compulsory education a 6.5). The score also declines as the focus shifts from countries in the north of the region to those in the south, with a high of 7.4 in Guatemala and a low of 6.5 in Chile.
When asked about the attributes associated with the image of Spain, the most frequently mentioned is gastronomy (23%), followed by cities or geographical areas (Madrid, Barcelona, Catalonia), the Spanish language, Europe , bullfighting or football. The aspects that respondents value most in Spain are its attractiveness as a travel destination (7.8), its infrastructure (7.6) and its food (7.4).
In all countries, the sympathy for Spain is greater than the trust it inspires, although the score in both parameters is always above the minimum score. The greatest trust and sympathy is in Guatemala and the least in Peru.
Latin Americans believe that Spaniards are rich (82%), hardworking (80%), reliable (76%), peaceful (73%), supportive (69%), democratic (69%) and religious (68%) . ), tolerant (68%) and traditional (66%).
60% of respondents (excluding Brazilians, for obvious reasons) consider that Spain is the country that has exerted the greatest influence in its history between the 16th and 18th centuries. However, among young people (18 to 24 years old), this proportion drops to 48%, while among those over 65 years of age it rises to 73%.
When asked to assess Spain’s influence on the history of his country, the result is clear: 5.5. The highest score is achieved by Guatemala (6.2) and the lowest by Peru (4.7), the only country where this does not happen. Those over 65 years old (6.1) and those who describe themselves as right-wing extremists (6.5) value Spain’s historical influence the most, while young people between 18 and 24 years old (5.3) and those on the left ( 4.3) they give a lower grade.
According to another study by the Elcano Institute, the assessment that Latin Americans make of Spain’s influence in their region (5.5) is lower than that of Spaniards themselves (6.5), but both groups are right in their introduction how they value each other’s shared history. The rating that Ibero-Americans give to Spain’s historical role has hardly changed since 2009 (5.8).
67% of respondents are aware of investments made by Spanish companies in their country, with Santander, BBVA and Zara being the most well-known at over 70%; and Meliá, Santillana and Iberia rated best, between 7.2 and 7.7 points. Spanish companies and brands score the highest in Mexico (7.7) and the lowest in Peru (6.4).
The overall score for Spanish investments is 7 out of 10, with a maximum of 7.5 in Brazil and a minimum of 6.2 in Peru. The valuation of Spanish investments has increased by 12 percentage points since 2006: from 70% to 80% of those who consider them somewhat or very beneficial, and from 30% to 18% of those who consider them little or not at all positive. Spanish investments are rated better by those who classify themselves as right-wing (7.6) or between 24 and 54 years old (7.1) than by those who classify themselves as left-wing (6.4) or over 65 years old (6). . 5). Spain is the sixth best country as a source of investment (11% between the first two elections), followed by the United States (44%); and the seventh, whose investments are rejected (3%), with Russia being the first (34%).
On the other hand, Spain is the third country after Canada and the United States where Latin Americans want to live (25% choose it as a first or second option). The preference of Argentines (44%) is much higher than that of the rest.
38% of respondents believe that immigrants from their country face discrimination in Spain, but 44% disagree with this statement. The result is similar to what the Latinobarómetro showed two decades ago, in 2004.
Although the majority value Spain more highly than their own country, only 16% believe that their children would have a better future in Spain and 24% believe that Latin American emigrants will stay in Spain forever. 31% of respondents believe that discrimination is the biggest problem for the integration of immigrants, while 28% cite finding a job according to their education and 27% cite the legalization of their legal situation.