Executive Summary
This report deals with various issues regarding the “post-COVID-19 era,” coined as such on account of its social, political, and economic impacts. The world is changing in a new direction, which signifies a metamorphosis of the global society. This report draws on the World COVID-19 Pandemic and Citizen Life Survey conducted between the 23rd of April and the 5th of June 2020 with 15.312 respondents. The sample was collected via a Computer Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) applying the stratified sampling method. As a global survey, this report outlines the responses of citizens from 30 cities, and the questions focus on their responses to COVID-19, their varying behavior in the course of the pandemic, their confidence in authorities, their support and/or opposition for stringency measures, and their political attitudes. In this particular file, the case of São Paulo will be presented. For more detailed survey results, please refer to the attached file.
Review of COVID-19 Pandemic - Of a list of individual disease prevention measures, São Paulo respondents reported being less actively involved in all items than the global average.
- When asked about the economic consequences of the pandemic, 35.8% of the São Paulo respondents said they would lose more than half of their income if they were to experience a 14-day-quarantine. The global average for this figure was 30%.
- The São Paulo respondents experienced a different degree of the following social impacts: medical appointment difficulties (50%), school closings (79%), and workplace closings (69%). The proportion of São Paulo respondents experiencing these situations were significantly greater than the global average.
Anxiety and Hope - If they were infected, the São Paulo citizens surveyed would feel less anxious about the impacts on their families (2.27/5) than the world average (3.46/5) and feel less worried about the impact on their friends (2.41/5) than the global average (3.38/5). Compared to other cities, it was characteristic that São Paulo respondents would have lower concerns and anxiety about their family and friends, if they were infected.
- 78.7% said they would feel anxious if they bumped into someone not wearing a face mask. The global average for the same figure is 69%.
- São Paulo respondents reported experiencing negative emotions less often than the global average.
- In regard to their sense of hope about the future, only a small proportion of São Paulo respondents (4%) said they have “Never” felt hopeful about the future during the pandemic. In comparison, there were 11.3 % of the world respondents answered in the same way.
Citizen’s evaluation of government COVID-19 policies - São Paulo respondents on average gave their own government’s COVID-19 management performance a score of 2.3 points out of 5, the lowest of all cities in the survey. In comparison, the global average was 3.43.
- When asked to give a score to each government, the São Paulo respondents gave Japan the highest score of 4.01 out of 5 and Brazil the lowest score of 2.31 out of 5.
- Considering five aspects of COVID-19 management policies (providing information on testing and the prevention of the epidemic, providing medical care assurance for patients, preventing the spread of infectious diseases, ensuring the emotional stability of the public, and ensuring medical staff safety), the São Paulo respondents were least satisfied with ensuring the emotional stability of the public (2.65).
- In general, the São Paulo respondents were more likely to agree with school closings and with closing of worship places than the global average.
- Among the four stringency measures (school closings, closing of worship places, an entry ban of foreigners, an internal moving ban), São Paulo respondents agreed with an internal moving ban the least (3.06/4).
Democracy or Authoritarianism - On a scale of 1 to 4 with higher scores indicating a higher degree of satisfaction with their government, the São Paulo respondents on average rated their satisfaction level 2.55 for human rights and 2.31 for democracy.
- We then asked São Paulo citizens their opinions about emergency measures. On a scale of 1 to 10 with higher scores indicating a stronger belief that emergency measures will move the society more toward a democratic society, São Paulo respondents scored 6 out of 10, while global citizens scored 5.52 out of 10.
- Regarding COVID-19 risk management, the São Paulo respondents were on average in favor of citizens' judgments over government decisions.
- Meanwhile, the São Paulo respondents supported rule of law more than supported rule by order.
Priorities of Quarantine Governance - São Paulo respondents’ level of support for prioritizing basic civil rights in COVID-19 management was 4.68 out of 10 on average, while the world average was 4.45.
- São Paulo respondents’ level of agreement that economic recovery is more important than social distancing was 4.16 out of 10. The world average was 4.65.
Impacts of the Global Pandemic on National Level Consequences - Regarding the national economy, 89.3% of the São Paulo respondents said the COVID-19 pandemic has had a “Quire large negative impact” or a “Severe negative impact.” In comparison, the global average for this figure was 76.7%.
- As for social trust, 78.3% said the pandemic has had a “Quire large negative impact” or a “Severe negative impact.” The global average for this figure was 56.1%.
- In the case of living standards, 82.7% said the pandemic has had a “Quire large negative impact” or a “Severe negative impact.” The global average for this figure was 65.4%.
- On the quality of democracy, 63.1% said that the pandemic has had a “Quire large negative impact” or a “Severe negative impact.” The global average for this figure was 45.5%.
- Overall, São Paulo respondents said the negative impact of COVID-19 on their nation was more than the global average.
Trust - The São Paulo respondents reported trusting their family members (3.48/4) the most, followed by their colleagues (2.64/4), their neighbors (2.41/4), and immigrants (2.08/4).
- Compared to the global average, the São Paulo respondents reported a lower level of trust in their neighbors and colleagues.
- Of the various institutions providing COVID-19 information, the São Paulo respondents reported trusting medical experts (3.35/4) the most and social media (2.01/4) the least.
- It was characteristic that the São Paulo respondents reported trusting information provided by foreign media (2.65/4) more than information provided by domestic media (2.37/4).
Fairness and Representation - When considering the fairness of income distribution, São Paulo respondents ranked 27th place out of 28 cities with a fairness perception score of 3.78 out of 10.
- When considering the fairness of educational opportunity, São Paulo respondents ranked 27th place with a fairness perception score of 3.96.
- When considering the fairness of gender relations, São Paulo respondents ranked 28th place with a fairness perception score of 4.66.
- When considering the fairness of political participation, São Paulo respondents ranked 27th place with a fairness perception score of 4.54.
- When considering the fairness of minority rights, São Paulo respondents ranked 28th place with a fairness perception score of 3.97.
- When considering the fairness of public debate, São Paulo respondents ranked 25th place with a fairness perception score of 4.53.
- When considering the fairness of representation of political parties, São Paulo respondents ranked 27th place with a fairness perception score of 3.45.
- The issue of fairness in Santiago appeared to be very serious as São Paulo respondents tended to have a small fairness perception score in most fields.
Communications - On a scale of 1 to 5 with higher scores indicating a higher frequency of communication with their acquaintances (family members, colleagues/customers, neighbors), the São Paulo respondents on average scored the frequency 3.4 with family members, 2.88 with colleagues/customers, and 2.51 with neighbors. The respective world average scores were 3.21, 2.59, 2.57.
- São Paulo respondents’ level of frequency of using SNS to communicate was 3.61 out of 4 and level of frequency of using messengers to communicate was 3.77 out of 4. In comparison, the respective world average scores were 3.34 and 3.38.
- We then asked how often global citizens discussed about COVID-19. We provided a 4-point scale with higher scores indicating higher frequency. São Paulo respondents scored 3.48. In comparison, the global average was 3.21.
Human Life after COVID-19 - On a scale of 1 to 4 with higher scores indicating more agreement that the “community is doomed to lose its function,” São Paulo respondents scored 2.43. As for the statement “We don’t need community. Individual freedom is enough,” São Paulo respondent scored 2.08. The respective global averages were 2.54 and 2.29.
- São Paulo respondents’ average degrees of agreement to the following statements predicting what the future will be like after the pandemic, “The future cannot be predicted,” “The life will be more unstable,” and “We should realize the fundamental uncertainty of life,” were 6.91/10, 6.53/10, and 4.44/10. The respective global averages were 6.95, 6.28, and 5.26.
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757_1)covid-report-Sao-Paulo.pdf
