“Mexicans generally have favorable opinions about the United States and see it as a country that provides opportunities for a good life,” says the social science research center. Pew Research Center according to a survey conducted between March 22 and April 30, 2023 among people over 18 years old in Mexico.
The research provides six important data, which include hope for a better life, bilateral relations, political stability, economy, views of the president of Mexico and democracy. In general, all the numbers have improved since the last investigations, according to the center.
The hope of a better life
The study of Pew Research Center revealed that about six in ten Mexicans (59%) say that people who move to the US have a better life there. This proportion is the highest since the research center collected this data in 2007.
On the other hand, about one-third say that life is no better or worse in the United States than in Mexico and only 5% say that life in the United States is worse.
Bilateral relations are improving
The research also revealed that Mexicans have more positive opinions about bilateral relations between the United States and Mexico. “Overall, 63% of Mexicans have a favorable opinion of the United States, while 30% have an unfavorable opinion,” says the Pew Research Center.
In this sense, almost eight in ten Mexicans (77%) say that relations between the United States and Mexico are good. But when asked about US President Joe Biden, only (43%) have confidence in him. Regarding whether the United States considers Mexico in foreign policy, 51% say the United States does, while 48% say it does not.
The United States is more politically stable, but less tolerant than others countries
According to the survey, the Mexican public is divided on how the United States compares to other rich countries. On political strength, about a third said it was stronger, a similar proportion said it was as politically stable, while a quarter saw the United States which is not very stable. When we talk about democracy, approximately three out of ten say that it is more democratic than similar countries.
Regarding security, approximately 37% of Mexicans consider the United States to be as dangerous as its peer countries, while 36% consider it less dangerous. Only a quarter see it as too risky. On tolerance and religiosity, nearly half say the United States is less tolerant and less religious than similar countries.
A positive outlook on the US and Mexican economies
The study of Pew Research Center It is pointed out that Mexicans have a positive view of the US and Mexican economy. Four out of ten say that the US is the leading economic power in the world, unlike the other answer options: China (33%), Japan (10%) and the countries of the European Union (9%) .
Regarding whether the United States is a world economic leader, more than six in ten say that, overall, it is a good thing for Mexico. Likewise, seven in ten say the Mexican economy has benefited a lot from US investment, while 29% say the economy has not benefited much or at all from US investment.
A positive view of López Obrador
Approximately eight out of ten Mexicans see their president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), positively. About 82% have a favorable opinion of him, including 45% who see him as very good.
AMLO, according to the data collected in the survey, is equally popular among all demographic groups in Mexico, including age groups, gender, education level, income groups and political ideologies.
Promotes democratic sentiment
Finally, the survey Pew Research Center He admits that Mexicans are divided on their democracy, but that sentiment has improved in recent years. 48% say they are satisfied with the way democracy works in their country, while 50% are not satisfied.
The positive fact is that the proportion of people who are satisfied with democracy in Mexico has increased by 6 points since the last time the question was asked, in 2019. However, 42% who viewed democracy positively that year was a a big increase from 2017, when only 6% were satisfied with the state of democracy in Mexico. Around 93% are dissatisfied, including 70% who are not at all satisfied, the report from the social research center concludes.
