Panamanians are optimistic

PANAMA. Panamanians have a high level of optimism on the country’s economic reality when compared to people in other countries in the region and the world, according to a report by The Gallup World Poll 2008, “Un enfoque sobre el trabajo y el futuro del pais” (A focus on labor and the country’s future).

The poll is held with participation from 95 percent of the adult population of the world in 140 countries. The sample size is 1,000 pollsters by country.

The economist and Gallup consultant in Washington, D.C., Gerver Torres, explained that in terms of “where we are and where we are going,” Latin American perspectives, including that of Panamanians, are more positive than that present in other continents.

While Latin American optimism scored 7.04 out of 10, Europe scored 6.84, Asia 6.69 and Africa 6.54 percent respectively.

The expert differentiated between the physical economy and the economics of conduct.

The first is based on mathematical figures, while the second is an individual’s subjective sense of well-being. In Panama, based on mostly the second, the perception is positive.

But not everything is filled with joy in the national panorama. There is a group outside of the happiness margin.

Among the factors that influence the negative perception of an individual’s well-being are poverty, job dissatisfaction, depression, the lack of means to pay for basic necessities, health and widowhood.

According to the poll, 77 percent of Panamanians are satisfied with their jobs.

However, this is not a synonym of commitment to their job. According to the CEO of The Gallup Organization, Jim Clifton, “only 25 percent of the Panamanian labor force is committed to the job it has.”

Despite this statistic, 55 percent of Panamanians do not believe it is the right time to move to another job.

Additionally, the Panamanian is quite content living in this country, and does not show as much interest in migrating elsewhere as much as people in other countries.

Only 18.31 percent of Panamanians are willing to abandon their country, and the two main destinations are the United States and Spain.

This statistic contrasts with those willing to migrate out of Dominican Republic, where 54.1 percent of the population show the interest.

Overall, Panama received a global grade of 8.36 out of 10 as a good place to live and work. “It is a pleasant place to live and work, according to the inhabitants of the country.”