Kast Promotes Growth, Yet 47% of Chileans Believe the Country is Declining with 42% Expecting a Worse Economy

Original article: Kast habla de crecimiento y avance, pero 47% cree que Chile retrocede y 42% espera una economía peor

Despite José Antonio Kast«s consistent rhetoric of growth and progress, the latest results from the Criteria Agenda reveal a growing sense of pessimism regarding Chile’s direction under his government, marking five months since he took office at La Moneda. Notably, 47% of respondents believe the country is regressing.

According to an opinion study conducted on August 6, 2026, with a panel of 802 participants, this figure indicates a 16 percentage point increase compared to March.

«Those who believe the country is declining rose from 31% in March to 47% in August,» while conversely, «those who think it is progressing fell from 28% to 20%. Additionally, the number of citizens who perceive that things are remaining the same also decreased from 41% to 33%.

Regarding the economic situation, the six-month outlook is predominantly pessimistic, with 42% of respondents expecting it to worsen, while only 22% anticipate improvement. Furthermore, 28% forecast that their family’s economic situation will decline, and 26% believe it will improve.

Low Employment Expectations

The quantitative study published this Sunday by Criteria also reveals a significant decline in employment expectations. When asked about the likelihood of finding or improving a job, 40% reported projecting a negative outlook, compared to 21% who believe the situation is improving.

Decline of Hope and Increase of Sadness

The Criteria Agenda also explored the emotions surrounding the future of the country for the current year, asking respondents: «Which of the following emotions best describes your feelings about 2026?» The findings revealed that although hope remains the predominant sentiment, it has suffered a substantial contraction, decreasing from 53% in February to 36% in August.

In contrast, sadness reported a significant increase, rising from 5% in February to 17% in August, gaining traction over the months. From February to August, fear increased from 22% to 26%; contempt increased from 4% to 5%, and anger rose from 1% to 3%.

Negative Impact of the Mega-Reform

Public perception regarding the mega-economic and tax reform championed by Kast represents another setback for the far-right president. According to data from the Criteria Agenda, 37% believe the project passed by the National Congress on August 4 will have a «mostly negative impact on the country. While 33% think it will have a positive impact and 30% are unsure.

A 48% believe the so-called «rebuilding law,» which faces three requests presented by opposition senators and deputies to the Constitutional Court, is primarily aimed at favoring large companies and high-income individuals. Meanwhile, 33% think it could lead to job creation for the general population.

The results of the opinion study confirm that under Kast»s administration, with a disapproval rating reaching 52% in the first week of August, the growing deterioration in the Chileans» perception of the country»s direction is related not only to psychological factors but also to economic conditions and wealth distribution.