Interests and Values: Changes in Satisfaction with Public Pensions and Healthcare in Spain before and after the Great Recession

Abstract

The main objective of this article is to analyze recent changes in attitudes regarding two of the most important pillars of the Spanish public welfare state: pensions and healthcare. The analysis was carried out for the years 2007-2008, prior to the Great Recession, and 2018-2019, following the effects of said crisis. An analytical approach was used to consider a wide range of variables related to self-interest and values, using satisfaction as the dependent variable. The following factors were found to have the greatest influence on levels (and changes) of satisfaction with these public services: a decrease in intergenerational consensus and values related to welfare-system resources, especially in the perception of the sufficient public spending, the willingness to increase this spending and the benefits-payment balance.