The HSRC's latest survey of public attitudes, completed in December, targeted a representative national sample of approximately 2200 individuals.
Relative pessimism is concentrated in the richest fifth of the population.
In the rest of society optimists outnumber pessimists by a significant margin. Comparative international research has shown that the achievement of sustained economic growth with declining social inequality greatly enhances the likelihood that democracy will endure. The fact that many of those at the lower end of the socioeconomic scale remain optimistic is a positive sign for South African democracy. Optimism is most widespread among the poorest group, which includes many individuals who fall below the poverty line. Differences in views among those in the two lowest two socioeconomic categories highlight the importance of recognising gradations of poverty in assessing economic perceptions.