There is a growing concern that democracies and democratic norms are under severe strain and threat. This paper uses Australian survey data to explore the concepts of 'democratic recession' and 'democratic resilience', framing the discussion around the quality and applicability of survey data in assessing public sentiment and democratic health.

This paper summarises recent public opinion data on views on the economy, as well as experience and views on the housing market. It is based on data from the January 2024 ANUpoll, as well as historic ANUpoll data, and shows that compared to almost any time during the pandemic or immediately beforehand, Australians are more...