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Brazilian Electoral Panel Studies (BEPS) Data: 2010

By Department of Research and Chief Economist (VPS/RES/RES)

The Brazilian Electoral Panel Study (BEPS) was designed to analyze the dynamics of the political climate in Brazil during the 2010 presidential election. Its goal was to generate data that makes it possible to:

  1. Measure electoral volatility at the individual level throughout the campaign
  2. Explore how short-term and long-term factors influence voting decisions

The BEPS consists of three survey waves:

  • Wave One (March–April 2010): Conducted about six months before the first round of the election, before the official launch of the campaign.
  • Wave Two (August 2010): Preceded the Free Electoral Airtime (Horário Gratuito de Propaganda Eleitoral – HGPE), when candidates received daily prime-time television exposure.
  • Wave Three (November 2010): Conducted immediately after the second round of the election (October 31).

The surveys, conducted as part of the 2010 AmericasBarometer by the Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP), provide rich insights into voting intentions, policy preferences, and Brazilian values related to democracy, representation, and electoral behavior.

This panel offers a critical baseline for understanding electoral behavior in Latin America and contributes to comparative debates in the United States and beyond.

Metadata Summary — Brazilian Electoral Panel Study (BEPS) 2010

Geographic Coverage

The dataset covers all five major regions of Brazil: - North (1501) - Northeast (1502) - Center-West (1503) - Southeast (1504) - South (1505)

Each respondent's record includes: - State (prov) - Municipality (municipio) - Neighborhood (bradistrito) - Census sector (brasegmento, brasec) - Urban/rural classification (ur) - Size of locality (tamanho)

Temporal Coverage

The dataset spans the 2010 Brazilian presidential election, with three survey waves: - Wave 1: March–April 2010 (pre-campaign) - Wave 2: August 2010 (pre-HGPE media period) - Wave 3: November 2010 (post-election)

Each wave includes: - Interview date (data) - Wave identifier (wave in long-format file)

Unit of Analysis

The unit of analysis is the individual respondent, sampled from households across Brazil. Each respondent has a unique questionnaire ID (id_num) and is tracked across waves in the panel dataset.

Topics Covered

The dataset includes indicators on: - Vote intention and candidate evaluation (vb20bra, vb6a, vb6b, vb6d) - Political ideology and self-placement (l1, l1a, l1b, l1c) - Trust in institutions (b10a, b11, b12, b13, b14, b21) - Attitudes toward democracy and authoritarianism (jc1, jc15a, pop101, pop102, pop103) - Policy preferences and spending priorities (vb7a–vb7q) - Social mobility and self-perception (socmob1, socmob2, socmob3) - Religion and political influence (q3c, q5a, q5c, q5e) - Media consumption and political knowledge (www1, gl1, gl3, gl4) - Corruption and clientelism (exc2, exc6, exc18, clien1, clexp1–clexp7) - Security and victimization (vic1ext, vic2, aoj11, aoj12) - Demographics (q1, q2, etid, ed, q10, q12, q13bra)

Sample Design

The dataset uses a stratified multistage sampling design, including: - Primary sampling units (UPM) - Stratification by region (estratopri) - Clustering (cluster) - Urban/rural classification (ur) - Locality size (tamanho)

Mode of Data Collection

Surveys were conducted via face-to-face interviews, confirmed by: - Interview start time (hora_inicio) - Interviewer ID (intid) - Questionnaire language (idiomaq) - Field instructions and card usage (e.g., “ENTREGUE O CARTÃO”)

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Metadata & use

Identifier https://doi.org/10.60966/evsj3zhp
License Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–NoDerivs 3.0 IGO
Related Knowledge Product
Citation

Huberts, Alyssa, et al. (2015). Brazilian Electoral Panel Studies (BEPS) Data: 2010. IDB Open Data. https://doi.org/10.60966/evsj3zhp
Published date 2015-03-29
Modified date 2026-07-15
Tags/Keywords Elections · Public Opinion Poll
Language
  1. Portuguese
Temporal coverage 2010-2010
Country
Brazil
Region Latin America and the Caribbean
Publisher
Inter-American Development Bank
Author
Huberts, Alyssa
Machado, Fabiana
Data collection type Survey Data
Statistical type Panel Data
Data structure Structured Data
Data notes

What are the main political parties in Brazil and their ideologies?

The BEPS dataset identifies major parties active in 2010: PT (Partido dos Trabalhadores) – left-wing, pro-social welfare, associated with Lula and Dilma Rousseff. PSDB (Partido da Social Democracia Brasileira) – center-right, market-oriented, José Serra’s party. PMDB (Partido do Movimento Democrático Brasileiro) – centrist, pragmatic coalition builder. PSOL, PDT, PV, DEM, PSB, PTB, PPS, PL, PCdoB – smaller parties ranging from leftist (PSOL, PCdoB) to conservative (DEM, PL). Respondents were asked about party sympathy (vb11), showing PT and PSDB as the most polarizing forces.

Why is Brazil's political landscape so polarized?

BEPS data show polarization rooted in party identification and candidate placement on the left-right scale (l1, l1a, l1b, l1c). Lula and Dilma were consistently placed on the left. Serra was placed on the right. This ideological divide, combined with differing views on social programs (Bolsa Família, vb6e–vb6h) and corruption (exc7), created strong partisan cleavages.

How does the Brazilian multi-party system affect presidential governance?

Survey responses highlight that while voters identify with many parties, coalition-building is essential. PT supporters expected expansion of social programs. PSDB supporters favored market-oriented reforms. The fragmentation (VB11 showing multiple minor parties) means presidents must negotiate with diverse blocs, often leading to compromises and legislative gridlock.

How do economic inequality and crime rates influence Brazil's political climate and voter behavior?

BEPS asked respondents to identify the most pressing problem (a4). Top mentions: unemployment, poverty, inequality, corruption, violence. Crime victimization (vic1ext, vic2) and perceptions of insecurity (aoj11) were strongly linked to distrust in institutions. This shows that inequality and crime were central drivers of political attitudes and vote choice in 2010.

What are the core cultural values of Brazil?

While BEPS is primarily political, it captures values indirectly: Religion: majority Catholic, with growing Evangelical presence (q3c, q5a). Family and social welfare: strong support for Bolsa Família and education spending (vb7a–vb7c). Democracy: respondents agreed democracy is preferable despite problems (ing4, dem23). Collectivism: support for affirmative action (rac2, aanew) and racial mixing (rac3a, rac3b). These reflect values of solidarity, religiosity, and democratic aspiration.

How do Brazilian political values reflect the tension between populism and democratic institutions?

BEPS asked about support for executive power vs. institutions: Some respondents agreed that presidents should bypass Congress or the Supreme Court when obstructive (pop101–pop103). Yet, many also expressed pride in democracy and trust in elections (b47, pn5). This tension illustrates populist leanings coexisting with democratic commitments.

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