What’s Your Opinion



Surveying Public Opinion

(Regarding Economic Mobility in the United States)

PART 1: See below for the percentage breakdowns of the 1,503 Americans that were polled about wealth and inequality by the Pew Research Center between July 25-29, 2007. (Note: the same questions were asked in 2001 and 1988 and those results are also included below). Click here to access the full report.

Question W1:

Is America divided into “haves” and “have-nots”?

National Survey Results 1988 2001 2007

Yes 26 44 48

No 71 53 48

Don’t Know 3 3 4

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Question W2:

If you had to choose are you in the “haves,” the “have-nots,” “neither or don’t know”?

National Survey Results 1988 2001 2007

Haves 59 52 45

Have-nots 17 32 34

Neither/Don’t Know 24 16 21

PART 2: See below for the percentage breakdowns of the 1,764 Americans that were polled about economic mobility by the New York Times/CBS between March 3-14, 2005. (Note: question W3 was also asked in 1983 and those results are included below as well). Click here to access the full report.

Question W3:

Do you think it’s still possible to start out poor in this country, work hard, and become rich?

National Survey Results 1983 2005

Possible 57 80

Not Possible 38 19

Don’t Know 5 2

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Question W4:

Do you think you will reach, as you define it, ‘The American Dream’ in your lifetime, or have you already reached it?

National Survey Results 2005

Already reached it 32

Will reach it in lifetime 38

Will not reach it in lifetime 27

Don’t Know 3

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Question W5:

What does the phrase The American Dream mean to you? Please choose one (and only one) of the following:

Financial security/steady job____________

Freedom/opportunity____________

Have a house/home____________

Family____________

Happiness/contentment/peace of mind____________

Life in America____________

Good job____________

Successful____________

Health____________

Comfortable retirement____________

To pay little/no taxes____________

Doesnt exist/illusion/nothing____________

Other____________

Don’t Know____________

National Survey Results 2005

Financial security/steady job 19

Freedom/opportunity 20

Have a house/home 13

Family 7

Happiness/contentment/peace of mind 19

Life in America 1

Good job 1

Successful 7

Health 2

Comfortable retirement 2

To pay little/no taxes -

Doesnt exist/illusion/nothing 2

Other 2

Don’t Know 5

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Question W6:

Compared to your parents when they were the age you are now, do you think your own standard of living now is much better, somewhat better, about the same, somewhat worse, or much worse than theirs was?

National Survey Results 2005

Much better 39

Somewhat better 27

About the same 20

Somewhat worse 9

Much worse 4

Don’t know 1

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Question W7:

Looking ahead, how likely is it that you will ever be financially wealthy? Would you say it is very likely, somewhat likely, not very likely or not at all likely?

National Survey Results 2005

Very likely 11

Somewhat likely 34

Not very likely 30

Not at all likely 22

Already rich 1

It depends 1

Don’t Know 1

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Question W8:

We talk a lot about people being in one or another social class --the middle class, or the working class, or the upper class. We’d like to know what these terms mean to people nowadays. What do you think determines what social class a person is in? Please choose one (and only one) of the following:

Income_______________

Education_______________

Occupation/job_______________

Values/Behavior_______________

Possessions_______________

Social standing_______________

Environment_______________

Background/Religion_______________

Wealth/money/net worth_______________

Nothing_______________

Other_______________

Don’t Know_______________

National Survey Results 2005

Income 24

Education 7

Occupation/job 6

Values/Behavior 4

Possessions 1

Social standing 2

Environment 1

Background/Religion 2

Wealth/money/net worth 38

Nothing -

Other 2

Don’t Know 14

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Question W9:

How important do you think coming from a wealthy family is for getting ahead in life — essential, very important, somewhat important, not very important or not important at all?

National Survey Results 2005

Essential 11

Very Important 33

Somewhat important 40

Not very important 10

Not at all 6

Don’t know 1

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Question W10:

How important do you think having a good education is for getting ahead in life — essential, very important, somewhat important, not very important or not at all important?

National Survey Results 2005

Essential 39

Very Important 46

Somewhat important 12

Not very important 2

Not at all -

Don’t know -

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Question W11:

How important do you think hard work is for getting ahead in life — essential, very important, somewhat important, not very important or not at all important?

National Survey Results 2005

Essential 22

Very Important 49

Somewhat important 26

Not very important 1

Not at all -

Don’t know 2

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Question W12:

How important do you think knowing the right people is for getting ahead in life — essential, very important, somewhat important, not very important or not at all important?

National Survey Results 2005

Essential 46

Very Important 41

Somewhat important 11

Not very important 2

Not at all -

Don’t know -

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Question W13:

A person’s social class is determined by a number of things including education, income, occupation and wealth. If you were asked to use one of these five names for your social class, which would you say you belong in -- upper class, upper-middle class, middle class, working class, or lower class?

National Survey Results 2005

Upper 1

Upper-middle 15

Middle 42

Working 35

Lower 7

Don’t Know 1

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