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
------------------------------------------------------
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
------------------------------------------------------
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
------------------------------------------------------
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
------------------------------------------------------
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
------------------------------------------------------
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
------------------------------------------------------
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
------------------------------------------------------
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
------------------------------------------------------
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 -
------------------------------------------------------
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
------------------------------------------------------
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 -
------------------------------------------------------
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
................
................
In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.
To fulfill the demand for quickly locating and searching documents.
It is intelligent file search solution for home and business.