The majority of Americans (62%) believe that the nearly $800 billion economic stimulus package, passed by Congress and signed by the president a little over a year ago, has not helped the job situation. Just a third (33%) say the package has made a positive impact. Most Republicans (79%) and independents (69%) do not think the stimulus has helped create jobs, but even Democrats are not overwhelmingly positive about the stimulus (51% say it helped; 42% say it has not). African Americans (58%) are far more likely to say the stimulus has helped with jobs than are whites (28%). More college graduates (39%) believe the stimulus has helped than those with less education, but it is still a minority opinion. There is little to no difference in opinion about the efficacy of the economic stimulus among income groups. Read More

Russell Heimlich  is a former web developer at Pew Research Center.