---
title: "A Society of Haves and Have-Nots?"
description: "That's the share of the public who say that American society is divided into two groups, the \"haves\" and the \"have-nots.\" An equal number (48%) say society is not divided."
date: "2007-10-10"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2007/10/10/a-society-of-haves-and-have-nots/"
---

# A Society of Haves and Have-Nots?

Over the past two decades, a growing share of the public has come to the view that American society is divided into two groups, the “haves” and the “have-nots.” Today, Americans are split evenly on the two-class question with as many saying the country is divided along economic lines as say this is not the case ((48% each). In sharp contrast, in 1988 71% rejected this notion, while just 26% saw a divided nation. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/593/haves-have-nots)