---
title: "Public Views of Inequality, Fairness and Wall Street"
description: "Roughly three-quarters of the public (77%) say that they think there is too much power in the hands of a few rich people and large corporations in the United States."
date: "2012-01-05"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2012/01/05/public-views-of-inequality-fairness-and-wall-street/"
---

# Public Views of Inequality, Fairness and Wall Street

Roughly three-quarters of the public (77%) say that they think there is too much power in the hands of a few rich people and large corporations in the United States. About nine-in-ten (91%) Democrats and eight-in-ten (80%) of independents hold this view; a much narrower majority (53%) of Republicans do as well. For historical perspective, six-in-ten (60%) Americans expressed this view in a 1941 Gallup poll.

Reflecting a parallel sentiment, 61% of Americans now say that the economic system in this country unfairly favors the wealthy; just 36% say the system is generally fair to most Americans. About three-quarters (76%) of Democrats and 61% of independents share this view. In contrast, a majority (58%) of Republicans say that the system is generally fair to most Americans.

The public also views Wall Street negatively — this has changed little since March of this year. Currently, just 36% of people say Wall Street helps the economy more than it hurts it; 51% say it hurts more than it helps. Majorities of both Democrats (60%) and independents (54%) say Wall Street hurts more than helps, while. Nearly half of Republicans say Wall Street helps the economy (49%). [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2011/12/15/section-2-occupy-wall-street-and-inequality/?src=prc-number)