---
title: "Lower-Income Republicans See Economic System as Less Fair"
description: "About half (51%) of low-income Republican voters say that the economic system in the U.S. unfairly favors the wealthy."
date: "2012-02-07"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2012/02/07/lower-income-republicans-see-economic-system-as-less-fair/"
---

# Lower-Income Republicans See Economic System as Less Fair

Roughly a quarter of Republican and Republican-leaning registered voters have annual family incomes under $30,000, and they have a decidedly different view about the fairness of the economic system than do those with higher incomes. Of this group, about half (51%) believe that the economic system in the U.S. unfairly favors the wealthy. In comparison, 37% of GOP voters in the $30,000-to-$74,999 annual income bracket perceive unfairness;even fewer GOP voters (28%) with incomes of $75,000 or more agree.

Just under half (49%) of low-income Republicans believe that Wall Street hurts the American economy more than it helps. In comparison, 39% of Republicans with incomes between $30,000 and $74,999 share this view. A quarter of GOP voters with incomes of over $75,000 believe that Wall Street hurts the American economy more than it helps.

The most pronounced income-based difference of opinion was on the question of whether a “few rich people and corporations have too much power in the U.S.” Seven-in-ten low-income Republicans hold this view, compared to 54% of those in the middle income bracket and 39% of those earning over $75,000. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2012/02/02/lower-income-republicans-say-government-does-too-little-for-poor-people/?src=prc-number)