Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

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Short Reads

Short-form data and analysis from Pew Research Center writers and social scientists. To view all our reports and publications, visit our main Publications page.

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  • short reads

    The new legal battlefield over abortion

    Forty years after Roe v. Wade, the legal battles over abortion are far from over. In 2013 alone, state legislatures have enacted more than 40 new provisions aimed at restricting abortion access.

  • short reads

    Quarterly GDP estimates: Squishy, but still valuable

    The first read on each quarter’s GDP growth is eagerly anticipated by economists, forecasters and pundits of all stripes. But those numbers are almost certain to be revised; their true value lies in what they say about the U.S. economy’s overall direction.

  • short reads

    Before pope’s comments, Latin American Catholics expressed acceptance of homosexuality

    Pope Francis made headlines yesterday in response to a question about the supposed “gay lobby” in the Vatican. The pope reportedly reaffirmed the Roman Catholic Church’s position that while homosexual acts were sinful, orientation was not. But he added, “If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge […]

  • short reads

    What Univision’s milestone says about U.S. demographics

    Spanish-language television reached a new milestone in America. Univision finished first among broadcast networks during July sweeps in two highly sought-after demographics: 18- to 49-year-olds and 18- to 34-year-olds. According to Nielsen, between June 27, 2013, and July 24, 2013, Univision averaged 1.8 million viewers ages 18 to 49 nightly, beating out English-language networks FOX, […]

  • short reads

    As Israelis, Palestinians get ready for peace talks, many welcome American role

    Many critics have questioned whether Secretary of State John Kerry’s focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is worth the effort, given the region’s rich history of diplomatic disappointment, but Kerry has managed to bring the two sides together this week in Washington for their first talks in several years.  Polling finds limited optimism about the prospects […]

  • short reads

    More evidence of preference for sons

    As the number of babies born to unmarried mothers has risen, so has interest from government officials in persuading unmarried fathers to sign a paternity acknowledgement form that gets their name added to the birth certificate. It’s standard practice now for hospitals to ask those dads to sign–but not everyone does. What makes a difference […]

  • short reads

    Americans want to mind their own business

    Nearly half of Americans say the country should mind its own business internationally and let other countries get along as best they can on their own.