About one-in-four Americans say they’ve had fewer advantages in life than others their age
Overall, 29% of U.S. adults said they have had more advantages in life than others their age; 26% felt they have had fewer advantages.
Most Americans Point to Circumstances, Not Work Ethic, for Why People Are Rich or Poor
On the fundamental question of why some people are rich and others are poor, more Americans point to the advantages they possess – or the obstacles they face – rather than their work ethic. Nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults (65%) say the main reason some people are rich is because they have had more advantages […]
6 facts about economic inequality in the U.S.
Over the past 50 years, the highest-earning 20% of U.S. households have steadily brought in a larger share of the country’s total income.
70% of Americans say U.S. economic system unfairly favors the powerful
Seven-in-ten U.S. adults say the U.S. economic system unfairly favors powerful interests. Less than a third say the system is generally fair.
Most Americans Say There Is Too Much Economic Inequality in the U.S., but Fewer Than Half Call It a Top Priority
About six-in-ten U.S. adults say there’s too much economic inequality in the country these days, and among that group, most say addressing it requires significant changes to the country’s economic system, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.
Most Americans Say the Current Economy Is Helping the Rich, Hurting the Poor and Middle Class
Three-in-four Republicans give the economy positive ratings, while a majority of Democrats rate it negatively. But within parties, views differ widely by income.
Veteran households in U.S. are economically better off than those of non-veterans
U.S. military veterans and their families have consistently had higher standards of living than non-veterans over the past 40 years.
Households headed by less-educated adults have seen significant income gains during U.S. recovery
Household incomes in the United States have rebounded from their 2012 bottom in the wake of the Great Recession. And for the most part, the typical incomes of households headed by less-educated adults as well as more-educated adults have increased.
Two-thirds of Americans favor raising federal minimum wage to $15 an hour
Democrats are largely united in backing a $15 an hour federal minimum wage. Republican opinion on this issue is more divided.
Public’s Views of Nation’s Economy Remain Positive and Deeply Partisan
Americans continue to have positive views of the nation’s economy, though views are split by party. Most Republicans and half of Democrats rate their personal finances positively.
