The American Dream Survey

Transcript

1 The American Dream Survey March 2010

2 Methodology Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates conducted 1022 telephone interviews with adults reflective of the national 18+ population using random digit dial methodology The survey included an oversample of 257 additional interviews with 1st and 2nd generation immigrants, bringing the total immigrant sub-sample up to 418 Interviews conducted February 14-21, 2010 Margin of sampling error for the base sample is +/- 3.1% Margin of sampling error for the immigrant sub-sample is +/-4.9% 2

3 Key Findings The American Dream is in trouble. Americans overwhelmingly believe that the Dream is harder for them to achieve than prior generations and that it will be even harder for the generation after them. They also believe the country is in decline. 3

4 Key Findings Despite these attitudes, people still believe in their own ability to achieve the American Dream 67 percent are confident that they can reach it in their lifetime. Immigrants and minorities are more hopeful and positive about the condition of the Dream. 4

5 General Perceptions of

6 The American Dream is in trouble. 1(Worst possible condition) % 9% 10% 22% 5 22% (Best possible 1% 6% 5% 10% 9% Overall Score: 45 Only 21% give the condition of the Dream a rating of 7 or better. Don't know 3% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 6.On a scale of one to ten, where ten means the best possible condition of the Dream and one means the worst possible condition of the Dream, where would you rate? Feel free to use any number between one and ten to express your opinion. 6

7 And a solid majority say it is harder for them to reach the Dream than it was for their parents generation. Do you think it is easier or harder to reach today than it was for your parents generation before? Much easier Somewhat easier 12% 21% Total Easier 33% About the same 6% Somewhat harder Much harder 28% 32% Total Harder 60% Don t know 1% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% Q9. 7

8 An even greater majority believe it will be even harder for the generation after them. And what about for your children or grandchildren? Do you think it will be easier or harder for them to reach than it has been or is for you? Much easier Somewhat easier 8% 15% Total Easier 23% About the same 5% Somewhat harder Much harder 23% 45% Total Harder 68% Don t know 4% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Q10. 8

9 A majority also believe that America is in decline. Thinking about America s long term prospects, do you think the country is on the rise or do you feel it is in decline? On the rise 32% Don t know 3% Will stay the same 7% In decline 58% Q18. 9

10 And that America no longer has the strongest claim to the future. Do you believe that for the rest of the world America is still the standard of success and represents the future or do you think that America is no longer unique, and that the world now looks to many different countries to see where things are headed in the future? America still represents the future 45% The world now looks to many different countries 52% Don t know 3% Q19. 10

11 Nonetheless, Americans are confident that they can reach the Dream in their lifetime. How confident are you that you already have reached or will reach in your lifetime? Would you say you are extremely confident, fairly confident, only somewhat confident or not confident at all? Extremely confident Fairly confident 33% 34% Total 67% Only somewhat confident Not confident at all 10% 22% Don t know 1% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% Q8. 11

12 And they believe achieving is dependent mostly upon hard work. 1 (Entirely based on luck or circumstances) 2 3 1% 4% 6% 4 14% 7 (Entirely based on hard work) % 23% 35% Don t know 1% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% Q11. 12

13 Americans most commonly define the American Dream in terms of opportunity, freedom and family. When you think of personally, which of the following words comes first to mind not in terms of what anyone else believes the Dream is, but what you think it is? Opportunity Freedom Family Financial security Happiness A good job Home ownership Wealth Other Don't know 4% 4% 2% 1% 1% 3% 1st Choice 20% 15% 19% 14% 17% 19% 14% 15% 8% 11% 7% 11% 7% 6% 13% 8% 3% 4% 2nd Choice 19% 18% 29% 35% 33% 36% (Ranked by 1 st Choice) 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% Q7. 13

14 Those who define in terms of financial security, register a particularly low rating. (1 st Choice Only) 1-4 (Worst possible condition) (Best possible condition) Don't know Financial security Happiness Freedom Family Opportunity Home ownership A good job Wealth 56% 22% 21% 1% 47% 10% 38% 5% 46% 17% 37% 41% 27% 31% 1% 41% 25% 31% 3% 39% 22% 37% 2% 38% 24% 32% 6% 35% 25% 40% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 6.On a scale of one to ten, where ten means the best possible condition of the Dream and one means the worst possible condition of the Dream, where would you rate? Feel free to use any number between one and ten to express your opinion. 14

15 Defining Latinos and immigrants associate the Dream most often with opportunity, a good job or homeownership. African-Americans associate the Dream most often with wealth. Middle-class and middle-aged Whites, particularly women, most often associate the Dream with financial security. Freedom is mentioned most often by men over age 50, and more affluent Whites. Family is mentioned most often by homemakers and working class Whites particularly White women over age

16 African Americans and Latinos are more positive about the condition of. 1-4 (Worst possible condition) 6-10 (Best possible condition) 60% 48% 45% 36% 35% 35% 29% 37% 39% 36% 30% 15% 0% White Latino Black Nonwhite White Latino Black Nonwhite 6.On a scale of one to ten, where ten means the best possible condition of the Dream and one means the worst possible condition of the Dream, where would you rate? Feel free to use any number between one and ten to express your opinion. 16

17 Immigrants are also more positive. 1-4 (Worst possible condition) (Best possible condition) Don't know 75% 60% 46% 47% 45% 31% 30% 30% 21% 19% 15% 2% 3% 0% Born in US Born outside US (% of Sample) (91%) (9%) 6.On a scale of one to ten, where ten means the best possible condition of the Dream and one means the worst possible condition of the Dream, where would you rate? Feel free to use any number between one and ten to express your opinion. 17

18 Those in the Midwest rate the condition of lowest. 75% 1-4 (Worst possible condition) (Best possible condition) Don't know 60% 51% 45% 30% 41% 25% 33% 20% 27% 44% 23% 31% 42% 21% 35% 15% 1% 2% 2% 2% 0% Northeast Midwest South West (% of Sample) (18%) (22%) (37%) (23%) 6.On a scale of one to ten, where ten means the best possible condition of the Dream and one means the worst possible condition of the Dream, where would you rate? Feel free to use any number between one and ten to express your opinion. 18

19 Younger Americans offer a more positive assessment of. 1-4(Worst possible condition) 6-10 (Best possible condition) 60% 51% 46% 47% 45% 39% 39% 39% 29% 31% 33% 30% 24% 15% 0% On a scale of one to ten, where ten means the best possible condition of the Dream and one means the worst possible condition of the Dream, where would you rate? Feel free to use any number between one and ten to express your opinion. 19

20 For more information, contact: Founding Director Xavier University 3800 Victory Parkway Cincinnati, OH Phone (513) Partner Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates 10 East Doty Street, Suite 830 Madison, WI Phone (608) Fax (608)