Stark divisions by political identification and race emerge regarding economic opportunity in America

Washington, DC, September 24, 2020 –A new Public Agenda/USA Today/Ipsos Hidden Common Ground survey finds that Americans are divided along party lines and racial identification on perceptions of economic opportunity. Altogether, though, there is widespread partisan support for creating jobs through infrastructure upgrades and creating retraining programs for adults to better compete in emerging industries. Across racial groups, there is equal support for funding research in select industries, providing tax breaks to job-creating businesses, and decreasing business regulations.

Detailed Findings

Fewer Democrats and non-white Americans believe there is equal access to economic success in America.

• Two-thirds of Republicans agree that you will succeed no matter what if you work hard, a view shared by 41% of Democrats (50% of Americans overall).
• In contrast, 60% of Democrats agree that racial discrimination makes it more difficult for people of color to succeed. Just 28% of Republicans say the same.
• White Americans, like Republicans, are less likely to see racial discrimination as a barrier to economic success. Just 35% of white Americans agree that racial discrimination makes it harder for non-white Americans to succeed while 67% of Black Americans and 56% of Hispanic Americans agree with this statement.
• Adding to this, more Black (59%) and Hispanic Americans (49%) report experiencing serious financial hardship over the last six months when compared to white Americans (37%).

Americans overall are split on perceptions of equality of the economy, revealing dramatic divisions across party lines. Moreover, Republicans and white Americans have different priorities than Democrats and Black Americans for the country’s economy overall.

• Americans are split on if the nation’s economy, prior to the coronavirus pandemic, worked well for most Americans or just some of them. Forty-four percent say it worked well for most or all Americans, but 48% say it worked well for just some or few Americans.
• Across political lines, this divide is more dramatic. While 71% of Republicans believe the economy works well for all or most Americans, just 26% of Democrats share the sentiment.
• Moreover, 78% of Democrats feel that the economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful, compared to 40% of Republicans.
• While Democrats and Black Americans are most likely to list increased taxes for wealthy people and corporations (50% and 39%, respectively) as a top priority for the country’s economy, Republicans and white Americans are most likely to prioritize America manufacturing more and importing less (47% and 41%, respectively) over other proposals.

Even with differences in priorities and policies, there is shared support and agreement on some changes to the country’s economy across party lines and racial identifications.

• Equal majorities of Democrats and Republicans support creating good jobs by upgrading infrastructure (80% overall, 83% of Republicans, 82% of Democrats) and creating retraining programs that give adults the skills to compete for good quality jobs (80% overall, 86% of Republicans, 82% of Democrats). Majorities, although at varying levels, also support raising the minimum wage, providing tax breaks to job-creating businesses, creating incentives for American businesses to operate in the U.S., funding research in emerging industries, and making affordable childcare available for all.
• Pluralities of white, Black and Hispanic Americans support nearly all measures, with equal levels of support for providing tax breaks to and decreasing regulations of job-creating businesses and funding research in the tech/science/green energy industries.
• Democrats and Republicans both agree that strong community connections and public policies benefitting small businesses would make a difference in building a strong local economy for all. Also, similar majorities of white, Black, and Hispanic Americans believe that strong community ties, diversity, and anti-discrimination policies would make a difference in their communities building an economy where everyone has an equal chance to succeed.

Please visit www.publicagenda.org to read the full report and www.usatoday.com to read the article.

About the Study

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted between August 28-31, 2020, on behalf of Public Agenda and USA Today. For this survey, a sample of 1,114 adults age 18+ from the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii was interviewed online in English. The poll includes 436 Republicans, 486 Democrats, 118 Independents, and 74 apolitical individuals. The poll is trended with Public Agenda/USA Today/Ipsos polls conducted:

• February 20-21, 2020, among 1,007 U.S. adults
• March 27-30, 2020, among 1,002 U.S. adults
• May 22-26, 2020, among 1,004 U.S. adults

The topline also includes data from polls conducted:

• July 26-27, 2017, among 1,008 U.S. adults 
• June 26-27, 2018, among 1,004 U.S. adults, on behalf of USA Today

The sample for this study was randomly drawn from Ipsos’ online panel (see link below for more info on “Access Panels and Recruitment”), partner online panel sources, and “river” sampling (see link below for more info on the Ipsos “Ampario Overview” sample method) and does not rely on a population frame in the traditional sense. Ipsos uses fixed sample targets, unique to each study, in drawing a sample. After a sample has been obtained from the Ipsos panel, Ipsos calibrates respondent characteristics to be representative of the U.S. Population using standard procedures such as raking-ratio adjustments. The source of these population targets is U.S. Census 2018 American Community Survey data. The sample drawn for this study reflects fixed sample targets on demographics. Posthoc weights were made to the population characteristics on gender, age, race/ethnicity, region, and education.

Statistical margins of error are not applicable to online non-probability polls. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error and measurement error. Where figures do not sum to 100, this is due to the effects of rounding. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points for all respondents. Ipsos calculates a design effect (DEFF) for each study based on the variation of the weights, following the formula of Kish (1965). This study had a credibility interval adjusted for design effect of the following (n=1,114, DEFF=1.5, adjusted Confidence Interval=+/-4.8 percentage points).

The poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 5.4 percentage points for Republicans, plus or minus 5.1 percentage points for Democrats, plus or minus 10.3 percentage points for Independents, and plus or minus 13.0 percentage points for apolitical individuals. All polls included for trending have credibility intervals of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points for all respondents.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Chris Jackson
Senior Vice President, US Public Affairs
+1 202 420-2025
[email protected]

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