{"id":50241,"date":"2011-12-15T09:26:46","date_gmt":"2011-12-15T14:26:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2011\/12\/15\/section-3-views-of-national-economy-major-economic-threats\/"},"modified":"2024-04-14T03:48:15","modified_gmt":"2024-04-14T08:48:15","slug":"section-3-views-of-national-economy-major-economic-threats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2011\/12\/15\/section-3-views-of-national-economy-major-economic-threats\/","title":{"rendered":"Section 3: Views of National Economy, Major Economic Threats"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

The vast majority of Americans rate U.S. economic conditions as only fair (38%) or poor (53%) and most expect more of the same \u2013 or worse \u2013 over the course of the next year. Half (50%) expect the economy to be unchanged a year from now, while 18% expect things to get worse. Just 28% expect the economy to improve.<\/p>\n\n

These grim expectations come even as fewer Americans say they are hearing mostly bad news about the economy. In a separate survey conducted Dec. 1-4, 36% said the economic news these days is mostly bad, down from 67% four months ago.<\/p>\n\n

The public\u2019s economic outlook has soured over the past two years. In June 2009 nearly half (48%) were optimistic about the economy, and as recently as April 2010, a 42% plurality expected economic conditions in the country to improve over the next year. That figure fell to 29% in June and August of this year and remains low, at 28% today.<\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

Democrats are more optimistic than either Republicans or independents; 39% of Democrats think the economy will improve over the coming year compared with 21% and 23% of Republicans and independents, respectively. Yet Democratic expectations have declined sharply over the past few years. As recently as April 2010, 61% of Democrats thought the economy was on track to improve.<\/p>\n\n

Threats to America\u2019s Economic Well-Being<\/h3>\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

Asked to rate several possible threats to the country\u2019s economic well being, 76% say the size of the national debt is a major threat, while smaller majorities cite economic competition from China (59%) and the power of financial institutions and banks (56%). Fewer than half say Europe\u2019s economic problems (46%) and government regulation of business (44%) are major threats to the nation\u2019s economic well-being.<\/p>\n\n

Large majorities across partisan groups see the national debt as a major threat, but Republicans (88%) are more likely than Democrats (67%) to express this view; 77% of independents say the size of the national debt represents a major threat to U.S. well-being.<\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

The partisan gap is even wider in views of whether government regulation of business is a major economic threat. More than six-in-ten Republicans (63%) say government regulation is a major threat; just 42% of independents and 33% of Democrats agree.<\/p>\n\n

Most Democrats (62%) and independents (59%) say the power of financial institutions is a major threat to the nation\u2019s economic well-being, compared with 45% of Republicans.<\/p>\n\n

Europe\u2019s economic problems are not widely seen as a danger to the U.S. economy. Only about half of Republicans and independents (49% each) say Europe\u2019s problems represent a major threat to the economic well-being of the United States. Similarly, 43% of Democrats see the situation in Europe as a major threat.<\/p>\n\n

Personal Finances: Not Great Now, But Expected to Improve<\/h3>\n\n

Americans\u2019 assessments of their own finances have remained steady, if not especially positive. About four-in-ten call their personal financial situations excellent (6%) or good (32%), while more say they are in only fair (37%) or poor (24%) shape financially.<\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

At the same time, most Americans remain optimistic about their financial futures: 58% expect their own financial situations to improve over the next year. This has varied little in recent years, and financial hope has a long history: Since the question was first asked almost 20 years ago, a majority always has said their own financial situations would improve over the next year.<\/p>\n\n

Republicans are more likely to say their current economic situations are excellent or good (54%) than are independents (36%) or Democrats (32%). Democrats are slightly more likely than Republicans to expect their personal finances to improve over the next year (62% versus 54%); 60% of independents also express optimism about their finances.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The vast majority of Americans rate U.S. economic conditions as only fair (38%) or poor (53%) and most expect more of the same \u2013 or worse \u2013 over the course of the next year. Half (50%) expect the economy to be unchanged a year from now, while 18% expect things to get worse. Just 28% 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