Income inequality and lack of opportunity are oftentimes at the root of many of today’s biggest social issues: from current unrest in Baltimore to clamors for college affordability. In this month’s political report, “Public opinion on income inequality,” AEI polling expert Karlyn Bowman finds that overall, Americans believe income inequality is a problem but are not as supportive of redistribution as some might think. Major data points are below:
The income gap as a priority: When CBS News asked in February about the most important problem facing the country, the highest percentage (18 percent) said the economy and jobs, whereas only 4 percent said the “income gap/disparity.”
Income gap perceived as growing: Sixty-nine percent of Americans polled said in January that the gap between rich and the poor is getting larger, 6 percent said it was getting smaller, and 23 percent said it has stayed the same (CBS News).
The politics: Forty-four percent of Americans think Democrats have better ideas about how to address the income gap, while 33 percent think Republicans do (ABC/Washington Post).
Government’s role in money and wealth distribution: Since 1984, around 6 in 10 Americans have said that money and wealth should be distributed more evenly among more people. But a Selzer & Company/Bloomberg question asked three times since 2013 shows that Americans are evenly divided as to whether the government should implement policies designed to shrink the gap or if it should stand aside and let the market operate freely, even if the gap widens.
For more on American’s thoughts on income inequality, check out Bowman’s corresponding piece, “Government and the income gap.”
To arrange an interview with Karlyn Bowman or another AEI scholar, please contact media services at mediaservices@aei.org or 202.862.5829.
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