What Does the American Dream Mean in 2015? Summary Report презентация

Methodology

Audiences Polled

Methodology

TIMING: June 8 - June 19, 2015

Gen Pop

Broad Elites
College graduate or higher
Income of $75,000 or more a year
Engaged with politics/technology

Research Objectives:
Defining the Dream—associations and obtainability of the American Dream
Identifying barriers to the Dream—greatest obstacles to achieving the dream
Reducing Barriers—Identifying whether there is a need or not, who is responsible, and best methods to reduce barriers
Understanding American perceptions surrounding the American Dream today— core concepts of the dream, prevalence, and views on the nation as a whole

Americans are pessimistic about the direction of the nation country

Almost three-quarters of Americans believe they are currently living the dream or will be able to attain it in the future

77% of Millennials say that they are living the dream or believe they can, racial minorities more optimistic than white Americans

Q12. How satisfied are you with your life?
Q13. How optimistic are you about your future?

Q27. Are you happy or unhappy in your job?

Most believe that the key characteristics of the American Dream are achievable

Most Americans consider suburban neighborhoods closest to their “ideal” in terms of where to live neighborhood

Millennials also prefer the suburbs and are only slightly more interested in urban living than other age cohorts

Broad Elites are more than twice as likely to have 6 months emergency savings and a retirement plan vs. Gen Pop

Q17. Which of the following items do you or your immediate family have or own? Please select all that apply.

All ages view Financial Security as central to their own, personal American Dream

Younger Americans want jobs that Pay a lot of money, whereas older Americans are interested in Work/life balance and an Easy commute

Q12. How satisfied are you with your life?
Q13. How optimistic are you about your future?

All

Age

Ethnicity among 51-64

When asked directly, Millennials are the most likely of all age cohorts to indicate that marriage and having children are part of the American Dream

Roughly one-third of Americans believe race is an important factor for attaining the American Dream, though most don’t believe it has affected them personally

However over half of both audiences believe it has made it more difficult for them

African-Americans believe that race is an important factor in the availability of the American Dream and has affected them personally

As long as everyone has opportunity, Americans believe it is okay that some people fail to achieve their goals

Americans believe action should be taken immediately to reduce the barriers to the Dream

Republicans view Government as the biggest barrier to the dream, while Democrats and Independents view it as Lack of Opportunity

Democrats and Independents focus on Expand Access/Opportunities to reduce barriers to the Dream, while Republicans Focus on Reducing Government

*Asked of only those that indicated action needs to be taken