The Real Economy

Public opinion about inequality in the United States is closely intertwined with perception about the distribution of income. According to a 2020 Pew survey, 61% of respondents believe that there is too much inequality in the United States. Among those who share this belief, 60% favor increasing taxes on the wealthy while half support entitlement expansions such as universal healthcare. These data reinforce earlier surveys that show rising perceptions of conflict between the wealthy and the rest of American society, as symbolized by the “Occupy Wall Street” movement of the early 2010s. Younger voters in particular have stronger perceptions of a widening class divide, as well as a tendency to see government intervention into the economy in a more positive light. A 2022 survey revealed that positive impressions of socialism among 18–29-year-olds (40%) reached near parity with positive impressions of capitalism (44%).