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Economy

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Issue Brief

If I Were a Rich Man: Public Attitudes About Wealth and Taxes

In his State of the Union address President Obama called for tax increases for the wealthiest Americans. Does the public support such a tax increase, and how do their attitudes fit into larger perceptions about wealth?

The Microfoundations of (Non-)Redistribution in Colombia

Why do some democracies remain so highly unequal? Existing political science literature equips us with surprisingly little theoretical tools to understand, much less answer, this incredibly important question. Existing foundational theories suggest that given a certain period of time, democracies should eventually redistribute income or wealth and become more egalitarian. Yet, there are a substantial number of countries that have experienced democratic rule for decades and remain virtually as unequal as they did before they democratized. Furthermore, current global trends suggest, generally speaking, inequality is on the rise in many democracies throughout the world.

taxes and spending image

In the Balance: The Public, the Budget and the Deficit

Recent news on the federal budget deficit has been unusually positive: the deficit is shrinking.

Cutting through the Noise

Public Perspective, March April 2003. The UBS Index of Investor Optimism -  The world is full of financial information ...

Everything’s Different, Nothing’s Changed

Public Perspective, January/February 2002. The immeasurable tragedy of September 11, 2001, and the events that followed, mean that everything has ...

"If the Economy Is So Good, Why Are So Many Feeling So Bad?" Bannon, Brad

Public Perspective, December/January 1998. Politicians, economists and journalists alike rave about the economy recovery the U.S. has enjoyed in the ...

Related Data

UBS Index of Investor Optimism

UBS Index of Investor Optimism, 1996-2007

The Roper Center archives the entire collection of the UBS Index of Investor Optimism studies. A joint effort of UBS and the Gallup Organization, the UBS Index of Investor Optimism is the only ongoing survey of investor outlook in the United States and Europe. Introduced in 1996 as a quarterly survey, which became monthly in 1999, the Index profiles individual investors to ensure that their attitudes, perceptions and concerns are represented in the national dialogue. Through the Roper Center, the UBS Index of Investor Optimism - U.S. and Index - EU 5 data are available to researchers in several customized formats. For the U.S.

ABC News/Washington Post Poll Update

Six ABC News/Washington Post polls conducted from May, 2014-January, 2015 are now available for download.

2014 Siena Research Institute Data Available

Eleven new 2014 Siena Research Institute studies are now available. Siena Research Institute at Siena College conducts regional, statewide and national surveys on business, economic, political, voter, social, academic and historical issues.

2001 Poverty in America Poll

The 2001 Poverty in America poll was conducted by ICR for the National Public Radio, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Kennedy School of Government.

Charts & graphics

Personal financial problems 2014

Personal financial problems 2014

How Much Money Makes You Rich 2011

How Much Money Makes You Rich 2011

How Much Money Makes You Rich 1948

How Much Money Makes You Rich 1948

More important to limit imports or allow free trade

More important to limit imports or allow free trade

Public attitudes about small, local business

Public attitudes about small, local business

Public Confidence in big business vs. small business

Public Confidence in big business vs. small business