… Recently, studies by two independent research teams (each led by an author of this article) found that Americans across the economic spectrum did indeed severely misjudge the amount of upward mobility in society. The data also confirmed the psychological utility of this mistake: Overestimating upward mobility was self-serving for […] Read more »
American Men Embracing Gender Equality
The gender revolution has met the demographic revolution. A new survey of men’s attitudes toward women, family, and relations between the sexes has found much more similarity than difference among the perspectives of whites, African-Americans, Hispanics, and other minorities. That convergence suggests that changes in family and gender dynamics are […] Read more »
Left vs. Right: How Populism Plays in 2016 Race
The 2016 presidential campaign is just getting underway, but so far one message seems clear: populism’s moment has arrived. After years of tough economic times candidates are especially focused on “the little guy” – or at least the littler guy. … But expect very different brands of populism to be […] Read more »
Fewer Americans Identify as Middle Class in Recent Years
Americans are considerably less likely now than they were in 2008 and years prior to identify themselves as middle class or upper-middle class, while the percentage putting themselves in the working or lower class has risen. Currently, 51% of Americans say they are middle class or upper-middle class, while 48% […] Read more »
Mixed Views of Impact of Long-Term Decline in Union Membership
Over the past three decades, the share of wage and salary workers in the United States who belong to labor unions has fallen by about half. The public expresses mixed views of the impact of the long-term decline in union membership on the country: 45% say this has been mostly […] Read more »
A New Formula for a Real Democratic Majority
What is the biggest obstacle to Democrats truly winning a national election and pursuing a progressive agenda? What is the biggest obstacle to Democrats winning big enough, geographically broad enough, and deep enough to overcome the constitutional barriers to a governing majority in America? I posed that first question in […] Read more »