Pew Research Center. Social & Demographic Trends
Majorities predict a weaker economy, a growing income divide, a degraded environment and a broken political system.
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| Overall view | Economics |
| 1. Public is broadly pessimistic about the future of America. | 1. About four-in-ten Americans say, by the time they retire, Social Security won’t have enough money to provide benefits |
| 2. Narrow majority of Americans are optimistic about the future of the U.S. over the next 30 years. | 2. Few Americans predict a better standard of living for families in 2050. |
| 3. Whites, highly educated more pessimistic about country’s future standing in the world. | 3. Large majority says health care for all would benefit future generations. |
| 4. Less educated adults are more likely to say another major terrorist attack will happen. | 4. Majorities say increased government spending on health care, education would improve life for future generations. |
| Race and minority relations | 5. Who will pay – and who should pay – for long-term eldercare in the future? |
| 1. Nearly half of whites say a majority non-white population will weaken American culture. | 6. Slightly more than half the country expects a weaker economy in 30 years. |
| 2. Minorities are more optimistic than whites about the country’s future. | 7. Majority expects national debt to be larger in 30 years. |
| 3. A majority of Americans say population aging will have a negative impact; views of growing racial and ethnic diversity are more mixed. | 8. Race and income linked to predictions about the sizes of the social classes in 2050. |
| 4  No consensus on the impact of the U.S. having a majority nonwhite population by 2050. | 9. Many are pessimistic about the future standard of living for American families. |
| 5. More Americans say having a majority non-white population will have a negative impact on conflicts and culture than say it will have a positive impact. | 10. Majority says older adults will have a worse standard of living in 2050 than they do today. |
| 6. About half of Americans say the rise in interracial marriage is having a positive impact on the country. | 11. About four-in-ten Americans say, by the time they retire, Social Security won’t have enough money to provide benefits. |
| 7. Large majorities expect a woman and a Hispanic U.S. president by 2050. | 12. Majorities across demographic groups say no cuts should be made to Social Security benefits in the future. |
| 8. Most Americans worry about the country’s moral values; half say religion will become less important | 13. Most say older adults will be less financially prepared for retirement in the future. |
| 9. Whites, those who attended college more likely to say religion will be less important in 2050 | 14. Many say government should play major role in financing long-term care for older adults; few think that will be the case. |
| 10. Predictions about the future of marriage, divorce and childbearing differ by race. | 15. Opinions differ across groups on the government’s responsibility for the cost of long-term care. |
| 11. A majority of Americans say people will be less likely to get married in the future; about six-in-ten expect divorce rate to stay about the same. | 16. About half of adults say U.S. workers will have less job security by 2050. |
| 12. More than four-in-ten think people will be less likely to have children in the future. | 17. Most Americans say workers should rely on the education system and themselves for skills and training. |
| 13. Narrow majority of Americans say aging population will be a bad thing for country. | 18. Young adults less likely to see military having a positive impact in the future. |
| Technology | Political view |
| 1. Older adults, those with less education more negative about the impact of automation. | 1. Roughly half of adults are very worried about the way Washington works and political leaders’ ability to solve problems in the country’s future. |
| 2. Adults with less education more likely to say the work they do will be done by robots or computers | 2. Parties are divided over future role of government but united in their view that polarization will worsen. |
| 3. Americans think science and technology will have a positive impact in solving future problems; few say the same about the federal government. | 3. Democrats and young adults voice greater concern over climate change. |
| 4. On balance, public says automation has done more harm than good for U.S. workers. | 4. Majorities say increased government spending on health care, education would improve life for future generations. |
| 5. Public says robots will take over much of the work done by humans, but most workers don’t think it will affect their own type of work. | 5. Republicans and Democrats have different ideas about what government should do to improve the lives of future generations of Americans. |
| 6. Most say workplace automation will lead to more economic inequality. | 6. Big income differences among Republicans on future priorities for the federal government. |
| 7. Republicans have a negative view of the role the news media will play in solving future problems. | |
| 8. Republicans and Democrats disagree on who should be responsible for worker training. | |
| 9. Parties are deeply divided on future worries and priorities. | |
| 10. Parties are united in their view that polarization will worsen in the future. |
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