KRC Research

The American Dream

November 2, 2009

KRC Research recently conducted a nationally representative telephone survey of 1,000 adults, ages 18 and older examining how the recent financial crisis was impacting consumer's optimism, especially around their pursuit of "The American Dream."

The American Dream is overwhelmingly important and meaningful to U.S. adults. And most believe they will eventually obtain it. Many American's define the American Dream through wealth, home ownership, having a job, freedom and happiness.

• 87% of respondents say the idea of the American Dream is important to them, with more than half (58%) believing it is "very important."
• Eighty percent (80%) say they are confident they will eventually obtain the American Dream, with close to half (46%) of U.S. adults saying they are "very confident."
• More than half (56%) of African-American adults say they are "very confident" they will eventually obtain the American Dream compared to 48% of whites and only 25% of Hispanic-Americans.

People with less education place higher importance on The American Dream. But those with less education also feel LESS hopeful that they will obtain the American Dream.

• Adults who have not graduated from college place a higher degree of importance on the idea of the American Dream, especially those who did not complete high school.
• Close to two-thirds (63%) of adults who have not graduated from college say the idea of the American Dream is "very important and meaningful" to them compared to 49% of college graduates.
• Adults who have not graduated from college are not as confident they will eventually achieve the American Dream compared to those who have graduated (Not graduated 77% overall and 41% very confident vs. Graduated 84% overall and 54% very confident.)
• Nearly one-third of respondents (35%) believe access to education does the most to make the American Dream possible.
• Forty percent (40%) of Americans with households of three children or more say access to education is most important.

Americans continue to believe that government programs and policies do more to hinder them when trying to achieve the American Dream.

• Half (50%) of U.S. adults currently believe government programs and policies do more to hinder them in trying to achieve the American Dream. Four in ten (39%) adults say the government does more to help them, with another 11% unsure.
• In 2001, 54% of Americans believed government programs and policies did more to help them achieve the American Dream. That opinion dropped to 41% in 2004 and 39% in 2009.
• One-in-five people believe freedom of speech and individual liberty (21%), the free enterprise system (21%) and equal rights and a lack of discrimination (20%) play an important role in making the American Dream possible.
• Close to half (48%) of African-American adults say equal rights and a lack of discrimination policies do the most to make the American Dream possible.

Omnibus Methodology

Random national sample: 1,000 adults, 18 years and older

Dates of interviews: July 24-27, 2009

Margin of error: +/- 3.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level

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