President-elect Joe Biden may have been the most moderate candidate in the Democratic primary, but his economic agenda includes several liberal policy proposals that are overwhelmingly popular according to new polling from the New York Times and SurveyMonkey—some even receiving bipartisan support.
Two-thirds of Americans (67%) support raising taxes on those making $400,000 or more while keeping tax rates at current levels for anyone making under that amount. Nearly all Democrats and Democratic leaners (88%) support this proposal, along with 70% of independents and nearly half of Republicans and GOP leaners (45%). Even among those with household incomes of $150,000 or more, the highest category for which we collect data, 62% of people support an increase in taxes for those making at least $400K.
Similarly, 64% of people support making four-year public colleges and universities tuition-free for all students whose families make less than $125,000 per year. Support for this measure is high among Democrats (87%) and independents (74%) but low among Republicans (36%). Adults who do not have a college degree are slightly more supportive of the measure than those who already have a Bachelor’s degree or more (65% vs. 60%).
Dwarfing either of those proposals, more than eight in 10 people in the U.S. (84%) support an emergency paid leave plan to cover the salaries of sick workers or gig economy workers during the coronavirus outbreak, with 73% of Republicans, 88% of independents, and 96% of Democrats in support of this particular proposal. Biden has said that tackling the pandemic is his top priority even before taking office, and the economic and health aspects are tied together closely. Support for this plan is consistent regardless of someone’s employment status, and only slightly higher among those who have lost a job since the start of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. (90%) than among those who have not (84%).
Much like last month, a majority of people (57%) continue to say that we should prioritize controlling the coronavirus even if that means keeping some businesses closed or shutting them back down. Fewer (40%) say we should focus on reopening the economy even if that means there will be more cases of the coronavirus. Democrats and Republicans are sharply split on this issue, with 91% of Democrats saying we should focus on controlling the spread of the virus and 80% of Republicans saying we should focus on reopening.
Most people expect the virus to be under control a year from now, including the 35% who also say the economy will be strong or steadily improving and the 42% who also say that the economy will still be weak. While those topline numbers are unchanged from August, the underlying views by partisanship have shifted drastically. Three months ago, 65% of Republicans said they expected the virus to be under control and the economy to be strong or steadily improving within a year; this month, that number has fallen to just 28%. Meanwhile, Democrats’ responses have improved significantly on the same measure, from 19% in August to 43% this month.
Election brings major partisan realignment in consumer confidence
After nearly four years of steady consumer confidence interrupted only by the coronavirus pandemic this spring, this month marks the first time we’ve seen a sharp realignment in confidence—and it’s directly attributable to the election. A majority of people who voted for Donald Trump in 2020 (64%) say that jobs and the economy was the most important issue to them in deciding how to vote, with no other single issue reaching double digits, but 17% writing in their own reasons, most of which indicate wanting to vote for Trump because of his leadership. For Biden voters, the election was about the coronavirus pandemic (34%), racial inequality (16%), and health care (11%), with jobs and the economy trailing at 8%; 21% of Biden voters wrote in their own responses, most of which referenced wanting to vote Trump out and restore democracy.
After climbing back up to a score of 51 last month, the CCI dropped down to 47 in November, with an increase in confidence among Democrats (from 35 to 49) proving not enough to offset a steep decline among Republicans (from 70 to 45).
Looking ahead, just 21% of Republicans now say they expect to be better off financially a year from now, down from 41% last month; meanwhile, 41% of Democrats expect to be better off a year from now, up from 25% last month.
A majority of Republicans (56%) last month said that business conditions for the country as a whole are somewhat or very good; post-election, that number has more than been cut in half (19%).
Most drastically, 73% of Republicans now say they expect periods of widespread unemployment or depression to take place within the next five years, up from 28% last month; among Democrats, 51% now expect periods of widespread unemployment or depression, down from 76% in October.
A growing share of those who’ve lost jobs don’t expect to return
More than three in 10 working adults (32%) say they are very or somewhat worried they will lose their job in the coming weeks because of the coronavirus outbreak, nearly unchanged from August (31%).
While the number of adults who have lost a job since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak has been steady since August (22% this month), a growing share of those who’ve lost their jobs say they don’t expect to return. This month, 69% of those who have lost their job as a result of the coronavirus outbreak say they do not expect to return at any point, up from 59% last month and 51% when we first asked this question in July.
Safety even less of a concern now than in July
Despite the ominous increases in coronavirus cases and hospitalization rates throughout the country, more people now than in July say they would feel somewhat or very safe taking part in what used to be considered everyday activities. Fully eight in 10 people say they would feel safe eating outdoors at a restaurant (up from 72% in July), and 52% would feel comfortable eating indoors at a restaurant (up from 45% in July).
The biggest change was for the percentage of people who say they would feel comfortable flying--up from 32% in July to 44% in November, just in time for holiday travel.
For more detailed results, click through the interactive toplines below.
Read more about our polling methodology here.
Which one of the following issues matters MOST to you right now?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,477 1,599 1,806 Jobs and the economy 36%42%30%Health care 25%22%27%Other (please specify) 16%16%15%The environment 9%6%11%Education 7%5%10%Immigration 4%5%3%Terrorism 2%2%2%Foreign policy 1%1%1%No answer 1%1%1%Question wording: Which one of the following issues matters MOST to you right now?Survey dates: –Would you say that you and your family are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,477 1,599 1,806 Better off 29%36%23%Same 42%39%46%Worse off 27%24%29%No answer 1%1%1%Question wording: Would you say that you and your family are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago?Survey dates: –Now looking ahead - do you think that a year from now you and your family will be better off financially, worse off financially, or just about the same as now?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,477 1,599 1,806 Better off 33%35%30%Same 42%37%47%Worse off 23%26%20%No answer 2%1%3%Question wording: Now looking ahead - do you think that a year from now you and your family will be better off financially, worse off financially, or just about the same as now?Survey dates: –Now turning to business conditions in the country as a whole - do you think that during the next 12 months we'll have good or bad times financially?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,477 1,599 1,806 Very good 6%6%5%Somewhat good 17%20%15%Mixed 45%42%48%Somewhat bad 17%17%17%Very bad 13%14%12%No answer 2%1%2%Question wording: Now turning to business conditions in the country as a whole - do you think that during the next 12 months we'll have good or bad times financially?Survey dates: –Looking ahead, which would you say is more likely to take place in the next five years for the country as a whole:
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,477 1,599 1,806 Continuous good times economically 34%36%33%Periods of widespread unemployment or depression 61%61%61%No answer 5%3%6%Question wording: Looking ahead, which would you say is more likely to take place in the next five years for the country as a whole:Survey dates: –Thinking about the big things people buy for their homes - such as furniture, a stove, a television... Generally speaking, do you think now is a good or bad time for people to buy major household items?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,477 1,599 1,806 Good 18%20%17%Mixed 56%55%57%Bad 24%24%24%No answer 2%1%2%Question wording: Thinking about the big things people buy for their homes - such as furniture, a stove, a television... Generally speaking, do you think now is a good or bad time for people to buy major household items?Survey dates: –Which of the following issues was most important to you in deciding how to vote?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,975 1,382 1,549 Jobs and the economy 33%40%27%Other (please specify) 20%21%20%The coronavirus pandemic 20%16%24%Racial inequality 9%7%10%Health care 7%7%7%Immigration 3%3%3%The environment 3%2%4%Foreign policy 2%2%2%Education 1%1%2%No answer 1%1%1%Terrorism 1%1%0%Question wording: Which of the following issues was most important to you in deciding how to vote?Survey dates: –Would you support or oppose raising taxes on Americans making $400,000 or more and keeping tax rates at current levels for those making less than $400,000?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,477 1,599 1,806 NET support 67%63%70%Strongly support 44%40%47%Somewhat support 23%22%23%NET oppose 30%35%26%Somewhat oppose 14%14%14%Strongly oppose 16%21%12%No answer 3%2%4%Question wording: Would you support or oppose raising taxes on Americans making $400,000 or more and keeping tax rates at current levels for those making less than $400,000?Survey dates: –Would you support or oppose making four-year public colleges and universities tuition-free for all students whose families make less than $125,000?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,477 1,599 1,806 NET support 64%56%71%Strongly support 39%34%44%Somewhat support 24%22%26%NET oppose 34%42%27%Somewhat oppose 14%15%12%Strongly oppose 20%27%15%No answer 2%2%3%Question wording: Would you support or oppose making four-year public colleges and universities tuition-free for all students whose families make less than $125,000?Survey dates: –Would you support or oppose an emergency paid leave plan to cover the salaries of sick workers or gig economy workers during the coronavirus outbreak?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,477 1,599 1,806 NET support 84%80%89%Strongly support 50%44%56%Somewhat support 34%36%33%NET oppose 13%18%9%Somewhat oppose 9%12%6%Strongly oppose 4%6%3%No answer 2%2%2%Question wording: Would you support or oppose an emergency paid leave plan to cover the salaries of sick workers or gig economy workers during the coronavirus outbreak?Survey dates: –Which comes closer to your view right now, even if neither is exactly right?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,477 1,599 1,806 We should focus on controlling the coronavirus, even if that means keeping some businesses closed or shutting them back 57%50%64%We should focus on reopening the economy, even if that means there will be some more cases of the coronavirus 40%48%34%No answer 3%2%3%Question wording: Which comes closer to your view right now, even if neither is exactly right?Survey dates: –Which of these scenarios best describes what you expect the United States to look like a year from now:
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,477 1,599 1,806 The virus will be under control, and the economy will be strong or steadily improving 35%33%37%The virus will be under control, but the economy will still be weak or improving only slowly 42%42%42%Virus cases and deaths will be high or rising, but the economy will be strong or steadily improving 6%8%4%Virus cases and deaths will be high or rising, the economy will still be weak or improving only slowly 13%14%13%No answer 4%3%4%Question wording: Which of these scenarios best describes what you expect the United States to look like a year from now:Survey dates: –How safe would you feel doing each of the following right now?-Eating indoors at a restaurant
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,477 1,599 1,806 NET safe 52%56%49%Very safe 20%23%17%Somewhat safe 32%33%32%NET not safe 46%41%50%Not so safe 23%23%24%Not safe at all 22%18%26%No answer 2%3%2%Question wording: How safe would you feel doing each of the following right now?-Eating indoors at a restaurantSurvey dates: –How safe would you feel doing each of the following right now?-Eating outdoors at a restaurant
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,477 1,599 1,806 NET safe 80%82%78%Very safe 36%40%33%Somewhat safe 44%42%45%NET not safe 18%16%20%Not so safe 13%13%12%Not safe at all 5%3%7%No answer 2%2%2%Question wording: How safe would you feel doing each of the following right now?-Eating outdoors at a restaurantSurvey dates: –How safe would you feel doing each of the following right now?-Flying on a commercial plane
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,477 1,599 1,806 NET safe 44%49%40%Very safe 14%17%12%Somewhat safe 30%31%28%NET not safe 54%49%58%Not so safe 27%27%27%Not safe at all 27%22%32%No answer 2%2%2%Question wording: How safe would you feel doing each of the following right now?-Flying on a commercial planeSurvey dates: –How safe would you feel doing each of the following right now?-Going to an indoor concert or performance
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,477 1,599 1,806 NET safe 28%33%23%Very safe 12%14%9%Somewhat safe 16%19%14%NET not safe 70%65%75%Not so safe 27%31%23%Not safe at all 43%34%51%No answer 2%2%2%Question wording: How safe would you feel doing each of the following right now?-Going to an indoor concert or performanceSurvey dates: –How safe would you feel doing each of the following right now?-Seeing a movie at a movie theater
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,477 1,599 1,806 NET safe 36%43%31%Very safe 14%17%11%Somewhat safe 22%25%20%NET not safe 62%56%67%Not so safe 27%28%27%Not safe at all 34%28%40%No answer 2%2%2%Question wording: How safe would you feel doing each of the following right now?-Seeing a movie at a movie theaterSurvey dates: –How safe would you feel doing each of the following right now?-Working in an indoor office
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,477 1,599 1,806 NET safe 57%61%53%Very safe 22%25%19%Somewhat safe 35%36%34%NET not safe 41%37%45%Not so safe 25%25%25%Not safe at all 16%12%20%No answer 2%3%2%Question wording: How safe would you feel doing each of the following right now?-Working in an indoor officeSurvey dates: –Which of the following best describes you?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,477 1,599 1,806 Employed – working full time 49%55%43%Employed – working part time 11%8%13%Not employed – student 5%6%5%Not employed – retired 20%18%23%Not employed – looking for paid work 9%8%9%Not employed – not looking for paid work 4%1%6%No answer 2%3%2%Question wording: Which of the following best describes you?Survey dates: –How worried are you that you will lose your job in the coming weeks because of the coronavirus outbreak?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,138 1,013 1,086 NET worried 32%29%35%Very worried 13%9%17%Somewhat worried 19%19%18%NET not worried 67%71%63%Not so worried 29%31%27%Not worried at all 39%40%37%No answer 1%0%2%Question wording: How worried are you that you will lose your job in the coming weeks because of the coronavirus outbreak?Survey dates: –Are you currently receiving unemployment benefits?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 369 123 233 Yes, I am 28%33%27%No, my benefits ran out 11%15%10%No, I tried to apply but haven’t gotten benefits 19%23%14%No, I haven’t applied for benefits 40%28%46%No answer 3%2%3%Question wording: Are you currently receiving unemployment benefits?Survey dates: –Have you lost your job at any point since the start of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S.?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,477 1,599 1,806 Yes 22%19%23%No 76%79%74%No answer 2%2%2%Question wording: Have you lost your job at any point since the start of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S.?Survey dates: –Have you returned to work?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 676 250 408 Yes 47%45%49%No 52%55%50%No answer 1%0%1%Question wording: Have you returned to work?Survey dates: –Do you expect to return to the same job you previously had at any point?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 326 123 194 Yes 30%27%34%No 69%71%65%No answer 1%2%1%Question wording: Do you expect to return to the same job you previously had at any point?Survey dates: –
