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Friday, Jan 15, 2021

Has support for socialism grown in recent years?

Christopher Hutton, Gigafact Foundry
no

According to Gallup polling, the percentage of Americans claiming to hold positive views of socialism remained relatively constant between 2010 and 2019, fluctuating between 36% and 39%. Gallup says understanding of the term has changed over time. Just 17% of Americans asked in 2018—half the level in 1949—associated the term with its actual dictionary definition: a system placing much economic activity under collective or government control. More people, 23%, associated it with concepts of equality, while 23% had no view at all.

Gallup notes that support for what it terms “socialist-style” policies, such as higher taxes and more government intervention, has increased modestly over the decade.

Both Millennials and Gen Z members view socialism more favorably, with about 50% of the combined demographic consistently reporting a positive view throughout the same time period.

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