Looking Ahead: Americans More Optimistic Than Pessimistic On U.S. Future Strength

YouGov
May 09, 2012, 4:00 PM GMT+0

(Week of 5/5/2012) Americans are somewhat more optimistic than pessimistic about the country’s chances of remaining the strongest nation in the world. In the latest Economist/YouGov survey, 50% believe it is likely that the U.S. will remain the world’s strongest country thirty years from now while only 36% believe it is unlikely. However, respondents in both camps do not hold strong beliefs about this question — relatively few say that continued U.S. dominance is "very likely" or "very unlikely."

Democrats believe that the U.S. is likely to remain the world’s strongest country at slightly higher rates than Republicans.

But while Americans are not sure about the 30-year future, most agree that there are problems here at home. Despite the slowly improving employment situation, only 21% think the economy is getting better. And by more than two to one, Americans say the country is off on the wrong track, as they have for a long time.