Note: This blog draws in part on my experiences and observations interviewing political figures, writers, and analysts for "The Campbell Conversations" on WRVO. To hear past interviews I refer to in these posts, please go to the show's website. The views expressed here are solely my own, and do not represent Syracuse University, the Campbell Institute, or the WRVO Stations.


In addition to comments, I'd love to have guest posts. Please send ideas or full-blown posts to me at gdreeher@maxwell.syr.edu.


Wednesday, April 6, 2011

U.S. Public Support for the Free Market Has Fallen -- Strange?

I came across this curious factoid today, which I plan to write about more fully in an upcoming newspaper editorial.  Since 2002, American support for the free market as "the best economic system for the future" has fallen, and dramatically so since 2009--at the same time as the Tea Party movement has been picking up steam.  At 59%, our support for the free market is now lower than that found in China or Brazil.  These survey results are from the Program on International Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland, and you can find them here

Recall that the financial crisis hit in 2007, so the recent steep drop is harder to explain through that lens.  Explanations anyone?

No comments: