Pew Research Poll Shows Support For Personal Accounts
October 2, 2000
A Pew Research Center public opinion survey found that Americans are concerned
about their income in retirement, believe Social Security reform is the most
important issue in the coming campaign, and favor personal retirement accounts
as the medium for that reform. The analysis, conducted under the direction of
Princeton Survey Research Associates from 8/24-9/10/00, surveyed 2,799 adults
with 1,999 being registered voters. Support for personal accounts outweighed
opposition by a margin of greater than three-to-one. Following are the questions
and responses:
1. How concerned are you, if at all, about not having enough money for your
retirement?
| Very concerned |
Somewhat concerned |
Not too concerned |
Not at all concerned |
| 55% |
24% |
11% |
8% |
2. Which ONE of the following items is the most important thing for the next
president to do?
| Social Security and Medicare |
24% |
| Education |
21% |
| Health care |
19% |
| The economy |
12% |
| Morality |
12% |
| Taxes |
9% |
3. How much, if anything, have you heard about a proposal which would allow
younger workers to invest a portion of their payroll taxes in private retirement
accounts, which might include stocks or mutual funds, rather than having all
of it go toward Social Security -- a lot, a little or nothing at all?
| A lot |
26% |
| A little |
43% |
| Nothing at all |
30% |
4. Generally, do you favor or oppose this proposal?
|
Total Respondents |
Respondents who heard about proposal |
| Favor |
70% |
71% |
| Oppose |
21% |
23% |
| Don't know/ Refused |
9% |
6% |
2001 Index | 2000
Index | 1999 Index | 1998
Index
|
