by Steven Hall
A majority of respondents believe that the federal government should push policies that reduce income inequality in the United States, according to a poll released Friday by Axios.
The Axios poll shows 66% of respondents say the government should work to lower the level of income distributed unevenly, up 4% compared to 2019.
Republicans surveyed who agreed the government should tackle income inequality increased by 5%, and Independents who responded similarly increased by 2%, according to the poll. Democrats saw an increase of 7% in favor of such policies compared to 2019.
Just half of younger Americans now hold a positive view of capitalism — and socialism's appeal in the U.S. continues to grow, driven by Black Americans and women, according to a new Axios/Momentive poll. https://t.co/vOQSBsCehy
— Axios (@axios) June 25, 2021
The views among young Republicans aged 18-34 have shifted dramatically with only 40% in 2019 saying the government should pursue such policies, compared to an increase to 56% in 2021, the Friday survey found.
81% of Republicans aged 18-34 had a positive view of capitalism when polled in 2019.
In 2021, only 66% had a positive opinion of capitalism. Among Gen Z adults aged 18-24, only 42% have a positive view of capitalism and 54% have a negative view.
58% of Americans aged 18-34 had favorable views of capitalism in 2019, which has declined to 49% in 2021, according to the poll.
Perceptions of socialism are still negative nationally, with 41% of Americans in the Axios poll saying they have a favorable view and 52% saying they have a negative view.
The online poll was conducted June 11 – 15 using a sample of 2,309 adults with a margin of error of +/- 3 points.
Another Axios poll in June 2019 found that 55% of women aged 18-54 said they would prefer to live in a socialist country over a capitalist country.
Only 29% of respondents in a 2019 Monmouth University poll believed socialism is “compatible” with American values.
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Steven Hall is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation.
