Economic Mobility by Generation in US

In a recent report from Public Religion Research Institute on the Economic Values Survey of a random sample of 2,002 American adults conducted by landline and cell phone interviews from May 30, 2013 through June 16, 2013, it was found that nearly half of respondents (47%) state that their generation is worse off financially than their parent’s compared to 16% who say that their generation is doing about the same as their parent’s and 36% who say that their generation is better off than their parent’s.

The majority of respondents between the ages of 66 and 88 (Silent Generation) say they are better off than their parent’s generation (59%) while the majority of respondents between the ages of 18 and 33 (Millennials) say that they are worse off than their parent’s generation (58%). More than half of respondents between the ages of 34 and 48 (Generation X) also say that they are worse off than their parent’s generation (51%). Respondents between the ages of 49 and 67 (Baby Boomers) are nearly equally divided when comparing their generation to their parent’s (40% say that they are better off while 45% say that they are worse off).

Read more:
http://publicreligion.org/research/2013/07/economic-values-survey-07-2013/#.Ug4SGpK1GvM
http://publicreligion.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2013-Economic-Values-Report-Final-.pdf
http://publicreligion.org/

Half of Iranians Lack Adequate Money for Food, Shelter

According to a recent Gallup Poll of based on telephone surveys of Iranian adults during 2011 through 2012, half of respondents say there have been times in the past year when they had trouble paying for adequate shelter and food for their families. The 50% figure is the highest among 19 populations in the Middle East and North Africa region that Gallup surveyed in 2012 and 2013.

Iranian’s election of moderate cleric Hassan Rouhani to the presidency has been widely interpreted as evidence of their desire for meaningful change in the country. Widespread economic hardship among the Iranian people carries mixed implications for the future of relations between Washington and Tehran under President Rouhani. Some Western leaders may take the effects of the international sanctions on the Iranian people as a sign that the sanctions are working and should be maintained. However, U.S. officials claim that the Iranian people are not the target of the sanctions. Almost half of Iranians (46%) say they hold the U.S. responsible for the international sanctions against their country, while 13% blame their own government.  What's more, Gallup finds that most Iranians (68%) still support the country's efforts to develop its nuclear capabilities. Additionally, the head of the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently reported no signs that sanctions have slowed down Iran's nuclear program.

Gallup's Economic Confidence Index is -8 for June, similar to -7 in May

According to a recent Gallup Poll, Americans' confidence in the economy held steady in June, despite U.S. stock prices registering a monthly decline for the first time this year. The results for June are based on Gallup Daily tracking interviews, conducted by landline and cellphone, with more than 15,000 Americans.

Gallup's Economic Confidence Index is based on two components: Americans' assessments of current economic conditions in the United States and their perceptions of whether the economy is getting better or worse. Americans remain more negative than positive toward the U.S economy's current state and future momentum.

Gallup's Economic Confidence Index averaged -8 in June, on par with -7 in May -- the highest monthly score since Gallup began tracking economic confidence daily in January 2008.

While U.S. stock prices declined in June, the Dow and S&P still had their best performances in the first half of the year since the late 1990s. Higher stock prices this year and increased optimism about housing prices have likely contributed to Americans' growing confidence.