June-July 2016: Los Angeles Times/American Enterprise Institute Poll on Views of Poverty
Q1: Do you think it is very hard for poor people to find work, or do you think there are plenty of jobs available for poor people/anyone who is willing to work?
Very Hard
- Below Poverty Level: 71%
- Above Poverty Level: 51%
- All Respondents: 57%
Jobs Available
- Below Poverty Level: 25%
- Above Poverty Level: 45%
- All Respondents: 39%
Q2: Overall, do you think most poor people are hard-working or do you think most poor people do not work very hard?
Hard-Working
- Below Poverty Level: 72%
- Above Poverty Level: 63%
- All Respondents: 65%
Do Not Work Very Hard
- Below Poverty Level: 21%
- Above Poverty Level: 22%
- All Respondents: 21%
Q3: In general, do you think that welfare benefits give poor people a chance to stand on their own two feet and get started again, or do you think they make poor people dependent and encourage them to stay poor?
Get Started Again
- Below Poverty Level: 41%
- Above Poverty Level: 31%
- All Respondents: 35%
Neither
- Below Poverty Level: 8%
- Above Poverty Level: 4%
- All Respondents: 5%
Encourage People to Stay Poor
- Below Poverty Level: 41%
- Above Poverty Level: 61%
- All Respondents: 54%
Conducted by: Princeton Survey Research Associates on behalf of The Los Angeles Times and the American Enterprise Institute
Date: June 20-July 7, 2016
Method: Telpephone
View full survey results here.