2006-12-18-皮尤-Free_Trade_Agreements_Get_a_Mixed_Review_25页_78kb

Summary of Pew Research Center Survey (December 2006)

Core Content

This survey, conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press in late December 2006, explores public opinion on free trade agreements, U.S. foreign policy, and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It highlights a mix of views on economic issues, a strong sense of responsibility regarding Darfur, and continued isolationist sentiment in foreign policy.

Main Views on Free Trade Agreements

• General Perception: The American public views free trade agreements as a good thing for the country (44%) but is divided on their personal financial impact.
  • Personal Impact: 35% think they are helped, 36% think they are hurt, and 29% are neutral or unsure.
• Job and Wage Impact:
  • 48% believe free trade agreements lead to job losses.
  • 44% believe they result in lower wages.
• Price Impact:
  • 30% think prices have increased.
  • 32% think prices have decreased.
• Economic Growth:
  • 28% think free trade leads to economic growth.
  • 34% think it slows the economy.
• Benefits to Developing Countries:
  • 57% believe free trade is good for developing countries.
• Partisan Differences:
  • Republicans are more likely than Democrats to believe free trade is beneficial for the country (50% vs. 42%) and to think it lowers prices (40% vs. 27%).
  • Democrats are more likely to believe free trade leads to job losses (51% vs. 14%) and lower wages (47% vs. 42%).

U.S. Responsibility in Darfur

• Responsibility: 51% of Americans believe the U.S. has a responsibility to do something about the ethnic genocide in Darfur.
• Support for Troops: 53% favor the use of U.S. troops as part of a multinational force to address the crisis.
• Public Awareness: Only 13% say they have paid very close attention to the Darfur crisis, with interest in Iraq and Congress overshadowing it.
• Followership Impact: Those who follow the Darfur story closely are more likely to support U.S. involvement (66% vs. 43% of those who do not).
• Educational Differences: College graduates are more likely to support U.S. involvement (68%) compared to those with less education (40%).

Economic Outlook and Job Market

• Economic Satisfaction: 28% of Americans are satisfied with the current economic situation.
• Job Availability:
  • 40% say there are plenty of jobs available locally.
  • 49% say jobs are difficult to find.
• Job Market Improvements:
  • The job picture has improved compared to earlier in the year.
  • Middle-income Americans (30k–75k) show the most improvement in job availability perception.
• President Bush's Approval: His approval rating on the economy is highest among those who believe jobs are plentiful (56% vs. 28% among those who think jobs are scarce).

Foreign Policy Attitudes

• Isolationist Sentiment:
  • 42% believe the U.S. should mind its own business internationally.
  • This sentiment has remained stable since 2005 and is comparable to levels in the mid-1990s and mid-1970s.
• U.N. Cooperation:
  • 57% support full cooperation with the U.N.
  • Support is highly politicized, with liberal Democrats (80%) and moderate/conservative Democrats (68%) more likely to support U.N. cooperation.
• Airport Profiling:
  • 57% support allowing airport personnel to do extra checks on passengers of Middle Eastern descent.
  • Support is consistent across race and age groups, though older Americans (50+) are more supportive than younger ones (44% for 18–29).
  • Republicans (73% conservative, 68% moderate/liberal) are more supportive than Democrats (52% conservative/moderate, 37% liberal).

Anti-Terrorism Policies

• National ID Cards: 57% support requiring national identity cards.
• Phone and Email Monitoring:
  • Only 22% support allowing the government to monitor personal communications.
  • This is consistent with support since 9/11.
• Credit Card Monitoring:
  • 26% support government monitoring of credit card purchases.
  • Support dropped significantly since 9/11 (40%).
• Airport Profiling:
  • 57% support extra checks on passengers who appear to be of Middle Eastern descent.
  • No significant racial differences in support.

Katrina Response and Relief

• Government Performance:
  • 20% rate the government's response to Katrina as excellent or good.
  • 76% rate it as only fair (36%) or poor (40%).
• Political Divide:
  • Democrats are more critical than Republicans (47% vs. 61% positive ratings).
• Relief Spending Concerns:
  • 55% believe the government is spending too little on Katrina relief.
  • Even conservative Republicans are more concerned about under-spending (42%) than over-spending (32%).
• Rebuilding Perceptions:
  • 71% of Republicans and 58% of whites believe some progress has been made in rebuilding.
  • Only 47% of Democrats and 46% of blacks share this view.

Additional Insights

• Public Opinion Stability:
  • Views on free trade have remained relatively stable over the past decade.
  • There is a general sense of uncertainty about the impact of free trade on personal finances and the economy.
• Economic Optimism:
  • 57% of Americans expect 2007 to be better than 2006, despite current dissatisfaction.
  • Republicans are more optimistic than Democrats and independents.
• Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors:
  • Lower income and less educated individuals are more likely to perceive negative impacts of free trade.
  • Educational background significantly influences views on U.S. responsibility in Darfur.

Methodology

• Sample Size: 1,502 adults surveyed from December 6–10, 2006.
• Margin of Error: ±3% for total sample, ±4% for subgroups.
• Funding: The Pew Research Center is funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts and operates as a nonpartisan fact tank.

Conclusion

The survey highlights a complex landscape of public opinion in the U.S., with mixed views on free trade, a strong sense of responsibility in Darfur, and continued isolationist sentiment in foreign policy. Economic concerns and political divisions are evident, though there is a general trend of optimism for the coming year.