New Poll Indicates Fewer Americans Believe in the 'American Dream' for All

A recent poll reveals a declining number of Americans believe that the 'American Dream' is achievable for everyone in the country. The Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream (MCAAD)-Gallup American Dream Study found that only 46 percent of respondents strongly or somewhat agreed with the notion that 'everyone in this country has the opportunity to achieve the American Dream.' This figure represents a decrease compared to previous surveys. The findings suggest a growing sense of pessimism or realism regarding upward mobility and opportunity in the United States. The study explores perceptions of economic and social opportunity.

This item matters because it reflects changing societal perceptions of opportunity and economic mobility in the United States, a core tenet of the nation's identity.