Economy & Work

Pew Research Center President Michael Dimock examines the changes – some profound, some subtle – that the U.S. experienced during Barack Obama’s presidency.

While the idea of raising the minimum wage is broadly popular, efforts to do so at the national level have stalled. We gathered key facts looking at the issue.

At least four secretaries of state previously worked as top executives for large private-sector companies.

Around half of Americans say the question of working conditions is indeed important to them, though fewer are actually willing to pay more to support businesses that are seen as worker-friendly.

New technologies are impacting a wide range of Americans’ commercial behaviors, from the way they evaluate products and services to the way they pay for the things they buy.

Homeownership in America stands at its lowest level in at least 20 years. The decline has been more pronounced among households headed by young adults, blacks and those in the lower income tier.

A majority of U.S. adults say stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost, while roughly a third say such regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy.

Three-quarters of U.S. adults approve of the decision last year to re-establish relations with Cuba, and nearly as many favor ending the trade embargo.

Many Americans are distrustful of information provided by the food industry on GM foods, and those who are concerned about GM food issues are especially skeptical.

Although many middle-class areas voted for Barack Obama in 2008, they overwhelmingly favored Donald Trump in 2016, a shift that was a key to his victory.