Politics & Policy

Blacks have long outnumbered whites in U.S. prisons. But a significant decline in the number of black prisoners has narrowed the gap.

Sizable majorities of adults in six European countries with a mandatory tax say they pay it and few say they are likely to opt out.

Giving a share of one’s income to the church has been a part of European tradition for centuries. Today, several countries continue to collect a “church tax” on behalf of officially recognized religious organizations, in some cases levying the tax on all registered members.

Dissatisfaction with democracy is correlated with views on economic conditions, whether key democratic norms are being respected and other issues.

Across 27 countries, more people are unhappy with the state of democracy in their countries than satisfied. Discontent with democracy is tied to concerns about the economy, individual rights and out-of-touch elites.

In a new survey, the Center reassesses how it asks Americans about Israelis, Palestinians and their respective governments.

The U.S. is one of 23 countries where the military draft is authorized but not currently implemented. An additional 60 have some form of an active conscription program.

France stands out from other Western European countries for its broad discontent toward the news media. About a third of adults say they trust the news media, including just 4% who say they have a lot of trust

Majorities in many countries say global climate change is a major threat to their nation. Global concerns about climate change have risen since 2013.

Gender differences in the U.S. about the size and scope of government have been evident for more than a decade, but they have widened in recent years.