Most Respondents (32%) Believe the End of the American Dream is Approaching

The American Dream has historically represented hope, opportunity, and prosperity for those who pursue it. However, recent analysis reveals challenges to its attainment. Income inequality, stagnant wages, and limited social mobility have fractured the foundation of the American Dream.

Economic disparities impede access to education, healthcare, and upward mobility, making it a distant aspiration for those trapped in poverty. Social mobility, once a hallmark of the American Dream, has declined due to educational inequality and systemic biases. Some argue that the American Dream has become unattainable, with material possessions overshadowing its original ideals.

However, society still maintains that the original American Dream is still achievable, albeit through struggle and perseverance. Real Research, an online survey app, has launched a survey on the end of the American Dream to gauge public perceptions on the decline and attainability of the American Dream.

Highlights:

• 29.08% identified decreased social mobility and limited opportunities contributing to the decline of the American Dream.
• 22.7% have not pursued the American Dream.
• Nearly half (48.67%) believed certain groups possess inherent advantages.

After conducting the survey on the end of the American Dream, Real Research found that respondents had varying levels of awareness regarding the concept. Among the participants, 36% claimed to be very familiar with the American Dream, indicating a strong understanding of its principles and ideals. 41% reported being somewhat familiar, suggesting a moderate level of awareness.

On the other hand, 23% of the respondents stated that they were unfamiliar with the American Dream, indicating a lack of understanding or knowledge about its meaning and implications.

Next, we asked the respondents to what extent they have personally pursued the American Dream. 17% had triumphed and are living the American Dream, 17% had achieved moderate success, and 22% had pursued it but encountered obstacles and fallen short. On the other hand, 23% had not actively pursued it and 21% had not pursued it at all.

Examining Access to the American Dream Across Demographic Groups

When we asked the respondents whether they believed that certain demographic groups have better access to the American Dream compared to others, nearly half (49%) agreed, 26% disagreed, and another 26% remained uncertain.

The Decline of the American Dream

Drawing on the observations and experiences of the respondents, we inquired whether they believed the end of the American Dream was near. 32% believed that the end of the American Dream is approaching and 24% said it would completely go extinct.

However, 21% disagreed and stated that the American Dream is still active and attainable and 24% were unsure about it.

Subsequently, we asked what factors have contributed to the decline of the American Dream. The results are as follows:

Economic inequality and widening wealth gap (32%), decreased social mobility and limited opportunities for advancement (29%), rising costs of education and the mounting student loan debt (23%), the rising cost of living (7%), and heightened political and social unrest (4%).

Factors That Sustain Its Survival Amidst Challenges

Most of the respondents (39%) stated the existence of success stories and individuals achieving the American Dream would fuel the growth of the American Dream, followed by the innovations and advancements in technology (29%), resilience and adaptability of human nature (20%),  and entrepreneurial spirit and free market economy (7%).

Lastly, the survey concluded by asking respondents about their level of optimism or pessimism regarding the future of the American Dream. The results showed that most of the respondents (37%) remained neutral on this, while 20% were somewhat optimistic and 18% were very optimistic. In contrast, 20% were somewhat pessimistic and 5% were very pessimistic.