ATHENS, GA – Georgians remain very concerned about the state’s economy, even in light of positive economic news. According to the latest Peach State Poll, about one in four Georgians (26 percent) believe that the economy is the most important problem facing the nation today, and only 30 percent of the public rate economic conditions in Georgia as either excellent (2 percent) or good (28 percent). The economy has been cited as the most important problem facing the state for the past three quarters.
The Peach State Poll – a statewide quarterly survey of public opinion conducted by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government – also finds that an individual’s political party identification is an excellent indicator of his or her assessment of the economic condition of the state. The contrast in rating the state’s economy as excellent or good is significant between Republicans and Democrats (51 percent to 17 percent), with only a small part of this difference attributable to race. This vast difference in perception between the parties in Georgia is consistent with the partisan divisions seen on the national level.
Other Peach State Poll results:
* As in the previous quarter, the economy rates as less of a problem with whites than with nonwhites. Whites in Georgia are much more likely to rate the state’s economy as excellent or good than are blacks (36 percent compared with 17 percent). Education is generally seen as the most important problem facing Georgia among whites.
* The economy is still seen as a more important problem for the nation than is terrorism. Only 14 percent of respondents cite terrorism, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, or national security in general as the most important problem facing the United States today. Very few Georgians are expressing a concern for direct terrorist attacks on the United States.
* Concern expressed about the economy in general is far more pessimistic than perceptions about one’s household financial situation. Only 15 percent of respondents say that their fellow Georgians are better off in November 2003 than four years earlier, but twice as many (30 percent) say that their own family is better off today than four years ago.
* In addition, 48 percent expect their family’s financial situation to be better in one year’s time. This outlook is more optimistic than in previous quarters polled, when Georgians were slightly more likely to believe that their finances would be about the same next year (46 percent).
These data were taken from a Peach State Poll survey conducted between Nov. 16 and Nov. 23, 2003. The poll included 807 telephone interviews of randomly selected adults in Georgia. For a sample of this size, the margin of error at the 95 percent confidence level is +/- 3.5 percent.
The Carl Vinson Institute of Government, a public service and outreach unit of the University of Georgia, has as part of its mission to provide policymakers with systematic, objective research to inform policy decisions. In accordance with that mission, the Peach State Poll aims to give voice to the public on important policy matters and issues pertaining to political, social and economic life in Georgia.
For more information on this survey or other Peach State Poll results, see www.cviog.uga.edu/peachpoll.
