Public remains divided in preferences for the overall size of government % who say they would rather have
While Americans support increased government spending in a number of areas, they continue to be divided in preferences regarding the overall size of government: 47% say they would rather have a smaller government with fewer services, while an identical share prefers a bigger government with more services. These views have changed little since 2017, but for several years prior to that, more Americans preferred smaller government to bigger government.
Public remains divided in preferences  | for the overall size of government  | % who say they would rather have  | Smaller government,  | fewer services  | 44  | 47  | 47  | 40  | Bigger government,  | more services  | '76 '80 '84 '88 '92 '96 '00 '04 '08 '12 '16 '19  | Note: Don t know responses not shown.  | Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted March 20-25, 2019 Data  | prior to 1997 from Los Angeles Times, ABC/Washington Post and  | CBS/New York Times surveys.  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 