a majority of Americans say people are rich because they have had more 'advantages in life'; fewer say it's because they have worked harder than others In your opinion, which generally has more to do with (%
Opinions among Republicans and Republican leaners are more divided: 53% say hard work has more to do with why a person is rich, while 45% say it is because they have more advantages. In views of why a person is poor, 55% of Republicans say it is more because they have faced obstacles most others have not, while 42% say it is more because they have not worked as hard as most others.
a majority of Americans say people are rich because they have had more  | 'advantages in life'; fewer say it's because they have worked harder than others  | In your opinion, which generally has more to do with (%  | Why a person is rich?  | Why a person is poor?  | They have had more  | They have worked  | They have faced more They have not  | advantages in life than  | harder than most  | obstacles in life than worked as hard as  | most other people  | other people  | most other people most other people  | Total  | 65  | 33  | 71  | 26  | Rep/Lean Rep  | 55  | 42  | 45  | 53  | 12  | Dem/Lean Dem  | 16  | 86  | 82  | Note: No answer responses not shown.  | Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted Jan. 6-19, 2020.  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 