New survey results show Americans are far more pessimistic about the nation’s economy than most economists, with 53 percent saying another Great Depression is likely in the next few years.
In a Rasmussen Reports survey of 1,000 adults, 19 percent said it is “very likely” the nation will slip into another Great Depression. And thirty-four percent characterized the odds of a systemic economic collapse as “somewhat likely.”
That compares to 32 percent of participants who said a 1930s style Great Depression is “not very likely.”
Profound concern over the economy was also reflected in another question on the survey: Will today’s children will be better off than their parents? Twenty-six percent said yes, but nearly half -- 49 percent -- expect things to grow worse.
Despite the general pessimism, 64 percent of those surveyed told Rasmussen they expect that five years from today the economy will be stronger than it is today.
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