Nearly three years after the financial crisis that sent the nation\u2019s economy into a tailspin, the public expresses mixed views of Wall Street. Almost half of Americans (47%) say that Wall Street hurts the U.S. economy more than it helps, while 38% say it helps more than hurts; 15% offer no opinion.<\/p>\n\n
These findings, from Pew Research\u2019s Political Typology survey<\/a> released in May 2011, are consistent with past surveys showing public ambivalence about Wall Street. In April 2009, shortly after the financial meltdown, a large majority (63%) said that Wall Street made an important contribution to the economy, but about as many (67%) said that Wall Street cared only about making money for itself.<\/p>\n\n Views of Wall Street do not divide cleanly along partisan and ideological lines. Staunch Conservatives are strongly anti-government and pro-business; a large majority (72%) agrees with the Tea Party. Yet Staunch Conservatives express only modest support for Wall Street: 48% say it helps the economy more than hurts it, while 39% say it hurts more than helps. <\/p>\n\n The other core Republican group \u2013 Main Street Republicans \u2013 are more negative about Wall Street\u2019s impact on the economy; just 36% say it helps more than it hurts, while 45% say the opposite. Main Street Republicans are socially and fiscally conservative, but are much more skeptical of business than are Staunch Conservatives.<\/p>\n\n The most positive opinions about Wall Street\u2019s impact are seen among two groups in the middle of the typology. Majorities of Libertarians and Post-Moderns (56% each) say Wall Street helps the economy more than it hurts it. While Libertarians lean toward the Republican Party, and Post-Moderns lean Democratic, both groups are well-educated and affluent.<\/p>\n\n New Coalition Democrats, who also have relatively low family incomes but are financially optimistic, are divided: 39% say Wall Street helps the economy more than it hurts it, while 32% say it does more to hurt the economy. Solid Liberals, who are strongly pro-government and critical of business, express negative views of Wall Street. About six-in-ten (59%) say that Wall Street does more to hurt the economy, while 32% say it helps the economy more than hurts it.Go to the typology report for definitions of each of the political subgroups<\/a> named here. 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