By The Numbers

What Economists Believe

Chart Data

Agree/Strongly Agree Disagree/Strongly Disagree
U.S. should eliminate all tariffs and barriers to trade83 %10 %
Employers should be required to provide health insurance to all workers16 %72 %
Health insurance benefits should be taxed42 %45 %
U.S. should place more stringent caps on medical malpractice awards52 %32 %
U.S. should tax unhealthy foods25 %58 %
The mortgage interest deduction should be eliminated from the tax code46 %38 %
Casinos generate more benefits to society than costs17 %53 %
Wal-Mart generates more benefits than costs to society72 %15 %
U.S. should ban genetically modified foods7 %81 %
Economic growth in developed countries like the U.S. leads to greater levels of happiness48 %19 %

A new survey of the attitudes of members of the American Economic Association finds widespread agreement among economists on certain issues of topical relevance today, but disagreement on others. The full results of the survey appear in the September issue of Econ Journal Watch. Results do not add up to 100% because some economists were neutral on questions.