PEW: Pessimistic Public Doubts Effectiveness of Stimulus, TARP

[chill_wind]

Pessimistic Public Doubts Effectiveness of Stimulus, TARP
Republicans Draw Even With Democrats on Most Issues

April 28, 2010

Overview

The public remains doggedly downbeat about the condition of the national economy, even as many experts and economists see signs of recovery. As has been the case for most of the past two years, about nine-in-ten (88%) rate national economic conditions as only fair or poor, and over the past year there has been no decline in the percentage saying the economy will stay the same (36%) or get worse (19%) a year from now.

In this light, it is not surprising that many Americans are dubious about the effectiveness of the government's principal economic programs. Just 33% say the economic stimulus passed by Congress last year has helped the job situation and only somewhat more (42%) say the loans the federal government provided to troubled financial institutions prevented a more severe financial crisis. Less than a third (31%) says that the government has made progress in fixing the problems that caused the 2008 financial crisis.

more: http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1577/doubts-effectiveness-economic-stimulus-tarp

Full report: http://people-press.org/report/?pageid=1708