American Dream Dying, Experts Say

A new survey from JPMorgan Chase and Learnvest paints a fairly bleak picture of Americans’ new opinions of the American Dream. Not even half of those surveyed said …

A new survey from JPMorgan Chase and Learnvest paints a fairly bleak picture of Americans’ new opinions of the American Dream. Not even half of those surveyed said they believe in that dream as it relates to financial security and homeownership, while the majority said they are either unsure or do no longer believe in it. More than half of survey takers said that having kids is too expensive, while 34% said the best days for prosperity in America are gone. Perhaps most troubling is that 33% of people surveyed said material success is what really matters in life. For more on this continue reading the following article from TheStreet.

Does the public still believe in the American Dream?

James Truslow Adams, an early 20th century historian, coined the term in the preface of his 1931 book The Epic of America, where he wrote of "That American Dream of a better, richer and happier life for all our citizens of every rank, which is the greatest contribution we have as yet made to the thought and welfare of the world … That dream or hope has been present from the start."

More than 80 years later, JPMorgan Chase (JPM) has taken a look at the issue in its American Dream 2.0 survey, at a time political and economic tensions are high and as Americans appear anxious about their financial futures.

The study, done in conjunction with financial planning services provider LearnVest, surveyed 1,223 Americans in July.

Somewhat surprisingly, less than half of all Americans surveyed by the banking giant (43%) say they believe in the American Dream. Another 29% say they are not sure and another 29% say they do not believe in it.

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A look inside the numbers reveals that the dream is largely a financial one, built on accumulated wealth.

"For many consumers, the American Dream means making financial progress," says Tom O’Donnell, a senior vice president at Chase. "As a result, consumers are thinking more about their spending and saving habits and if those habits can support their life goals."

Some other takeaways from the survey:

Kids and country: Having children is a vital part of the American Dream, but 51% of those surveyed by Chase say having kids is "too expensive." Another 37% of respondents say they have delayed having children because they couldn’t afford them.

Most popular conceptions: The survey says 77% of Americans still believe buying a home represents the purest form of the American Dream, followed by "getting married" (50%), having children and retiring at age 65 (45%).

Getting ahead: 53% of Americans say the U.S. is still the best place in the world to achieve happiness, but another 34% say the nation’s "best days are behind it." Another 40% said the recent recession has "hindered their ability to get ahead."

Money: 33% of Americans say that "becoming rich" is a huge part of the American Dream, while 32% say "material success" is what really counts in life.

Easier to win the lottery: 16% of Americans surveyed say that "winning the lottery is easier than achieving the American Dream."

This article was republished with permission from TheStreet.

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