Short Reads

Is the illusion of meritocracy broken? A new study finds generational divides in views about what matters most for success. Older generations are far more likely to say work ethic plays a critical role in achieving success in life, while younger Americans are less likely to see it that way. Close to half of Americans

Americans who live in areas packed with neighborhood amenities tend to have a more diverse set of friends and acquaintances.

Childhood experiences with your siblings have been shown to play an important formative role for young children. But not all Americans are equally close with their siblings. Black Americans in particular stand out for their strong childhood sibling relationships. A majority (53 percent) of Black Americans who grew up with siblings report they felt very

Throughout the 2020 election, stories of families and friendships ripped apart by political differences were featured regularly in the press. Many also argued that numerous Americans had become trapped in ideological echo chambers. These narratives all fed into the larger national polarization thesis which suggested Americans were deeply divided and ideologically sorted into narrow social

In the wake of George Floyd’s death, “defund the police” became a rallying cry among many liberal activists. Even so, the movement never really caught on among the establishment wing of the Democratic party. Certainly, rising crime had something to do with this: The FBI found that the murder rate increased roughly 30 percent between

There is no shortage of advice for parents. The Internet is awash with parenting tips, tactics, and strategies to meet every conceivable exigency. But for all the varying recommendations provided to parents, perhaps one of the most critical is something to be avoided—picking favorites. A new survey suggests that parental favoritism, or even the perception

The family meal, once a regular part of American family life, has become a rarity. Americans who belong to Generation Z are far less likely to report having grown up sharing daily meals with their family than other Americans. Less than half of Gen Zers (38 percent) and Millennials (46 percent) say that their family

Despite recent trends documenting an overall decline in religious belief, practice, and affiliation, most Americans still identify with a particular religious tradition. But surprisingly, a significant number of religious Americans say their religious beliefs or identity are not central to who they are. A majority of both White (67 percent) and Hispanic (60 percent) Catholics,

Americans who pass up an opportunity to go to college may pay for it in the long run, and not just in their paychecks.

So much research and commentary have focused on the decline of public trust in various institutions—the media, government, police, the justice system. But over the last decade, we have also seen an erosion of the confidence that Americans have in each other. According to the Pew Research Center, only 38 percent of Americans report they are