New Economist Interactive Poll Tracker monitors popularity of President Biden’s policy initiatives

WASHINGTON DC — April 30, 2021 —The Economist, one of the world’s most trusted sources of global news and analysis, today launched the new Economist Interactive Poll Tracker, “What America Thinks”, that will monitor and analyse Joe Biden' progress. The tracker will keep tabs on public opinion toward the president and his key policies in the months and years ahead. The tracker will update weekly with new polling data from YouGov and analysis from The Economist’s data journalists.

Designed by data journalist G. Elliott Morris, and based on weekly Economist/YouGov polling data, the Economist Interactive Poll Tracker, will surface changing trends in opinions on key issues in today’s world, including healthcare, the economy, climate change and immigration. Visitors to Economist.com will be able to compare President Biden's approval ratings to those of past presidents and provide state-level estimates of support on these and other matters. The tracker will also include an interactive map with opinions and approvals by state and demographic group.

Mr Morris said, “The Economist Interactive Poll Tracker data-visualizations and analysis add new ways for readers to consume our weekly poll, highlight the policies that Americans want their government to address, and offer exciting new ways for us to reflect on public opinion in America.”

This week’s top findings show that:

At the 100-day mark, President Joe Biden's approval rating is higher than Trump's but shy of Obama's. The Economist's long-running polling data from YouGov show Mr Biden with a 50% approval rating. At this point in his presidency, Mr Obama's approval rating in YouGov's polling was 55%. Donald Trump’s was 40%.

Biden's key policy proposals are popular with super-majorities of Americans. According to YouGov's polling, 64% of Americans approve of his massive economic stimulus/covid-19 relief bill and only 31% oppose. Mr Biden’s infrastructure proposal, which would spend $2trn on roads, public transport, and broadband, among other things, is supported by 59% of Americans and opposed by just 21%, according to a recent NBC News poll. With a net approval rate of 38%, that makes it even more popular than the stimulus bill — and more popular than every major legislative proposal of Mr Trump's presidency.

Polarisation is dragging down the president relative to his predecessors. Despite his efforts to unify the country, Biden has been unable to win many Republicans to his side. While between a quarter and a third of them approve of his major policy goals — focused on government spending, which is broadly popular — only 18% approve of the job he is doing as president. While low, that is higher than the 13% of Democrats who approved of Mr Trump at his 100-day mark.

A shrinking share of Americans see the economy and health care as the nation's top problems. According to YouGov's numbers, 17% of Americans say health care is the most important issue facing America today, making it the top priority. 15% say jobs and the economy are most important. Those numbers are down from highs of 27 and 23%, respectively, last year. Since Mr Biden's inauguration, the share of Americans saying crime, gun control, immigration or national security are the country’s top problems have all risen. Given Mr Biden's lower approval rating on handling immigration and gun control, this could be a leading indicator of trouble to come.

In addition to the Economist Interactive Poll Tracker, The Economist produces the Daily Chart and Graphic Detail columns which provide news and data analysis with charts, maps and infographics. Recent data projects include the covid-19 excess deaths tracker and the 2020 U.S Presidential Election forecast.

Elliott Morris, US-based data journalist at The Economist, is spearheading the Economist Interactive Poll Tracker. Specialising in political data, Morris leads many data projects at The Economist, including “The Economist 2020 U.S Presidential Election forecast model.”

For more information or to interview Elliott Morris at The Economist please contact:

US TomAmos@economist.com / UK HollyDonahue@economist.com

About The Economist (Economist.com)
With a growing global audience and a trusted reputation for insightful analysis, The Economist is one of the most widely recognised sources covering current affairs in the world. In addition to the weekly digital and print editions and website, The Economist publishes Espresso, a daily news app, and Global Business Review, a bilingual English-Chinese product. The Economist produces several podcasts each week and short- and long-form video. The Economist maintains robust social communities on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social networks. A recipient of many editorial and marketing awards, The Economist was named the most trusted news source by the 2017 Trusting News Project Report.