Americans are split on whether it's fair for genes to lift some people to the top
Core finding
Verasight surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults from October 1 to 11, 2024. 36.1% of Americans agree it is fair if some people reach high education and income because of their genetic endowments, 30.5% disagree, and 33.4% neither agree nor disagree.
Agreement is mostly moderate: 17.7% somewhat agree, 11.4% agree and 7.0% strongly agree. On the other side, 11.1% strongly disagree.
Topline distribution
Americans are split on whether it's fair for genes to lift some people to the top.
Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statement: It is fair if some individuals achieve a high socioeconomic status (e.g. high education and income) due to their genetic endowments.
n = 1,000 · Oct 1–11, 2024 · MoE ±3.4%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | Oct 1–11, 2024 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.4% |
| Module | media_fin |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- verasight-apsa-2024.tiiny.co
Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statement: It is fair if some individuals achieve a high socioeconomic status (e.g. high education and income) due to their genetic endowments.
Cite this question
Verasight APSA Omnibus Survey #2024-103, fielded October 1-11, 2024, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.4%.