Commentary November 18, 2022

How Hispanic Americans Think About Work and Identity

The Bulwark

Brent Orrell

At Orange Bowl Stadium, immigrants demonstrate their patriotism during what could be the largest naturalization ceremony in American history. c. 1984 (GettyImages).

If we want to understand the evolving role of Hispanic Americans in American culture and politics, one useful on-ramp is studying Hispanics in the workplace.

Commentary October 31, 2022

The New Workplace Gender Imbalance: Social Capital and Job Satisfaction

The Bulwark

Daniel A. Cox, Brent Orrell, Jessie Wall

A cartoon of three miniature persons sitting on another person's hands that has shrubbery on them.

New data suggests gender and education are the difference between liking and loving your job. But there’s a price to be paid.

Commentary June 1, 2022

There’s A New Age Gap On Abortion Rights

FiveThirtyEight

Daniel A. Cox

Gen Z at a Roe vs. Wade protest

Americans’ views on abortion have been relatively consistent for years despite massive demographic changes, social upheaval and shifting perspectives on sexuality. But that may be about to change.

Commentary May 12, 2022

Will Abortion Redefine the 2022 Elections?

Smerconish

Daniel A. Cox

Photo of a women's protest in front of the capitol building

Democratic losses in November seem predestined. For many political observers, the only question left is how bad will it get?

Gen Z is the most accomplished generation, but new data show they missed out on fun and family, leaving them more adrift than previous generations.

Commentary April 10, 2022

Stop Blaming Young People for Leaving Religion

National Review

Daniel A. Cox

An African American teenager male attending church.

Much of the decline in current religious commitments can be traced back to the way young adults have been raised.

For Generation Z, American religious life has been defined by its diversity. And religious pluralism has been as much practice as principle.

Diversity is not the source of our current problems; our troubling incuriosity about our neighbors is driving disconnection.

Commentary February 23, 2022

Why Are White Liberals So Pessimistic About Politics?

FiveThirtyEight

Daniel A. Cox

Thousands of protesters gathered at Mc Carren Park in Brooklyn on June 7, 2020 for a massive march around Williamsburg, making a loud call for the defunding of the police force. This comes after NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio promised 'intense change' with police reform proposals amid calls to defund law enforcement, including shifting resources from NYPD and publicizing officers' disciplinary records. (Photo by Erik McGregor/Sipa USA)No Use UK. No Use Germany.

No one seems happy about politics these days – but White Liberals are uniquely pessimistic.

Despite the fact that the GOP is quite unpopular and that much of its current agenda, the party is in an enviable position heading into the 2022 midterm elections and beyond. Why?

Survey Reports

Daniel A. Cox, Jae Grace, Avery Shields
April 27, 2026

Strangers Next Door: The Decline of Neighborhood Socializing and the Class Divide in Belonging

Acknowledgment The American Enterprise Institute’s Survey Center on American Life is grateful to the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation for its generous support of this research. As Americans spend more of their time online, the neighborhood—once a primary physical location for real-world socialization—is playing less of a central role than ever before. Since

Daniel A. Cox, Kelsey Eyre Hammond
November 20, 2025

Individuality and Moral Behavior: A Generational Divide in Moral Judgments and Self-Expression

Younger and older Americans increasingly disagree on the morality of certain behaviors, reflecting deep shifts in views about individuality, self-expression, and the role of community and faith.

Daniel A. Cox
July 2, 2025

America’s Cultural Crossroads: Enduring Discontent, Rising Disconnection, and an Uncertain Future

A new survey from the Survey Center on American Life shows Americans are changing course on major cultural issues—from immigration and gay rights to gender roles and public trust.

Daniel A. Cox, Kelsey Eyre Hammond
January 29, 2025

Romantic Recession: How Politics, Pessimism, and Anxiety Shape American Courtship

A new report by the Survey Center on American life finds that safety concerns and declining trust are reshaping modern dating, leaving many singles feeling pessimistic about their prospects. Sharp gender divides in attitudes toward dating apps, trust, and relationships reveal how these challenges are redefining the search for connection.