2009 Houston Area Survey

MAKING SENSE OF OUR TIMES: Tracking the Economic and Demographic Changes Through 28 Years of Houston Surveys STEPHEN L. KLINEBERG The Latest Findings from the Houston Area Survey July 2009

HOUSTON, FROM 1900 TO 1982 

This city was essentially a “one-horse” industrial town, focused on refining hydrocarbons into gasoline and petrochemicals and servicing the oil and gas industry (Thomas and Murray 1991).



Houston was the energy capital of the world, the “Golden Buckle of the Sun Belt,” the bastion of laissez-faire capitalism.

Houstonians proclaimed themselves to be the epitome of what Americans can achieve when left unfettered by zoning, excessive taxation, or government regulations (Kaplan 1983).



“The ideological thrust in Houston has been anti-government, anti-regulation, anti-planning, anti-taxes, anti-anything that seemed to represent, in fact or fantasy, an expansion of the public sector or a limitation on the economic prerogatives and activities of the city’s business community” (Fisher 1990).

THE HOUSTON AREA SURVEY (1982-2009) 

Supported by local foundations, corporations, and individuals, the annual surveys have interviewed 28 scientifically selected successive representative samples of Harris County residents.



In May 1982, just two months after the first Houston Area Survey was completed, the 80-year oil boom suddenly collapsed.



The region recovered from the deep and prolonged recession of the mid 1980s to find itself squarely in the midst of . . .

• •



a restructured economy and a demographic revolution.

These are the same transformations that have refashioned American society itself in the past quarter-century. For 28 years, the Houston surveys have tracked area residents’ changing perspectives on these remarkable trends.

FIGURE 1: POSITIVE RATINGS OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN THE HOUSTON AREA (1982-2009) 90 85

Percent rating job opportunities in the Houston area as either "excellent" or "good."

80 76 75

73 72

Percent of Respondents

70 67

65

67

60 57

60 55 52

47

50

46

52

45

45

53 49

50

48 38

40

41

40

41

35 30

27

39

40

O3

O4

31 29

25

27

20 18

15 10 11

5 0 82

83

84

85

86

87

88

89

90

91

92

93

94

95

96

97

Year of Survey

98

99

OO

O1

O2

O5

O6

O7

O8

O9

FIGURE 2: NEGATIVE RATINGS OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN RELATION TO THE OFFICIAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATES (1982-2009) 105

11

100

10.5 10.1

95

Percent rating "job opportunities" in the Houston area as only "fair" or "poor," in comparison with the official unemployment rates in Harris County.

9.8

90

9.6

87

85

9.5 80

80

9

75

70 71

70

60

8.5

65 8.3

65

65

7.8

8

58

7.8

56

58

54

56

56

7.5

55

(Negative ratings of job opportunities)

49

50

50

52

52

45

7.1

7.0

7 42

6.3

36

6.4

35

6.0

38

6.3

6.0

5.9

5.7 5.6

25 23

5.2

20

(Official Unemployment rates in Harris County)

5.2

4.7

10

5.5

23

25

6.5 6

30

30

5.9

30

15

46

6.8

43

42

6.7

40

48

5

4.8

4.5 4.4

4.5 4.3 4.1

5

4

4.1

0

3.5 82

83

84

85

86

87

88

89

90

91

92

93

94

95

96

Year of Survey

97

98

99

OO

O1

O2

O3

O4

O5

O6

O7

O8

O9

Official Unemployment Rates

Percent Giving Negative Ratings

10

FIGURE 3: “WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IN THE HOUSTON AREA TODAY?” (1982-2009) 85 80 75

traffic

73

72

economy

70

65

crime

65 (Economy)

60

Percent of Respondents

60 55

60 59 54

(Crime)

51 48

50 49

43

45

41

40

(Traffic)

42

40

37

(Traffic)

37

35

39

35 30

44

45

34

34

31 26

26

28

25

33 31

24

27 23

20

22

20

19

15 13

10

20

21

8

10

8

6

3

0 83

84

85

86

87

88

89

90

91

26 21

22

4

92

18

19

15

93

7

8

95

96

24 24

(Economy)

13

12

9

5

82

(Crime)

12 12

11

10

31

14

13

14

11

35

25

24 17

36

33

13

12 8

9

OO

O1

10

20 15

15

O8

O9

13

11

10

3

94

97

Year of Survey

98

99

O2

O3

O4

O5

O6

O7

FIGURE 4: EVIDENCE OF INCREASING HUNGER IN THE MIDST OF RECESSION (2002-2009) 120 110

"How serious a problem has it been for you personally in the past year to buy the groceries you need to feed your family?"

100 Not much of a problem

Percent of Respondents

90

A somewhat or very serious problem

80.7

80 73.3

70 60 50 40 (r=+.080, p.=.055)

30

24.6 19.0

20 10 0

2002

2009

Year of Survey

FIGURE 5: HOUSTON AS A PLACE TO LIVE, COMPARED WITH OTHER CITIES (2005-2009) 70 65

Much worse

Slightly better

Slightly worse

Much better

60 53.2

Percent of Respondents

55

51.8

50 44.3

(r=+.154, p.=.000)

45

41.4

40 35 31.3 30 25.2 25 20 13.2

15 10 5

9.1

7.9 2.5

2.4

1.3

0

2005

2007 "Compared to most other metropolitan areas in the country, would you say that the Houston area is a much better place, a slightly better place, a slightly worse place, or a much worse place in which to live?"

2009

THE RESTRUCTURED ECONOMY 

The “resource economy” of the industrial era, for which this city was so favorably positioned, has been replaced by a new high-tech, knowledge-based, fully worldwide marketplace.



The traditional “blue collar path” to financial security has now largely disappeared. Almost all the good-paying jobs today require high levels of technical skills and educational credentials.



In 2008, 74% of the survey respondents disagreed that, “A high school education is enough to get a good job.” In the 2007 survey, 61% agreed that, “There are very few good jobs in today’s economy for people without a college education.”



In this increasingly unequal, hourglass economy, “What you earn,” as the saying goes, “depends on what you’ve learned.”

FIGURE 6: TWO CONTRASTING QUARTERCENTURIES SINCE WORLD WAR II 160

Percent Increase in Before-Tax Incomes

150

Bottom 20%

Second 20%

Middle 20%

Fourth 20%

Top 20%

Top 5%

140 130 120

116 111

114

110 100 100 90

99 86

80 68

70 60 46

50 40 30

22

20 9

10

13

4

0 The Postwar Quarter-Century (1949-1979)

The Millennial Quarter-Century (1979-2003)

Percent Increases in Before-Tax Household Incomes Source: U.S. Census; Robert H. Frank. 2007. Falling Behind. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, pp. 10-11.

SOME PROVOCATIVE QUOTATIONS  “Gone forever are the days when a high school graduate could go to work on an assembly line and expect to earn a middle-class standard of living. Students who leave high school today without skills and unprepared for further learning are unlikely to ever earn enough to raise a family. They are being sentenced to a lifetime of poverty. A generation’s future is at stake” (Tony Wagner, Making the Grade, 2002).

 “No country in the world, without undergoing military defeat or internal revolution, has ever experienced such a sharp redistribution of earnings as the U.S. has seen in the last generation” (Lester Thurow, MIT School of Management, 1995).  “We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few. We cannot have both” (Louis D. Brandeis, Supreme Court Justice).

FIGURE 7: CONCERNS ABOUT UNFAIRNESS AND SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC PROGRAMS (1996-2009) 115 110

In favor of: Federal health insurance to cover the medical expenses of all Americans.

105

A "very serious problem" for U.S. if gap between rich and poor gets significantly bigger.

100 95

Problems in America today are result of economic pressures, not decline in moral values.

90

Government is not trying to do too much; should do more to solve the country's problems.

85

Percent of Respondents

80

76

75

71

(Federal health insurance.)

71

69

70 65

74

(r=+.075, p.=.000)

50

(r=+.103, p.=.000)

67

67 63

(r=+.122, p.=.000)

61

(Due to circumstances.)

(Rich-poor gap "very serious.")

52

47 52

45

(r=+.132, p.=.000)

(Govt. should do more.)

40

43

35 30

67

70

60

60 55

73 68

(r=+.143, p.=.000)

(Economic pressures.)

36

30

30

25

26

20 15 10 5 0

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Year of Survey

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

THE NEW IMPORTANCE OF “QUALITYOF-PLACE” CONSIDERATIONS  Houston's prospects will now increasingly depend on the city’s ability to attract and retain the nation’s most skilled and creative “knowledge workers” and high tech companies.  This will require continued significant improvements in . . .

• the region’s mobility and transportation systems • the revitalization and preservation of its urban centers • the excellence of its venues for sports, arts, and culture • the enhancement of its green spaces, trees, and bayous • the richness of its hiking, boating, and birding areas • the healthfulness of its air and water quality • Its overall physical attractiveness and aesthetic appeal  The public’s support for new initiatives along these lines has remained firm or grown stronger across the years of surveys.

FIGURE 8: CONCERNS ABOUT AIR POLLUTION IN THE HOUSTON AREA (1995-2009) 95 90

Rating the control of air and water pollution in the Houston area as "poor."

85

"Very concerned" about the effects of air pollution on the family's health.

80

We are spending "too little" on improving and protecting the environment.

Percent of Respondents

75

Over the past 3 years, Houston's air pollution has been "getting worse."

70 (Spending "too little" on environmental protection.)

53

60 55 50

46

60

61

47

(r=+.076, p.=.000) 53

56 ("Very concerned" about health effects.)

45

55 52

(Pollution worsening.)

30

(r=+.033, p.=.030)

51

(r=-.054, p.=.002)

45

49

44

44 45

44 30

63

59

50

46

40 35

65

63

65

43 39

(r=-.076, p.=.005)

36

30 (Rating pollution controls as "poor.")

25

29

20 15 10 5 0

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

Year of Survey

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

FIGURE 9: ASSESSMENTS OF TRAFFIC IN THE HOUSTON AREA AND OF THREE POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS (2005-2009) 90 85

"Ov e r the past thre e ye ars, has traffic in the Houston are a ge ne rally gotte n be tte r, gotte n worse , or has it staye d about the same ?"

80 75 70

67

"Which of the se proposals would be the be st long-te rm solution to the traffic proble ms in the Houston are a?"

66

Percent of Respondents

65 60

60 55

2005

2007

2009

50

50 45 40

40

(r=+.078, p.=.001)

42

(r=+.079, p.=.001)

35 30

30

27

25

22

23

25

24

26

26 20

20 15

15 9

10

10

5 0

Worse

Same

Be tte r

Highways

Urbanism

Transit

FIGURE 10: THE IMPORTANCE OF A MUCH IMPROVED MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM AND OF INCLUDING A RAIL COMPONENT (1991-2008) 70

Percent Saying, "Very Important"

65

63

62

60

55

57

The development of a much improved mass transit system is "very important" for Houston's future.

58

52

50 47

49

45 45

46 45

[ If "somewhat" or "very important": ] It is "very important" for that transit system to have a rail component.

40

35 34 32

30

25

20

1991

1993

2003

2004

Year of Survey

2006

2008

FIGURE 11: ATTITUDES TOWARD POPULATION GROWTH AND URBAN PLANNING (2007-2009) 100 95 Favor.

90

Redevelop older areas.

85 80

Favor.

82.8

82.7

Better landuse planning.

76.1

75

69.8

Percent of Respondents

70 65 Worse

60 55

50.3

50 45 No effect

40 35

30.0

30

Build on edge of suburbs.

No opinion

25 19.7

20

Free to build wherever.

Oppose.

22.4

No opinion.

Oppose.

No opinion.

No opinion.

15.2

15 8.7

10

10.5 7.8

10.6 6.7

6.7

5 0 Will an additional million residents make living conditions better, worse, or have no clear effect? (2007)

Need better land-use planning Which is the best way for to guide growth; or leave Harris County to accommodate growth during people free to build wherever they want? (2007) the next 20 years? (2008)

Would you favor or oppose creating a General Plan to guide Houston's future growth? (2007)

Would you favor or oppose creating a General Plan to guide Houston's future growth? (2009)

FIGURE 12: HOW WORRIED ABOUT BECOMING THE VICTIM OF A CRIME? (1995-2009) 50

Not very worried/ Not worried at all

45

41

40

Percent of Respondents

Very worried

37

("very worried")

37 34

35 32

32

33 31

31

30

28

25

27

27

("Not very worried" or "Not worried at all")

(r=-.073, p.=.000)

27

27

28 25

23

20

23 21

"How worried are you personally that you or a member of your family will become the victim of a crime?"

20

15

10 1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

Year of Survey

2006

2007

2008

2009

U.S. IMMIGRATION POLICY BEFORE AND AFTER THE REFORM ACT OF 1965 

Between 1492 and 1965, 82 percent of all the people in the world who came to American shores came from Europe.



Under the notorious 1924 “National Origins Quota Act,” U.S. immigration was dramatically reduced, and newcomers were restricted almost entirely to the “Nordics” of Western Europe.



In 1965, the “Hart-Celler Act” for the first time accepted large numbers of non-Europeans, with preferences based primarily on family reunification, professional skills, or refugee status.



As a result, major new immigrant flows — non-European and of striking socioeconomic diversity — are rapidly transforming the composition of the Houston, and American, populations.

FIGURE 13: THE NUMBERS OF DOCUMENTED U.S. IMMIGRANTS, BY DECADE (1820-2000) 10.0 9.095 8.795

9.0

Numbers of Immigrants (In Millions)

8.0 7.338

7.0 6.0 5.736

5.247

5.0 4.493 4.107

4.0

3.322

3.688 2.812

3.0

2.598

2.0

1.713

2.515

2.315 1.035

1.0

0.599 0.143

0.528

0.0 1821- 1831- 1841- 1851- 1861- 1871- 1881- 1891- 1901- 1911- 1921- 1931- 1941- 1951- 1961- 1971- 1981- 19911830 1840 1850 1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Source: U.S. Census (www.census.gov).

THE DEMOGRAPHIC REVOLUTION 

Along with the major immigration capitals of L.A. and N.Y.C., and closely following upon Miami, San Francisco, and Chicago, Houston is at the forefront of the new diversity that is refashioning the socio-political landscape of urban America.



Throughout all of its history . . .



•

this was essentially a bi-racial Southern city,

•

dominated and controlled, in an automatic, takenfor-granted way, by white men.

Today . . .

•

Houston is one of the most culturally diverse metropolitan areas in the country, and

•

all of its ethnic communities are now “minorities.”

FIGURE 14: THE DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSFORMATIONS OF HARRIS COUNTY (1960-2007) 4.5 Anglos

4.0

Blacks

Hispanics

Asians/Others

Population, in Millions

3.5

6.3%

3.0

32.9%

2.1% 22.7% 15.5%

2.0 0.8% 9.9%

1.5 0.3%

0.5

38.6%

4.1%

2.5

1.0

6.6%

19.1%

19.7%

18.2%

18.3%

20.1% 6.0% 19.8% 73.9%

54.0%

62.7%

69.2%

42.5%

36.5%

0.0

1960 (1,243,258)

1970 (1,741,912)

1980 (2,409,547)

1990 (2,818,199)

2000 (3,400,578)

2007, est.* (3,935,855)

Source: U.S. Census (www.census.gov); classifications based on Texas State Data Center conventions; total populations are given in parentheses; *from the 2007 Official Population Estimates.

FIGURE 15: THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE TEN COUNTIES IN HOUSTON’S METRO AREA (2006) 105 100

Anglos

95

Blacks

90

Hispanics Asians/Others

85

Source: U.S. Census (www.census.gov); classifications based on Texas State Data Center conventions; from the 2006 Population Estimates; total populations are given in parentheses.

79

80

76

Percent of Population

75

73

72

69

70 65

61

59

60 55

50

50 45 40

40

38

37

35 30 25 20

21

18

23 20

20 17

16

14

15 10

26

25

23

12

10 7 4

5

3

4

15

14 10

12

9

7

6 2

2

2

2

2

0 Harris Co. (3,886,207)

Fort Bend (493,187)

Montgomery (398,290)

Galveston (283,551)

Brazoria Co. (287,898)

Liberty Co. (75,685)

Waller Co. (35,185)

Chambers (28,779)

Austin Co. (26,407)

San Jacinto (24,760)

INTERACTIONS OF ETHNICITY AND AGE 

The other demographic revolution: the remarkable “aging,” or “graying,” of the American population.



Today’s seniors are primarily Anglos, as are the 76 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964, now aged 45 to 63.

In the next 30 years, the numbers over age 65 will double.



The younger cohorts, who will replace the “Baby Boomers,” are disproportionately non-Anglo and far less privileged.



The “aging of America” is thus a division not only by generation, but also by socioeconomic status and ethnic background.



Nowhere is this ongoing transformation more clearly seen than in the age distributions of the Harris County population.

FIGURE 16: THE PROPORTIONS IN FOUR AGE GROUPS WHO ARE ANGLO, BLACK, LATINO, AND ASIAN OR OTHER (2004-2009, COMBINED) 85 80

Anglos

Blacks

Hispanics

Asians/Others

75 70

68.5

65 59.6

Percent of Respondents

60 55 50

46.0 45

42.3

40 35

31.7

30 23.5 23.5

25 21.1 20 15

18.4

16.7

16.5 12.0

10 5.6 5

6.9 5.0

2.9

0

Ages 60-93 (N=701)

Ages 45-59 (N=990)

Ages 30-44 (N=826)

Ages 18-29 (N=620)

FIGURE 17: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT IN FIVE HOUSTON COMMUNITIES (1994-2009) 70 65 60

"What is the highest grade of school or year of college that you've completed?"

Less than H.S.

H.S. diploma

College degree

Post-graduate

Some college

55

Percent of Respondents

50

48

45 40

36

35

35 30

30

32 32 29 27 25

25

25 18

20

18

18

17

15

5

16 14

11

10

16

14 10

7

8 6

5

3

0

Asian Immigrants US-born Anglos (N=1,098) (N=6,813)

US-born Blacks (N=6,638)

US-born Latinos (N=3,512)

Latino Immigrants (N=3,406)

FIGURE 18: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT IN FIVE LATINO COMMUNITIES (1994-2009) 75 70

"What is the highest grade of school or year of college that you've completed?"

65

Less than H.S.

H.S. diploma

College degree

Post-graduate

Some college

60

Percent of Respondents

55

55 51

50 45 39

40 35

32

32 29

30

28

27 24

25

23

25

25

24

20 16

15

15

14

15

13

16

17

16

18

13 9

10 6

6

6

5

5 1

1

0

US-born Hispanics (N=3,512)

Immigrants from Mexico (N=1,983)

Immigrants from El Salvador (N=328)

Other Central America (N=226)

Cuba and South America (N=186)

Immigrants from elsewhere (N=72)

THE NEW IMMIGRATION: TWO VIEWS*  The dominant pessimistic story: Immigration is increasing dramatically, and it is producing a rapidly growing population of unassimilable foreigners. English will soon lose its status as the nation’s language. Poverty will grow, placing ever greater pressure on America’s already-overburdened taxpayers. The country is being swamped by a rising tide it cannot absorb.  A different story of the future: After accelerating in the 1990s, immigration has leveled off. The newcomers are moving out of poverty and assimilating at least as rapidly as the earlier immigrants from Europe. The baby boomers will soon retire, and today’s immigrants and their children will be the voters and citizens, the workers and taxpayers of America in the new century. *

From: Dowell Myers. 2007. Immigrants and Boomers: Forging a New Social Contract for the Future of America. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.

FIGURE 19: MEASURES OF SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AMONG LATINO IMMIGRANTS BY TIME IN U.S. AND BY GENERATION (1994-2009) 105 100

In U.S. 0-9 years (N=1,236)

In U.S. 10-19 years (N=1,184)

95

2nd generation (N=1,403)

3rd+ generation (N=2,118)

In U.S. 20+ years (N=973)

90 83

85

Percent of Respondents

80

77

75

71

69

70

73

71 71 68

65 59

60

55

54

55

52

50

49

48

50

45

43

45 39

38

40 35

34 29

30 25

37

34

24

26 24

22

20

25

25

17

15 10 5 0 Education beyond high school.

Household income greater than $35,000.

Uses a computer at work or home.

Has health insurance Lives in the suburbs, for self and family. outside the city.

Owns the place where lives.

Percent of Respondents

FIGURE 20: INDICATORS OF ASSIMILATION AMONG LATINO IMMIGRANTS BY TIME IN THE U.S. AND BY GENERATION (1994-2009) 125 120 115 110 105 100 95 90 85 80 75 70 65 60 55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

In U.S. 1-9 years (N=1,236)

In U.S. 10-19 years (N=1,184)

2nd generation (N=1403

3rd+ generation (N=2,118)

In U.S. 20+ years (N=973)

94 88

86

84 79

78 72

70 67

67 63 59

59 53

53

50

48 45

44

40 35 30

29

26 17

34 31 26

18 15

The U.S. should admit Three closest friends A disapproved-of The interview was Respondent thinks of Preschoolers likely to in Houston are all more immigrants in have problems later if book should be kept self as primarily conducted in English, Hispanics. both parents work. out of public libraries. the next ten years Hispanic. rather than Spanish.

FIGURE 21: POSITIVE RATINGS OF “THE RELATIONS AMONG ETHNIC GROUPS” (1992-2009) 65

Percent rating "the relations among ethnic groups in the Houston area" as either "excellent" or "good."

60 55

56 52

51

Percent Giving Positive Ratings

50

50

50

48 49

45

41

26

29

25

25

40

35

39

33

23

20 20

15

32

36

31

28 24

23 20

19 16

36 34

30

29 24

38

38 35

25 23

45 41

42 40

32 30

30 26

44 46

35 30

48

47

44

42

40

10

49

48

15

Anglos

Blacks

Latinos

11

5 0

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Year of Survey

FIGURE 22: CHANGING ATTITUDES TOWARD HOUSTON’S ETHNIC DIVERSITY (1994–2009)

Percent of Respondents

95 90

The increasing ethnic diversity will eventually become a source of great strength for the city.

85

The increasing ethnic diversity, due to immigration, is a good thing (rather than a bad thing).

80

The increasing immigration mostly strengthens (rather than threatens) American culture.

75 69

70

69

67 65

63

65

66

60 55

54

61

64

64

60

59

62

57

57 55

50

52 49

45 44

40 39

35 30 25 20

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Year of Survey

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

FIGURE 23: THE OVERALL IMPACT OF THE KATRINA EVACUEES (2006-2009) 90 85 80

Good thing

75

Bad thing

70

Not clear/Can't say

69.9 64.8

Percent of Respondents

65 60

56.9

55 50

46.7

45 40

36.3

35 28.8

30 24.5

25 20

23.6

17.0 14.3

15 10.7 10

6.6

5 0

2006

2007

2008

2009

"On balance, would you say that the overall impact of the Katrina evacuees on Houston has been a good thing or a bad thng for the city, or has it had no clear effect?"

FIGURE 24: ATTITUDES TOWARD “ILLEGAL�

IMMIGRANTS IN HOUSTON (2007-2009) 95 90

2007

2008

2009

85 80 75

(r=-.081, p.=.003)

70

Percent of Respondents

65

(r=-.063, p.=.005)

(r=+.105, p.=.000)

71.2

68.1

67.6 64.2

61.2

60

55.8

(r=+.042, n.s.)

56.0

55 50.3 50 43.9

45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Agree: The children of illegal immigrants should have the right to attend the public schools.

Favor: Imposing fines, criminal charges against employers who hire illegal immigrants.

Favor: A law that would deny health and welfare services to illegal immigrants in Texas.

Favor: Granting illegal immigrants path to legal citizenship, if speak English and have no criminal record.

FIGURE 25: PERSPECTIVES ON ABORTION RIGHTS (FROM 1997 THROUGH 2009) 85

Believe that abortion is morally acceptable (or it depends).

80

Against: A law that would make it more difficult to obtain an abortion.

75

Agree: It should be legal for a woman to obtain an abortion for any reason.

Percent of Respondents

70 63

65 60

58

(r=-.048, p.=.004)

(Against making it more difficult.) 59

56

55

56

56 54 (Legal for any reason.)

54

50 50

45

56

58

(r=+.018, n.s.)

51

54

47 43

43

41

41

40

39

40

(r=+.088, n.s.)

(Morally acceptable.)

35 30

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

Year of Survey

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

FIGURE 26: SINGLE ISSUE VOTING AMONG “PRO-CHOICE” AND “PRO-LIFE” RESPONDENTS Percent Who Would NOT Vote for that Candidate

100 95 90 85

"Suppose there w as a candidate running for the Legislature w hose view s you mostly agreed w ith, but w ho took a position on abortion rights that you disagreed w ith completely. Would you certainly not vote for that candidate, probably not, or could you still vote for that candidate?"

80 75 70

Percent saying they w ould certainly not or probably not vote for that candidate:

65

66

66

60 (Pro-life")

55 50

46

49

45 40

60

48 44

47

("Pro-choice") 40

35 30 25

32

"Pro-choice"

"Pro-life"

20

1992

1996

2000

2004

2008

FIGURE 27: BELIEFS ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY (FROM 1997 THROUGH 2009) 75 Homosexuality is morally acceptable (or it depends).

70

Have a close personal friend who is gay or lesbian.

Homosexuality is something people cannot change.

65 61

Percent of Respondents

59 60 57 (Cannot change.)

55

56 (r=+.068, p.=.000)

54

50

(Close gay friend.)

52

50 (r=+.131, p.=.000) 45

47

(Morally acceptable.)

45

40

41

45

44

(r=+.050, p.=.001) 41

39 35

30

25

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

Year of Survey

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

FIGURE 28: SUPPORT FOR GAY RIGHTS (FROM 1991 THROUGH 2009) 95

Favor: Allowing homosexuals to teach in the public schools Favor: Homosexuals being legally permitted to adopt children

85

Favor: Alowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military

Percent of Respondents

Agree: Homosexual marriages should have same legal rights as heterosexuals

75 66 65

64

60

59

(Gays teaching.)

56 (r=+.094, p.=.000)

55

(r=+.140, p.=.000) 52

(Gays in the military.)

48 45 (r=+.050, p.=.001)

43

41 37

38

37

36

(Gay marriages.)

35

34

32 30

29 (r=+.184, p.=.000)

25

43

41

37

27

26

(Gay adoptions.)

15

19

5

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Year of Survey

FIGURE 29: INTERETHNIC DIFFERENCES IN BELIEFS ABOUT DISCRIMINATION (2006-2009) 90 85

Anglos (N=2,044)

Blacks (N=2,012)

Latinos (N=2,003)

80 75

70

Percent of Respondents

70 65

61

61

60

58

55

55 50

46

45 40 35

36 30

30

34

31

29

31

26 22

25 20

13

15 10 5 0 Blacks and other minorities have the same opportunities as whites in the U.S. today.

(2006, 2008)

Blacks in U.S. still a long way from having the same chance in life that whites have. (2007, 2009)

If the Katrina victims had In general, the criminal In general, the criminal justice system in Houston is justice system in Houston is been white, the government biased against blacks. (2006) biased against Hispanics. would have responded more quickly. (2006) (2009)

FIGURE 30: INTERETHNIC ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS BY AGE, ANGLOS ONLY (HAS-2007) 95 90

86.2

85

"Have you ever been in a romantic relationship with someone who was not Anglo?"

(Asked of the Anglo respondents only.)

80

PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS

75

76.8

[No]

70 63.2

65 60

[Yes] 58.5

56.3

55

51.5

50 45 40

[No] 39.0

47.5 43.7

35

35.9

30 25 23.2

20

No

15

Yes

[Yes]

10

12.3

5 0

Ages 18-29

Ages 30-39

Ages 40-49

Ages 50-59

AGE AT LAST BIRTHDAY

Ages 60-69

Ages 70-93

FIGURE 31: CHANGING PERSPECTIVES ON THE AMERICAN FUTURE (1988-2009) 85 80

Better times

75 70

64 61

Percent of Respondents

60

(More difficult

61 59

55

53

53 51

61 58

54

53

51

48

48

47 44

48 45

45

44

40 35

61

59

59

57

55

45

68

67

65

50

More difficult times

46 43

45

39

39

42

41

32

37 35

30 30

34

34

35

(Better times)

31

30

25

26

20 15 10

"When you look ahead to the next few years, do you tend to believe the country is headed for better times or more difficult times?"

5 0 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Year of Survey

FIGURE 32: PARTY PREFERENCES AMONG HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS (1988-2009) 65

Declared or leaning Democrat

Declared or leaning Republican

60

Neither Party/Can't Say

55 50 48

Percent of Respondents

50 45

49

48

(Republicans) 44

47 44

42

45

41

42

43

43

41

40 40 40

39

40

41

39

42

(Democrats)

35 35

37

38

39

40

41

43 41

39

40

40

43

42

40

42

37 39

35 37

36 34

30

32

32

33

29 25

(Neither Party)

16 15 10 5

16 14 11

13

20 17

24

23

22

20

20 18

19 18

19

23

21 17 15

15 "Would you call yourself a Republican, a Democrat, an Independent, or something else?" [IF NEITHER MAJOR PARTY IS NAMED:] "Do you think of yourself as closer to the Republican Party or to the Democratic Party?"

0 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Year of Survey

CONCLUSIONS: HOUSTON AND AMERICA FACE SOME FORMIDABLE CHALLENGES 

This city and nation will need to nurture a far more educated workforce, and fashion policies that can reduce the growing inequalities and prevent the rise of a new urban underclass.



To attract the most innovative companies and talented individuals, Houston will need to grow into a more environmentally appealing urban destination, and develop the research centers that will fuel the critical drivers of the new economy.



If the region is to flourish in the 21st century, it will need to develop into a much more unified and inclusive multiethnic society, one in which equality of opportunity is truly made available to all citizens and all of its communities are invited to participate as full partners in shaping the Houston future.

CONTACT INFORMATION The “Urban Research Center of Houston� at Rice University [Tag line: Turning Research into Reality.]

Professor Stephen L. Klineberg, Director 713-348-3484 or slk@rice.edu Contact Rice University (at: corrul@rice.edu; or call 713-348-4225) for copies of the following publications: * the report on 24 years of Houston surveys (Public Perceptions in Remarkable Times, 2005) * the report on surveys in the six major sectors of the greater Houston area (Regional Perspectives, 2007) For further information, please visit the Center Web sites, at: www.houstonareasurvey.org or www.urc.rice.edu