2013 Houston Area Survey

The 32nd Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey Tracking Responses to the Economic and Demographic Transformations

Dr. Stephen Klineberg

2013 Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey

The new economy (2013)

“For a person to be successful in today’s world it is necessary to get an education beyond high school.”

73%

The traditional “blue collar path” to financial security has now largely disappeared.

25%

“There are many ways to succeed with no more than a high school diploma.”

2% Don’t know/Can’t say

2

Source: 2013 Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey © Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research

The New Economy

What is the biggest problem facing people in the Houston area today?

16% Crime

37% Economy

15% Traffic

26%

21% 32% Other

2012 3

23%

Source: 2013 Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey Š Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research

30% Other

2013 The New Economy

Positive perceptions of job opportunities in the Houston area (1982-2013) 100%

Percent rating job opportunities as “excellent” or “good”

71% of Houstonians in 1982 66% 68% gave positive ratings to job opportunities in Houston.

50%

43%

58%

58%

42%

48% 41%

36%

35% 25% 11%

0% 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 4

Source: 2013 Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey © Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research

The New Economy

Assessments of personal financial situations (1982-2013) 70%

62% 56% 54%

59%

51%Will be “better off”

45%

financially three or four years down the road.

41% 28%

27%

26% Personal financial 23%

21%

10%

situation has been “getting better” in the last few years.

82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

5

Source: 2013 Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey © Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research

The New Economy

Life in the Houston area compared to other U.S. metro areas (2005-2013)

“Compared to most other metropolitan areas in the country, is Houston a better or worse place to live?”

100%

78%

85%

86%

89%

90%

“Much/slightly better” 50%

17% 8%

7%

6%

“Much/slightly worse”

0%

05

6

9%

Source: 2013 Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey © Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research

07

09

11

Quality of Place

13

Neighborhood preferences (2007-2013) "If you could live anywhere in the Houston area, what sort of neighborhood would you prefer to live in?"

A single-family residential area An area with a mix of developments, including homes, shops and restaurants.

2013 2011 2007 2009

7

52% 50% 49% 48%

Source: 2013 Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey Š Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research

50% 47% 50%

Quality of Place

The shift in attitudes toward immigrants during the past four years (2009-2013) Percent of respondents agreeing 90%

83% 68%

60%

55%

30%

64% 66%

71%

74% 61%

55%

51%

For: granting a path to legal citizenship.

Admit about the same or more legal immigrants.

47%

The new immigration mostly strengthens American culture.

0% 09 8

11

13 09

10

Source: 2013 Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey Š Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research

11

12

13 09

11

The Demographic Revolution

13

Abortion attitudes: the “tolerant traditionalists” (1999-2013) 100%

Opposed to “a law that would make it more difficult for a woman to 60% obtain an abortion.”

61% 59%

59% Believe that “abortion is morally wrong.”

0% 99 9

01

03

05

07

09

Source: 2013 Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey © Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research

11

13

The Demographic Revolution

The growing support for gay rights (2009-2013) Percent of respondents agreeing 55%

52%

45%

46%

45%

44%

43%

46%

39% 35%

Same-sex marriages should be given the “same legal status.”

Homosexuality is “something people cannot change.”

Homosexuality is “morally acceptable.”

25% 09 10

11

13 09

11

Source: 2013 Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey © Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research

13 09

11

13

The Demographic Revolution

Support for gun control (2013) “What about a federal law banning assault weapons?”

Strongly favor

Strongly oppose

35%

36%

“What about requiring universal criminal background checks for all gun sales?”

Strongly favor

82%

8%

Strongly oppose 2% Slightly oppose 7% Slightly favor

10% Slightly favor

15% Slightly oppose

4% Don’t know/Can’t say

11

Source: 2013 Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey © Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research

1% Don’t know/Can’t say

The Demographic Revolution

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