42%
2024 (latest)
PEOPLE TRY TO BE FAIR
percent saying most people try to be fair (vs. would take advantage) · 1972–2024 · higher is better · computed from NORC General Social Survey (cumulative file 1972–2024)
60%
1972
63%
high · 1986
42%
low · 2024
−19 pts
since 1972
┊ dashed lines mark 1979 Oil shock & inflation peak · 1987 Black Monday crash · 1991 Gulf War recession · 2001 Dot-com bust & 9/11 · 2008 Global financial crisis · 2020 COVID-19 pandemic
Method & caveats. What people believe: Do you think most people would try to take advantage of you if they got a chance, or would they try to be fair? NORC General Social Survey cumulative file, computed here from the public microdata: weighted (WTSSPS, NORC's post-stratification weight available for every year 1972–2024) share of valid responses. 2021 moved to a push-to-web design during the pandemic and 2022/2024 are mixed-mode; NORC advises caution comparing 2021+ with the in-person years, so treat 2021 as a seam. Years with fewer than 200 weighted responses are dropped. Breaks: 2021 web-mode transition; ballot rotation gaps.
Sources
Every value on this page is read from the publisher below. Current and historical source documents:
- https://gss.norc.org/get-the-data/stata.html
- https://gss.norc.org/content/dam/gss/get-the-data/documents/stata/GSS_stata.zip
- https://github.com/danielmiessler/substrate/tree/main/Data/US-Societal-Health
Data
| Year | People Try to Be Fair | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 42% | −2.8 pts |
| 2022 | 44% | −8.0 pts |
| 2018 | 52% | −1.0 pts |
| 2016 | 53% | +2.7 pts |
| 2014 | 51% | +0.9 pts |
| 2012 | 50% | −3.4 pts |
| 2010 | 53% | +3.2 pts |
| 2008 | 50% | +1.0 pts |
| 2006 | 49% | −0.2 pts |
| 2004 | 49% | +0.3 pts |
| 2002 | 49% | −3.6 pts |
| 2000 | 53% | +0.2 pts |
| 1998 | 52% | +2.8 pts |
| 1996 | 50% | −2.8 pts |
| 1994 | 52% | −2.0 pts |
| 1993 | 54% | −2.2 pts |
| 1991 | 57% | +0.0 pts |
| 1990 | 57% | −1.7 pts |
| 1989 | 58% | −1.9 pts |
| 1988 | 60% | +2.2 pts |
| 1987 | 58% | −5.0 pts |
| 1986 | 63% | +0.3 pts |
| 1984 | 63% | +3.6 pts |
| 1983 | 59% | −1.3 pts |
| 1980 | 60% | −2.2 pts |
| 1978 | 63% | +4.5 pts |
| 1976 | 58% | −4.2 pts |
| 1975 | 62% | +4.3 pts |
| 1973 | 58% | −2.4 pts |
| 1972 | 60% | — |
Also in Happiness & Outlook