„In Search of Libertarians in America” (JONES & COX & NAVARRO-RIVERA 2013)

ROBERT P. JONES & DANIEL COX & JUHEM NAVARRO-RIVERA, In Search of Libertarians in America,  Public Religion Research Institute, The 2013 American Values Survey  

Table of Contents

Executive Summary 1

Libertarianism in the 21st Century 5

Introduction .................................................................................................................... 5

Defining Libertarianism .................................................................................................. 6

A Portrait of Libertarians and Communalists ................................................................ 9

Libertarian Views of Selected Cultural Minority Groups .............................................. 17

Libertarians on Political Issues 18

Economic Issues .......................................................................................................... 18

Social Issues ................................................................................................................ 22

The Political Context: 2014 and Beyond 25

Political Engagement Levels ........................................................................................ 25

Favorability of the Political Parties ............................................................................... 26

Perceptions of Political Parties’ Ideologies ................................................................. 26

Support for and Favorability of Political Candidates ................................................... 28

2016 Presidential Nominee Preferences ...................................................................... 29

Appendices 31

Appendix 1: Survey Methodology ................................................................................ 31

Appendix 2: Libertarian Orientation Scale Methodology ............................................ 32

Appendix 3: Profile of Libertarians vs.Selected Groups ............................................. 35

Appendix 4: Potential 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate Favorability ............. 36

Appendix 5: About PRRI and the Authors ................................................................... 37

Executive Summary

According to a newly developed Libertarian Orientation Scale, less than 1-in-10 (7%) Americans are consistent libertarians, and an additional 15% lean libertarian. At the other end of the spectrum, an equal number of Americans are consistent communalists (7%), and an additional 17% lean communalist. A majority (54%) of Americans have a mixed ideologi­cal profile, falling in between libertarian and communalist orientations.

Compared to the general population, libertarians are significantly more likely to be non- Hispanic white, male, and young. Nearly all libertarians are non-Hispanic whites (94%), more than two-thirds (68%) are men, and more than 6-in-10 (62%) are under the age of 50.

The party affiliation of libertarians skews significantly more Republican than Democratic. Close to half (45%) of libertarians identify as Republican, compared to only 5% who iden­tify as Democrat. However, half of libertarians identify as politically independent (35%) or identify with a third political party (15%), including roughly 1-in-10 (8%) who identify with the Libertarian Party. Roughly 4-in-10 (39%) libertarians identify as part of the Tea Party movement, while 61% do not.

Libertarians make up a smaller proportion of the Republican Party than other key conser­vative groups. Only 12% of self-identified Republicans are libertarians, compared to 20% of Republicans who identify with the Tea Party, 33% who identify with the religious right or conservative Christian movement, and 37% who identify as white evangelical Protestant.

Libertarians also constitute a smaller proportion of the Tea Party movement than other core conservative groups. About one-quarter (26%) of Americans who identify with the Tea Party movement are libertarians, compared to a majority (52%) who say they are a part of the religious right or conservative Christian movement, and 35% who identify as white evangelical Protestant.

Libertarians are composed of a disproportionately high number of white mainline Protestants (27%) and religiously unaffiliated Americans (27%). Only about 1-in-10 (11%) libertarians identify as Catholic, and no libertarians identify as black Protestant.

Generally speaking, libertarians are more opposed than white evangelical Protestants, those affiliated with the Tea Party, and Republicans overall to government involvement across a range of economic policies, such as raising the minimum wage, Obamacare, and increasing environmental protections.

Nearly two-thirds (65%) of libertarians oppose increasing the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $10.00 an hour, as do 57% of Americans who identify with the Tea Party. By contrast, 57% of Republicans overall and 61% of white evangelical Protestants support raising the minimum wage.