The National Asian American Survey (NAAS) conducted the first nationally representative survey of the policy priorities and issue preferences of Asian Americans in 2008. In 2012, we conducted a tracking survey of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, with even more ethnic groups than in 2008 (Hmong and Cambodian, in addition to Chinese, Indian, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese) and with the addition of Pacific Islander groups such as Native Hawaiians and Samoans. This report presents the results of 4,755 interviews conducted between July 30, 2012 and October 21, 2012.

The data on public opinion among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders about deficit reduction, economic priorities and the federal budget reveal that:

  • 67% of AAPIs support raising taxes on high earners to reduce the deficit.
  • Support for raising taxes on high earners is significant (62%) even among those with household incomes more than $250,000.
  • Among national origin groups, support is strongest among Korean Americans (79%), Vietnamese Americans (72%) and Chinese Americans (70%).
  • Close to one in four AAPIs report being worse off economically than a year ago.
  • College debt and the cost of elder care are among the most serious financial problems faced by AAPI households.
  • The top budget priorities for AAPIs are: public schools, health care, economic assistance to needy people, and social security.
Read the report