Over the last twenty-five years, the difference between Democrats and Republicans on the role of government has grown to about what percentage?

Over the last twenty-five years, the difference between Democrats and Republicans on the role of government has grown to about what percentage?

• A. 8
• B. 12
• C. 18
• D. 25

Answer: (C)

The question is about how far apart Democrats and Republicans are in their views on how big the government should be, and how that gap has changed over the last 25 years. That difference is measured as a percentage-point gap between the share of each party that favors a larger government role versus a smaller one. Over time, that gap has grown, and it sits at about eighteen percentage points now. In other words, Democrats and Republicans are about 18 points apart in their position on the government’s size and scope, reflecting increasing polarization in public opinion. The other numbers would imply smaller or larger gaps than the data show, but eighteen points best matches the observed trend.

The question is about how far apart Democrats and Republicans are in their views on how big the government should be, and how that gap has changed over the last 25 years. That difference is measured as a percentage-point gap between the share of each party that favors a larger government role versus a smaller one. Over time, that gap has grown, and it sits at about eighteen percentage points now. In other words, Democrats and Republicans are about 18 points apart in their position on the government’s size and scope, reflecting increasing polarization in public opinion. The other numbers would imply smaller or larger gaps than the data show, but eighteen points best matches the observed trend.