The 2017 American Family Survey shows economics and personal finance is a more significant consideration than it has been in the past, according to Christianity Today.
According to the data, focus on economic factors increased by 11 percentage points while cultural concerns fell by 17 percentage points at the same time. Specifically, 34 percent of Americans thought that the costs of raising a child were one of their most significant challenges and that number jumped from only 26 percent in the previous year.
A family's focus on social issues continues to break down differently depending on their personal beliefs and political affiliations. For example, three-quarters of Hillary Clinton supporters claimed financial concerns were the most important compared to just half of President Donald Trump's supporters and only 43 percent of the evangelical population.
Conservatives aren't necessarily as concerned with economics as their focus on preserving and strengthening the family helps provide a strong foundation for economic success.
According to the American Enterprise Institute and the Institute for Family Studies, families with married parents have a strong association with better economic mobility, economic growth, fewer children living in poverty, and higher income levels in general. This indicator is a stronger predictor of this success than racial, educational, or age-related factors.
