Survey reveals college students confused about socialism and what it would mean

The current major victory of the New York of Democrat Zohran Mamdani, a self -proclaimed socialist, raises the query that has been simmering for years: is America prepared for socialism?

Our nationwide survey amongst 2,067 college and college college students within the US means that the reply begins with one other query: what’s socialism? Solely 34% of the scholars outline socialism as state property and central planning, the classical definition. Nearly half, as a substitute, defines it as an lively authorities and redistribution, and plenty of admit that they don’t seem to be certain. This confusion is how folks speak about socialism and why it’s good to gauge younger voters.

Politicians have helped to fade the traces by pointing in locations equivalent to Northern international locations equivalent to Sweden as fashions of ‘democratic socialism’, and declare that they’re profitable fashions of what it might appear like within the US, however Sweden shouldn’t be a socialist economic system. The coverage that’s endorsed by Vermont Impartial Sen. Bernie Sanders, New York Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mamdani and others-such as implementing a wealth tax, growing inheritance tax, company tax and earnings taxes to pay for a big welfare state of Sweden. It’s a market -based system with excessive taxes that finance a beneficiant welfare state.

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Though the tax burden for people is comparatively excessive in Sweden, the Swedish authorities notes that its welfare system has been constructed on the precept that everybody pays, not simply the wealthy. The very best marginal earnings tax fee is greater in Sweden than within the US, however these greater taxes should not solely paid by the wealthy in Sweden. The highest proportion applies to anybody who hardly earns above the nationwide common in Sweden in comparison with the US, the place the best fee is paid by those that earn 800% greater than the nationwide common.

Senator Bernie Sanders, Democratic mayor candidate Zohran Mamdani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez pose for a photograph in Astoria, Queens, 6 September 2025. (@Zohrankmamdani by way of x)

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As well as, Sweden imposes a consumption tax of 25% on items and companies, versus nationwide and native gross sales tax within the US that on common 7.7%. Sweden additionally has no wealth tax, no inheritance tax and a decrease company tax fee than within the US

Sweden realized within the arduous manner what occurs when it got here to the kind of coverage that was advocated by ‘democratic socialists’. As emphasised by Johan Norberg and others, the nation had a small authorities and an open economic system for nearly 100 years till the nation experimented with socialism within the 70s and 80s. Throughout that point they’ve expanded the scale of the federal government, elevated earnings taxes, wealth tax and an inheritance tax. Iconic firms equivalent to IKEA left the nation, grew up and skilled a monetary disaster that pressured main reforms within the early Nineties. At the moment, Sweden is without doubt one of the most economically free international locations on the earth.

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So what do younger People need? Once we requested the scholars if they’re in favor of common well being care and free greater schooling, 78% stated sure when it’s financed by a wealth tax on the highest 1%. Seventy -one p.c stated sure if it was financed by greater earnings tax on the highest 10%. When requested in the event that they have been in favor of this stuff after they have been financed by a common consumption tax, the help fell by half. When financed by a better earnings tax on most individuals, solely 38% have been in favor. It’s clear that college students (and presumably different People who’re for this stuff) are far more for a bigger welfare state if another person ft.

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Historical past and economic system present that the programs which can be constructed on growing authorities ultimately have an effect on a wall. Because the deceased British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher stated well-known: “The issue with socialism is that you just in the end now not have any cash from others.”

Earlier than America decides that it’s prepared for socialism, it’s clear that now we have to be skilled about what it truly means and what it actually prices. Solely then can we actually debate whether or not socialism is ‘a dedication to dignity’, as Mamdani says, or if it’s a recipe for damage.

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