What are you afraid of? Research shows that government corruption is the biggest fear in the US

According to a new study from Chapman University, Americans will be most afraid of government corruption, global wars and economic instability in 2024. That may seem surprising, but at least it’s consistent. It is the ninth year in a row that government corruption has topped the list.

However, experts cite inflation as the biggest risk.

“The persistent fear of government corruption reflects a deep distrust in government, with many Americans concerned that powerful interests could influence it,” said Steve Pfaff, Ph.D., professor of sociology.

Other major concerns include loved ones becoming seriously ill or dying, nuclear war, terrorism and financial insecurity.

The survey asked more than a thousand people in the US about 85 different fears, from crime to public speaking and natural disasters. The top 10 fears in 2024 are:

1. Corrupt government officials – 65.2%
2. Loved ones become seriously ill – 58.4%
3. Cyberterrorism – 58.3%
4. Loved ones die – 57.8%
5. Russia uses nuclear weapons – 55.8%
6. Not having enough money for the future – 55.7%
7. US gets involved in another world war – 55% (tie)
7. North Korea uses nuclear weapons – 55% (equal)
9. Terrorist attacks – 52.7%
10. Biological Warfare – 52.5%

“This year, all of the top 10 fears were shared by more than half of Americans, and many other fears also ranked high,” says Christopher Bader, Ph.D., professor of sociology at Chapman. “Americans appear to be becoming more anxious overall.”

Is the list realistic?

The fear of corrupt government officials seemed a bit exaggerated to the hard-bitten senior journalists here at ConsumerAffairs. While minor (and even major) corruption within government is somewhat common, none of us can recall an example in which it has directly contributed to widespread death and destruction.

So we asked: who else? — ChatGPT what it considers the biggest risks. Within seconds, it responded: “The biggest risks facing Americans in 2024 are dominated by economic, political and global instability.”

Here are the top ten concerns raised by ChatGPT, each cited by some major academic or research institution:

1. Inflation – Rising prices remain a major problem, with 62% of Americans considering it a major problem, especially when it impacts basic living costs such as food and energy. (Cited by the Pew Research Center).

2. Healthcare Affordability – The high cost of healthcare is another major problem, with more than half of Americans concerned about how they will be able to afford medical treatment. (Cited by the Pew Research Center).

3. Government Dysfunction and Political Polarization – The upcoming 2024 elections are expected to put pressure on American democracy, leading to fears of political instability and possible civil unrest. (Quoted by the Eurasia Group).

4. Cybersecurity Threats – As digital infrastructure becomes increasingly important, concerns are growing about cyber-attacks by hostile countries and criminal groups. (Quoted by the Eurasia Group).

5. Climate change and extreme weather – The return of El Niño and other climate events are expected to cause severe weather disruptions, including floods, droughts and fires, impacting agriculture and infrastructure. (Quoted by the Atlantic Council).

6. Nuclear threats from global adversaries – Rising tensions with countries such as Russia, Iran and North Korea have increased fears of a nuclear conflict. (Quoted by the Eurasia Group).

7. Rising Crime and Gun Violence – Although crime rates fluctuate, many Americans remain deeply concerned about violent crime and gun-related incidents. (Cited by the Pew Research Center).

8. Economic Inequality and Job Insecurity – As inflation and global economic uncertainty persist, there are persistent concerns about job stability and the wealth gap in society. (Cited by the Pew Research Center).

9. Technological Disruption (AI) – Rapid advances in artificial intelligence, while providing economic opportunities, also pose risks related to job losses and ethical governance. (Quoted by the Atlantic Council).

10. Immigration and Border Security – Illegal immigration remains a controversial issue, with strong views on its impact on national security and economic resources. (Quoted by the Eurasia Group).

War and finance are frequent fears

Both lists give a lot of credence to the fear of global events, especially related to war and terrorism, with six of the top 10 on Chapman’s list and only one on ChatGPT’s account of war-related issues. Economic fears, such as not having enough money, have risen from tenth place last year to sixth place this year on Chapman’s list, while concerns about climate change remain stable, with around 49% of people expressing fear.

Political fears have also increased in the Chapman survey, with more than half (51.6%) of Americans worried about the upcoming election and 48.6% fearing unrest afterwards.

Prof. Chapman’s Bader added that social media can fuel these fears. “The way people obtain information is changing. Social media platforms show users content that reinforces their fears, which could increase overall levels of anxiety.”

The Chapman survey, conducted by SSRS in spring 2024, used a nationally representative sample of 1,008 respondents, with a margin of error of +/- 4%. The full results and methodology can be found on the Chapman website.

Chapman is a private university in Orange, California.