(Week of 8/25/2012) One issue Republicans and Democrats can agree on is that trade with other countries is a good thing. By 50% to 18%, Americans in the latest Economist/YouGov Poll want to increase trade with other countries. And majorities of Republicans, Democrats and independents agree.

The interest in foreign trade increases with education and income. Those with college degrees favor increased foreign trade by nearly five to one (66% to 13%); those with incomes of at least $100,000 a year favor it by an even greater margin (70% to 6%).

But while the public favors trade with other nations, it continues to oppose foreign aid. Two in three would decrease the amount of money spent on foreign aid, easily the highest percentage saying that about any of more than a dozen federal programs asked about in this poll.

And the difference between Democrats and Republicans on this is only a matter of degree, and not direction. 80% of Republicans would cut foreign aid spending; 51% of Democrats agree. Fewer than one in ten in either party would increase spending.

Economist/YouGov poll archives can be found here

Photo source: Press Association