An aqueous acrylic emulsion polymer including, as copolymerized units, 70 to 99.5% by weight, based on dry polymer weight, monoethylenically unsaturated nonionic (meth)acrylic monomer and from 0.3 to 10% by weight, based on dry polymer weight, monoethylenically unsaturated acid monomer, wherein at least 40% by weight, based on dry polymer weight, of the emulsion polymer is formed by redox polymerization in the presence of 0.001 to 0.05 moles chain transfer agent per kg dry polymer weight is provided. An aqueous coating composition including the acrylic emulsion polymer, a method for improving the scrub resistance of a dry coating, a method for improving the adhesion of a dry coating, and a method for improving the adhesion of a dry coating to an alkyd substrate are provided.