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Business Week/Harris Poll:
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Survey of 1,035 adults conducted Aug. 25-29, 2000, 1,009 adults conducted June 29-July 5, 2000, 1,010 adults conducted Dec. 9-12, 1999, and 1,004 adults on Feb. 23-26, 1996. Results should be accurate within 3 percentage points. Results for 2000 are from June unless otherwise noted.
NOTE: This is an extended version of the poll that appears in the Sept. 11 issue.

CORPORATE AMERICA: SOME CREDIT, MORE BLAME
American business should be given most of the credit for the prosperity that has prevailed during most of the 1990s.
		AGREE STRONGLY	SOMEWHAT AGREE	SOMEWHAT DISAGREE	DISAGREE STRONGLY	NOT SURE/ NO ANSWER
2000		26%	42%	19%	10%	2%
1996		55%*		44%*
*Question asked only agree or disagree

Business has gained too much power over too many aspects of American life.
		AGREE STRONGLY	SOMEWHAT AGREE	SOMEWHAT DISAGREE	DISAGREE STRONGLY	NOT SURE/ NO ANSWER
2000 (Aug.)		40%	32%	15%	9%	4%
2000 (June)		52%	30%	12%	4%	2%
1996		71%*		28%*
*Question asked only agree or disagree

In general, what is good for business is good for most Americans.
		AGREE STRONGLY	SOMEWHAT AGREE	SOMEWHAT DISAGREE	DISAGREE STRONGLY	NOT SURE/ NO ANSWER
2000 (Aug.)		14%	33%	27%	22%	4%
2000 (June)		17%	35%	23%	24%	1%
1996		32%	39%	20%	8%	1%
*Question asked only agree or disagree

How much confidence do you have in those running big business?
		2000		1999
Great deal		19%		15%
Only some		58%		69%
Hardly any		17%		13%
Not sure/No answer		5%		3%

Having large profits is more important to big business than developing safe, reliable, quality products for consumers.
		AGREE STRONGLY	SOMEWHAT AGREE	SOMEWHAT DISAGREE	DISAGREE STRONGLY	NOT SURE/ NO ANSWER
2000 (Aug.)		38%	28%	14%	17%	3%

GORE'S BIG SCORE.
At the recent Democratic convention, Vice-President Al Gore criticized a wide range of large corporations, including "big tobacco, big oil, the big polluters, the pharmaceutical companies, the HMOs." Do you agree or disagree with Gore's sentiments?
Strongly agree		39%		Strongly disagree		13%
Somewhat agree		35%		Don't know/No answer		4%
Somewhat disagree		9%

SECTOR BY SECTOR
LOW MARKS FROM CONSUMERS
How would you rate these industries in serving their consumers?
		ONLY POOR	PRETTY FAIR	GOOD	EXCELLENT	DON'T KNOW/ NO ANSWER
HMOs		43%	28%	15%	3%	11%
Tobacco companies		43%	30%	14%	5%	8%
Oil companies		39%	35%	16%	3%	7%
Insurance companies		32%	41%	21%	3%	3%
Pharmaceutical companies		27%	37%	26%	5%	5%
Airlines		22%	41%	25%	3%	9%
Telephone companies		20%	42%	31%	6%	1%
News organizations		18%	38%	33%	6%	5%
Hospitals		15%	35%	38%	9%	3%
Entertainment companies		14%	33%	38%	9%	6%
Automobile companies		12%	42%	37%	6%	3%
Financial services firms		12%	40%	34%	5%	9%
Computer companies		4%	30%	40%	10%	16%

GOOD PRODUCTS, POOR PRACTICES
WHAT CORPORATIONS DO WELL--AND NOT SO WELL
How would you rate large U.S. companies on each of the following?
Making good products and competing in a global economy
		EXCELLENT	PRETTY GOOD	ONLY FAIR	POOR	DON'T KNOW/ NO ANSWER
2000		18%	50%	26%	5%	1%
1996		14%	44%	33%	9%	*
Treating all of their employees well
		EXCELLENT	PRETTY GOOD	ONLY FAIR	POOR	DON'T KNOW/ NO ANSWER
2000 (Aug.)		6%	25%	42%	21%	6%
Supporting causes I believe in
		EXCELLENT	PRETTY GOOD	ONLY FAIR	POOR	DON'T KNOW/ NO ANSWER
2000 (Aug.)		7%	24%	40%	22%	7%
Providing quality products and services to American consumers
		EXCELLENT	PRETTY GOOD	ONLY FAIR	POOR	DON'T KNOW/ NO ANSWER
2000 (Aug.)		15%	56%	24%	4%	*
Having ethical business practices
		EXCELLENT	PRETTY GOOD	ONLY FAIR	POOR	DON'T KNOW/ NO ANSWER
2000 (Aug.)		4%	33%	42%	19%	2%
Educating their consumers on the health and safety of their products
		EXCELLENT	PRETTY GOOD	ONLY FAIR	POOR	DON'T KNOW/ NO ANSWER
2000 (Aug.)		8%	31%	38%	19%	4%
Having fair and reasonable prices, relative to their profits
		EXCELLENT	PRETTY GOOD	ONLY FAIR	POOR	DON'T KNOW/ NO ANSWER
2000 (Aug.)		5%	22%	46%	23%	4%
Supporting the U.S. economy with predominantly U.S.-based factories and employees
		EXCELLENT	PRETTY GOOD	ONLY FAIR	POOR	DON'T KNOW/ NO ANSWER
2000 (Aug.)		9%	25%	36%	24%	6%
Providing job security for employees
		EXCELLENT	PRETTY GOOD	ONLY FAIR	POOR	DON'T KNOW/ NO ANSWER
2000 (Aug.)		7%	25%	36%	29%	3%
Being straightforward and honest in their dealings with consumers and employees
		EXCELLENT	PRETTY GOOD	ONLY FAIR	POOR	DON'T KNOW/ NO ANSWER
2000 (Aug.)		4%	20%	45%	29%	2%
Really caring about what is good for America
		EXCELLENT	PRETTY GOOD	ONLY FAIR	POOR	DON'T KNOW/ NO ANSWER
2000 (June)		7%	25%	38%	28%	1%
1996		4%	20%	43%	33%	1%
Training their employees to give them new job skills
		EXCELLENT	PRETTY GOOD	ONLY FAIR	POOR	DON'T KNOW/ NO ANSWER
2000 (June)		10%	40%	31%	12%	7%
1996		8%	31%	40%	19%	1%
Providing reasonable wages, salaries and benefits
		EXCELLENT	PRETTY GOOD	ONLY FAIR	POOR	DON'T KNOW/ NO ANSWER
2000 (June)		8%	41%	35%	14%	2%
1996		4%	32%	47%	16%	*
* Less than 1%

THE DIVISIVE ISSUE OF PAY
PAY FOR TOP EXECUTIVES
How would you assess compensation of top officers of large U.S. companies?
		2000		1996
Too much		73%		73%
Too little		3%		5%
Just about the right amount		21%		19%
Not sure		2%		3%
No answer		*		*

YOUR OWN PAYCHECK
How would you rate your own pay?**
		2000		1996
Too much		*		1%
Too little		56%		57%
Just about the right amount		42%		42%
Not currently working for pay (vol.)		*		NA
Not sure/No answer		*		*
* Less than 1% ** Asked only of people with jobs

HOW CORPORATIONS BEHAVE
POLITICAL INFLUENCE
How would you rate the power of different business groups in influencing government policy, politicians, and policymakers in Washington?
			TOO MUCH	TOO LITTLE	ABOUT RIGHT	NOT SURE/ NO ANSWER
Big companies		2000	74%	5%	20%	1%
		1999	82%	8%	3%	7%
Small business		2000	2%	78%	19%	1%
		1999	3%	89%	2%	4%
Labor unions		2000	40%	20%	37%	3%
		1999	42%	41%	7%	11%
Environmental groups		2000	26%	35%	36%	2%
Religious organizations		2000	27%	36%	34%	3%

How much influence do you think that campaign contributions made by big business have on politics in America?
Too much		84%
Too little		2%
Just about the right amount		13%
Not sure/No answer		1%

POPULAR CULTURE
Entertainment and popular culture are dominated by corporate money which seeks mass appeal over quality.
		AGREE STRONGLY	SOMEWHAT AGREE	SOMEWHAT DISAGREE	DISAGREE STRONGLY	NOT SURE/ NO ANSWER
2000		45%	37%	11%	4%	4%
Entertainment and media companies do a good job of creating products that many people want to buy and enjoy.
		AGREE STRONGLY	SOMEWHAT AGREE	SOMEWHAT DISAGREE	DISAGREE STRONGLY	NOT SURE/ NO ANSWER
2000		32%	46%	13%	8%	1%

ADVERTISING TO CHILDREN
Companies should be allowed to show commercials for brand name products in school in exchange for giving the school money and supplies.
		AGREE	DISAGREE	NOT SURE/ DECLINE TO ANSWER
2000		36%	60%	4%
Marketing and advertising puts too much pressure on children to buy things that are too expensive, unhealthy or unnecessary.
		AGREE	DISAGREE	NOT SURE/ DECLINE TO ANSWER
2000		85%	14%	1%
Advertising is a good way for children to get accurate information about products.
		AGREE	DISAGREE	NOT SURE/ DECLINE TO ANSWER
2000		32%	66%	2%

BRAND NAME DOMINANCE
Large brand-name companies typically grow by squeezing out local business.
		AGREE STRONGLY	SOMEWHAT AGREE	SOMEWHAT DISAGREE	DISAGREE STRONGLY	NOT SURE/ NO ANSWER
2000		53%	34%	9%	3%	1%
The same large brand-name companies have begun appearing in many American cities reducing unique local variety and character
		AGREE STRONGLY	SOMEWHAT AGREE	SOMEWHAT DISAGREE	DISAGREE STRONGLY	NOT SURE/ NO ANSWER
2000		28%	47%	16%	4%	4%
Large brand-name companies provide a consistent product and quality that often cannot be found in local business.
		AGREE STRONGLY	SOMEWHAT AGREE	SOMEWHAT DISAGREE	DISAGREE STRONGLY	NOT SURE/ NO ANSWER
2000		15%	40%	28%	15%	2%
Large brand-name companies usually offer lower prices than many local businesses.
		AGREE STRONGLY	SOMEWHAT AGREE	SOMEWHAT DISAGREE	DISAGREE STRONGLY	NOT SURE/ NO ANSWER
2000		26%	43%	19%	10%	1%

THE ENVIRONMENT: WHO DO YOU BELIEVE?
Let's say there were four research scientists-one from the federal government, one from a corporation, one from an environmental organization, and one from a university-each expressing a different point of view about a major environmental issue. Which scientist would you be inclined to believe?
Environmental group		31%
Federal government		7%
A Corporation		5%
A University		51%
Not sure/Decline to answser		6%

How much do you trust each of the following to protect the quality of our nation's environment? Federal environment agencies like the EPA
		A GREAT A DEAL	MODERATE AMOUNT	A SLIGHT AMOUNT	NOT AT ALL	NOT SURE/ NO ANSWER
2000		17%	48%	24%	11%	1%
Large corporations
		A GREAT A DEAL	MODERATE AMOUNT	A SLIGHT AMOUNT	NOT AT ALL	NOT SURE/ NO ANSWER
2000		4%	27%	37%	30%	1%
National environment organizations
		A GREAT A DEAL	MODERATE AMOUNT	A SLIGHT AMOUNT	NOT AT ALL	NOT SURE/ NO ANSWER
2000		22%	45%	22%	8%	1%

BEYOND THE BOTTOM LINE
Which of the following statements do you agree with more strongly?
		2000		1999
U.S. corporations should have only one purpose --to make the most profit for their shareholders-- and their pursuit of that goal will be best for America in the long run.		4%		5%
U.S. corporations should have more than one purpose. They also owe something to their workers and the communities in which they operate, and they should sometimes sacrifice some profit for the sake of making things better for their workers and communities		95%		95%
Not sure/No answer		1%		0%

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