How has the boom/bust economy of recent years affected Americans' perennial
optimism? A BusinessWeek/Harris Poll of 1,022 adults, conducted July
20-25, found that most Americans believe the good times will return soon.
Still, this outlook is tempered by a sense that the Brave New World of
technology may not be quite the panacea it was once thought to be. Here's
the complete poll (a shorter version was included in the print edition):
Now, for the turnaround
How optimistic or pessimistic are you that the U.S. can avoid a lengthy
downturn marked by more large-scale job layoffs, further weakness in the
stock market, and a decline in Americans' living standards?
Very optimistic 13% Very pessimistic 8%
Somewhat optimistic 50% Not Sure/Refused 7%
Somewhat pessimistic 23%
Muddling along
On a scale from 1 to 7, where 7 means "The country's economy is extremely
strong", 4 means "The economy is neither growing nor shrinking," and 1
means "The country is in a severe recession", where do you think the
country is headed?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Not Sure/Refused
9% 5% 18% 31% 23% 7% 3% 4%
Acting responsibly
How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements--do you
strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree?
Investors must be willing to bear greater financial risks to assure higher
return on investments
STRONGLY SOMEWHAT SOMEWHAT STRONGLY NOT SURE/
AGREE AGREE DISAGREE DISAGREE REFUSED
29% 41% 17% 8% 5%
The federal government should take a more activist role in assuring
economic growth
STRONGLY SOMEWHAT SOMEWHAT STRONGLY NOT SURE/
AGREE AGREE DISAGREE DISAGREE REFUSED
39% 33% 16% 8% 3%
People got too carried away with the promise of technology to improve
their lives
STRONGLY SOMEWHAT SOMEWHAT STRONGLY NOT SURE/
AGREE AGREE DISAGREE DISAGREE REFUSED
39% 35% 15% 9% 2%
Shakier now than before...
Are you more or less confident in the economy today than you were a year
ago?
More confident 24
Less confident 60
No difference 15
Not Sure/Refused 2
...But the future is ours
How confident are you that after the economic downturn ends, America can
return to rapid economic growth, rising incomes, and good job opportunities?
Very confident 21% Not at all confident 5%
Somewhat confident 55% Not Sure/Refused 2%
Not very confident 17%
What about your kids' tomorrow?
Do you expect your children will have a better life than you have had, a
worse life, or a life about as good as yours?
July 2001 July 2000
Better life 42 50
Worse life 17 15
About as good 32 26
No children 4 5
Not sure/Refused 5 3
A question of leadership
How would you rate the job these people or groups are doing?
PRETTY ONLY NOT SURE/
EXCELLENT GOOD FAIR POOR REFUSED
President
Bush 10% 36% 32% 16% 6%
Democrats in the
U.S. Congress 2% 30% 43% 14% 10%
Republicans in the
U.S. Congress 3% 31% 42% 14% 11%
Federal Reserve
Board Chairman
Alan Greenspan 12% 41% 24% 9% 14%
Leaders of
American Business 4% 32% 40% 15% 10%
On privatizing Social Security
President Bush supports partial privatization of Social Security, which he
would accomplish by letting individuals invest a portion of payroll taxes
in stocks and other investments, with the goal to raise investment returns
and assure a better retirement system. How strongly do you support or
oppose this proposal?
Strongly support 26%
Somewhat support 30%
Somewhat oppose 17%
Strongly oppose 22%
Not Sure/Refused 5%
Which of the following statements comes closest to your views?
I support the privatization of Social Security more
today due to the current state of the economy 39%
I oppose the privatization of Social Security more
today due to the current state of the economy 34%
No difference 20%
Not Sure/Refused 7%
Copyright 2001 , by The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.
