U.S. Chamber of Commerce CAMPAIGN FOR FREE ENTERPRISE Online survey of 1,005 registered voters Conducted by KRC Research Data collected September 1-4, 2009 Percents may not total 100% due to rounding. An asterisk (*) indicates percents between 0% and 0.5%. A hyphen (-) indicates 0 responses in that category. HIGHLIGHTS: American voters support free enterprise and believe it has enormous advantages for the country: it makes us special, creates jobs and growth, makes us competitive and makes the American dream possible. While most Americans believe they benefit from free enterprise, they are more certain that free enterprise benefits the economy than they are that free enterprise benefits them personally. Americans worry about the future of free enterprise. Americans agree that the most important challenge facing us today is creating jobs. They also believe that the private sector, not government, will and should take the lead in creating jobs. Americans thus agree that we should rely on free enterprise more than government to restore prosperity. They see a government role in stimulating the economy as short term, and many believe that the government does too much that should be left to the private sector. 700 Thirteenth Street, NW T +1 202 628 1118 919 Third Avenue 101 Main Street, 8 th floor Fox Court Washington, DC 20005 F +1 202 585 2779 New York, NY 10022 Cambridge, MA 02142 14 Gray s Inn Road www.krcresearch.com London WC1X 8WS U.K.
American voters support free enterprise and believe it has enormous advantages for the country: it makes us special, creates jobs and growth, makes us competitive and makes the American dream possible. How would you describe your general feelings towards free enterprise very positive, somewhat positive, neutral, somewhat negative, or very negative? Very positive...35% Somewhat positive...36% Neutral...22% Somewhat negative... 4% Very negative... 1% Total positive...71% On a scale from 1 to 5, how much does free enterprise contribute to making the United States special? 1 (free enterprise contributes nothing at all)... 2% 2... 3% 3...17% 4...24% 5 (free enterprise contributes an enormous amount)...42% Not sure...12% Total contributes a lot (4,5)...66% On a scale from 1 to 5, how much does free enterprise contribute to American jobs and economic growth? 1 (free enterprise contributes nothing at all)... 2% 2... 5% 3...22% 4...26% 5 (free enterprise contributes an enormous amount)...35% Not sure...11% Total contributes a lot (4,5)...60% On a scale from 1 to 5, how much does free enterprise contribute to making America competitive in the global economy? 1 (free enterprise contributes nothing at all)... 1% 2... 5% 3...18% 4...30% 5 (free enterprise contributes an enormous amount)...34% Not sure...12% Total contributes a lot (4,5)...63% KRC RESEARCH page 2
How much do you agree or disagree with this statement? Free enterprise is what makes the American Dream possible. Completely agree...31% Mostly agree...42% Neither agree nor disagree...19% Mostly disagree... 4% Completely disagree... 1% Total agree...73% While most Americans believe they benefit from free enterprise, they are more certain that free enterprise benefits the economy than that free enterprise benefits them personally. How much does living in a free enterprise system benefit you personally? A lot...29% Some...32% A little...19% Not at all... 4% Not sure...16% Total a lot, some...61% Total benefit at least a little...80% On a scale from 1 to 5, how much does free enterprise contribute to your own personal happiness and success? 1 (free enterprise contributes nothing at all)... 5% 2...10% 3...31% 4...22% 5 (free enterprise contributes an enormous amount)...18% Not sure...14% Total contributes a lot (4,5)...40% On a scale from 1 to 5, how much does free enterprise contribute to your own economic security? 1 (free enterprise contributes nothing at all)... 6% 2...12% 3...29% 4...22% 5 (free enterprise contributes an enormous amount)...18% Not sure...14% Total contributes a lot (4,5)...39% KRC RESEARCH page 3
Americans worry about the future of free enterprise. When you think about what s happening with the government in Washington these days, how do you feel about the future of free enterprise in the United States? Worried and concerned...57% Confident and optimistic...23% Neither one...20% Americans agree that the most important challenge facing us today is creating jobs. They also believe that the private sector, not government, will and should take the lead in creating jobs. How much do you agree or disagree with this statement? The single most important goal for America today is creating jobs. We need to create jobs in order to meet any of our other challenges. Completely agree...37% Mostly agree...40% Neither agree nor disagree...15% Mostly disagree... 4% Completely disagree... * Total agree...77% Thinking about the next few years, how much do you think each of the following will contribute to creating jobs? contribute a great deal contribute something contribute a little not contribute much Not sure Small business 33% 41% 18% 5% 5% Entrepreneurs 26% 44% 18% 7% 5% Big business 19% 45% 21% 10% 5% The federal government 10% 36% 25% 23% 5% And, thinking about the next few years, which SHOULD we rely on to create jobs? (You can choose more than one.) Small business...58% Entrepreneurs...49% Big business...41% The federal government...24% Not sure...13% KRC RESEARCH page 4
Americans thus agree that we should rely on free enterprise more than government to restore prosperity. They see a government role in stimulating the economy as short term, and many believe that the government does too much that should be left to the private sector. How much do you agree or disagree with this statement? Government efforts to stimulate the economy are a temporary bandage. We need that now, but we should rely on free enterprise to grow the economy and create jobs in the long-run. Completely agree...25% Mostly agree...39% Neither agree nor disagree...24% Mostly disagree... 6% Completely disagree... 1% Total agree...64% How much do you agree or disagree with this statement? Government is doing too much that would be better left to the private sector. Completely agree...21% Mostly agree...25% Neither agree nor disagree...27% Mostly disagree...15% Completely disagree... 5% Not sure... 7% Total agree...46% Sample profile: 53% female; 47% male 18% under age 30; 16% 30-39; 19% 49-49; 27% 50-64; 19% 65 and older 36% high school graduate; 31% some post-secondary; 33% college graduate 41% Democrat/lean Democrat, 37% Republican/lean Republican, 22% neither or other KRC RESEARCH page 5