Where Are We Going – Trends from 1994 to 2007, Business, Labor and Corporate Favorability

Summarized below are the major findings from section 7 of the Pew Research survey, Trends in Political Values and Core Attitudes: 1987-2007.

According to the survey, ” … the idea that, in general, corporations make excessive profits is now more widely shared – and more strongly expressed – than a few years ago. While 65% agree that corporations make too much profit, 30% completely agree with this statement. This is the highest percentage expressing complete agreement with this statement in 20 years, though the increase from 2003 is not statistically significant (29%). … There are sizable political differences in views of business, including whether or not corporations make too much profit. Seven-in-ten Democrats express this view and 68% [69%?] of independents agree, up from 60% in 2002.”

In terms of political affiliation, the survey put the corporate fairness issue this way:

“Republicans are evenly divided on this issue (50% say business corporations strike the right balance, 47% disagree), while Democrats and independents are much more critical of business in this regard. Roughly six-in-ten Democrats (62%) and independents (61%) reject the idea that corporations strike a fair balance between profits and the public interest.”

Even more people believe that major corporations are too powerful. Roughly three quarters of the public (76%) believe there is too much power concentrated in the hands of a few big companies, a number which has varied very little over the past 20 years. People with annual household incomes of $75,000 or more are somewhat less concerned about the power of big business; even so, 68% say there is too much power concentrated in the hands of a few big companies. Democrats are much more likely than Republicans to express this viewpoint (84% vs. 63%, respectively).

In terms of political affiliation, the survey put the corporate favorability this way, “As has traditionally been the case, younger people and those with more education have the most favorable opinions of business corporations. In addition, Republicans are much more likely than Democrats to hold a favorable view of business (70% vs. 53%, respectively).”