SURVEY:
Business Leaders Want to Be Active in Protecting America’s Democracy, and Consumers Support Them
Overview
May 2022
A Morning Consult survey commissioned by the Business and Democracy Initiative tells a clear story: Business leaders and consumers agree that a strong economy requires a strong democracy.
The survey finds that business leaders see their businesses as important pieces in the democratic process and that consumers want businesses to play an active role in this process.
Consumers view businesses acting to uphold the democratic process in a positive light, and businesses are more likely to attract and retain current and future employees if they take an active role in the democratic process.
The bottom line is clear: business leaders, employees, and consumers support businesses that uphold democracy.
KEY FINDING:
Businesses Want to be Active in Protecting America's Democracy, and Consumers Support Them
- The strong majority of business leaders say the existence of a well-functioning democracy is important to a strong economy (96%). Consumers agree, with 87% saying the existence of a well-functioning democracy is important to a strong economy.
- Business leaders and consumers believe that businesses should have an active role in the democratic process.
- Four-in-five (81%) business leaders agree that businesses should act to ensure safe and fair elections.
- Four-in-five (77%) business leaders agree that businesses should speak out about threats to democracy.
- Consumers also agree that businesses should drive change or progress on important social issues (57%) and speak out publicly about cultural or social issues (55%)
- Nearly half of consumers
(47%) say they are more likely to accept or remain at a job if their employer participated in the democratic process.
KEY FINDING:
Business Leaders are More Likely to Take Action to Support Democracy Than They Were Five Years Ago
- Nearly three-in-five business leaders (56%) say their business is more likely than they were five years ago to encourage employees to take a stance or speak out in support of democracy – only 8% say they are less likely to do so than they were five years ago.
- Over half of business leaders (54%) say their business is more likely than they were five years ago to allow employees to take time off from work to engage in the political process (i.e. time off to vote, work at polls) – only 8% say they are less likely to do so than they were five years ago.
METHODOLOGY
Two polls were conducted between April 26 and May 3 2022 among a sample of 2210 Adult consumers and 404 Business Leaders. The consumer interviews were conducted online and the data was weighted to approximate a target sample of consumers based on gender, age, race, educational attainment, and region. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points. The Business Leaders interviews were conducted online. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points. Business Leaders Definition: Executive Level / C-Suite Business Size 250+
