October 21, 2011

CONTACT: 866-788-9129

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Poll: Pessimism Toward Government Grows; Concern on Taxes and Spending Persists  

Pessimism among adults nationwide about the impact of recent government policies on job creation has grown. In fact, the vast majority (84%) of Americans now believe that recent government policies have either hurt job creation or have had no effect; while the percentage of those who believe that government policies have helped job creation was only 17%.

Notably, only a third of Democrats held this view. The poll of a representative sample of 1,011 adults was conducted October 7-10, 2011 by YouGov for the American Institute for Growth, a non-partisan 501(c)3 policy organization comprised of American entrepreneurs.

The poll also found that public sentiment on regulation, taxes and spending has remained constant throughout the summer and fall: 64% of those polled –  including 71% of Independents – indicated that they were worried that there was too much regulation, taxes and government spending, clearly not assuaged by promises from President Obama and Congress that regulations would be scaled back. In June 2011, 65% of American adults felt the same – virtually unchanged.

Persistent national unemployment was the top economic concern at 52%, while the growth in government spending was the top concern for 36% of those polled. 

While some in the political class have taken to criticizing private businesses for being overly concerned with their individual priorities and not “doing their part” to help get the economy moving again, 70% of those polled, including 76% of Independents, support businesses staying focused on what is best for their business – only hiring when additional workers are needed.

See the full results HERE.

American Institute for Growth (JCA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)3 organization composed of current and former major CEOs and entrepreneurs whose goal is to defend and preserve the system of free enterprise in the United States for future generations so entrepreneurship can flourish, resulting in job creation. More information can be found at: jobcreatorsalliance.org