Fall 2004 Keystone Business Climate Survey

Columnist : Lincoln Institute

Results Summary

Total Respondents: 161

 

1. Section I: Business Climate
1. In general, do you think business conditions in Pennsylvania are better, the same, or worse than they were SIX MONTHS AGO?
Response Percent Response Total
Better
28.6% 46
Same
48.4% 78
Worse
21.1% 34
No Opinion
1.9% 3
Total Respondents 161
(skipped this question) 0
2. LOOKING AHEAD SIX MONTHS, do you think business conditions will be better, the same, or worse than they are now?
Response Percent Response Total
Better
36.6% 59
Same
40.4% 65
Worse
18% 29
No Opinion
5% 8
Total Respondents 161
(skipped this question) 0
3. Are employment levels at your company higher, the same, or lower, than they were SIX MONTHS AGO?
Response Percent Response Total
Higher
21.9% 35
Same
62.5% 100
Lower
15% 24
No Opinion
0.6% 1
Total Respondents 160
(skipped this question) 1
4. LOOKING AHEAD SIX MONTHS, do you anticipate that employment levels at your company will be higher, stay the same, or be lower?
Response Percent Response Total
Higher
28.3% 45
Same
64.2% 102
Lower
7.5% 12
No Opinion
0% 0
Total Respondents 159
(skipped this question) 2
5. Have your company’s sales increased, stayed relatively the same, or decreased during the PAST SIX MONTHS?
Response Percent Response Total
Increased
42.9% 69
Same
32.3% 52
Decreased
24.8% 40
No Opinion
0% 0
Total Respondents 161
(skipped this question) 0
6. Do you expect your company’s sales to increase, stay relatively the same, or decrease during the COMING SIX MONTHS?
Response Percent Response Total
Increase
43.8% 70
Same
43.8% 70
Decrease
11.2% 18
No Opinion
1.2% 2
Total Respondents 160
(skipped this question) 1
7. At any point in the PAST SIX MONTHS has your company considered moving all or part of its Pennsylvania operations to another state?
Response Percent Response Total
Did move some operations
2.5% 4
Considered moving some operations
3.7% 6
Considered moving all operations
5% 8
Moved operations into Pennsylvania
0% 0
Didn’t consider any moves
88.8% 143
Total Respondents 161
(skipped this question) 0
8. Do you foresee at any point in the COMING SIX MONTHS your company considering moving all or part of its Pennsylvania operations to another state?
Response Percent Response Total
May move all operations
2.5% 4
May move some operations
4.4% 7
Not considering any moves
93% 147
May move operations INTO Pennsylvania
0% 0
Total Respondents 158
(skipped this question) 3
9. In general, do you have a POSITIVE, NEGATIVE or NO OPINION of the job performance of the following individuals?
Positive Negative No Opinion Response Total
President George W. Bush
80% (128) 16% (25) 5% (8) 161
Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan
70% (112) 7% (11) 24% (38) 161
U.S. Senator Arlen Specter
32% (51) 43% (70) 25% (40) 161
U.S. Senator Rick Santorum
70% (111) 13% (20) 18% (28) 159
Governor Ed Rendell
17% (27) 69% (111) 14% (23) 161
Total Respondents 161
(skipped this question) 0
10. In general, do you have a POSITIVE, NEGATIVE, or NO OPINION of the job performance of the following institutions?
Positive Negative No Opinion Response Total
United States Senate
27% (44) 52% (83) 21% (34) 161
United States House of Representatives
46% (73) 33% (53) 21% (33) 159
Pennsylvania Senate
32% (51) 39% (62) 30% (48) 161
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
34% (54) 36% (57) 30% (48) 159
Total Respondents 161
(skipped this question) 0
11. Do you AGREE or DISAGREE that a recently enacted law legalizing gambling in Pennsylvania should be amended to prohibit state officials from holding an ownership stake in such operations?
Response Percent Response Total
Strongly Agree
85.1% 137
Somewhat Agree
10.6% 17
Somewhat Disagree
1.2% 2
Strongly Disagree
1.2% 2
No Opinion
1.9% 3
Total Respondents 161
(skipped this question) 0
12. Do you expect to see any significant property tax relief as a result of recently enacted legislation legalizing slot machines and allocating a portion of the tax proceeds to Pennsylvania school districts?
Response Percent Response Total
Expect Significant Property Tax Relief
6.2% 10
Expect Minimal Property Tax Relief
32.9% 53
Expect No Property Tax Relief
59.6% 96
No Opinion
1.2% 2
Total Respondents 161
(skipped this question) 0
13. What would you say is the single most important personal characteristic or quality you would look for in a leader?
 Total Respondents  
146
(skipped this question) 15
14. Please name for us four or five people living today you would consider to be great leaders:
 Total Respondents  
106
(skipped this question) 55
15. Looking back through history, please name for us four or five people you consider to have been great leaders:
 Total Respondents  
112
(skipped this question) 49
16. Do you AGREE or DISAGREE with the following statement: “America’s leaders today do not live up to the standards of the great leaders from our nation’s past.”
Response Percent Response Total
STRONGLY AGREE
20.3% 32
SOMEWHAT AGREE
54.4% 86
SOMEWHAT DISAGREE
14.6% 23
STRONGLY DISAGREE
7.6% 12
NO OPINION
3.2% 5
Total Respondents 158
(skipped this question) 3
17. On a scale of one to five – with one being the most important, and five being the least important – please rate for us the following qualities you might look for in a role model”
1 2 3 4 5 Response Average
Honesty
57% (58) 24% (24) 16% (16) 2% (2) 2% (2) 1.69
Strong Moral Character
30% (23) 38% (29) 16% (12) 8% (6) 8% (6) 2.25
Integrity/Ethical
45% (44) 24% (23) 18% (17) 7% (7) 6% (6) 2.05
Knowledgable/Smart
4% (3) 31% (22) 31% (22) 24% (17) 11% (8) 3.07
Self Assured/Confident
8% (2) 12% (3) 21% (5) 29% (7) 29% (7) 3.58
Hard Working
8% (4) 14% (7) 16% (8) 37% (18) 24% (12) 3.55
Respects Others
2% (1) 12% (5) 17% (7) 37% (15) 32% (13) 3.83
Leadership Ability
11% (8) 17% (12) 24% (17) 31% (22) 18% (13) 3.28
Religious/Spiritual
9% (4) 9% (4) 16% (7) 18% (8) 48% (21) 3.86
Creative/Innovative
5% (2) 13% (5) 32% (12) 26% (10) 24% (9) 3.50
Entrepreneurial/Takes Risks
9% (3) 15% (5) 24% (8) 21% (7) 30% (10) 3.48
Challenges Authority
8% (2) 19% (5) 12% (3) 15% (4) 46% (12) 3.73
Plays by the Rules
20% (4) 20% (4) 15% (3) 15% (3) 30% (6) 3.15
Total Respondents 160
(skipped this question) 1
18. Would you AGREE or DISAGREE with the following statement: “The most important measure of success is how much money a person makes.”
Response Percent Response Total
STRONGLY AGREE
0% 0
SOMEWHAT AGREE
8.8% 14
SOMEWHAT DISAGREE
21.2% 34
STRONGLY DISAGREE
67.5% 108
NO OPINION
2.5% 4
Total Respondents 160
(skipped this question) 1
19. Do you AGREE or DISAGREE with the following statement: “The most important measure of success is how others think of you.”
Response Percent Response Total
STRONGLY AGREE
13.2% 21
SOMEWHAT AGREE
35.8% 57
SOMEWHAT DISAGREE
27% 43
STRONGLY DISAGREE
22.6% 36
NO OPINION
1.3% 2
Total Respondents 159
(skipped this question) 2
20. Do you AGREE or DISAGREE with the following statement: “The most important measure of success is what you do to help others.”
Response Percent Response Total
STRONGLY AGREE
46.9% 75
SOMEWHAT AGREE
43.8% 70
SOMEWHAT DISAGREE
5.6% 9
STRONGLY DISAGREE
1.9% 3
NO OPINION
1.9% 3
Total Respondents 160
(skipped this question) 1
21. Thinking of a LIVING person you DO NOT KNOW PERSONALLY, but know about through the media or other means, name for us one person you would consider to be a hero.
 Total Respondents  
92
(skipped this question) 69
22. LOOKING BACK THROUGH HISTORY, name one person you DO NOT KNOW PERSONALLY, but know about through the media or other means, who you would consider to be a hero.
 Total Respondents  
104
(skipped this question) 57
23. On a scale of one to five – with one being the most heroic, and five being the least heroic – please rate for us the following:
1 2 3 4 5 Response Average
Professional Athlete
1% (1) 4% (4) 15% (16) 15% (16) 65% (68) 4.39
Teacher
14% (16) 31% (35) 32% (36) 12% (14) 10% (11) 2.72
Small Business Person
18% (19) 24% (26) 37% (40) 14% (15) 7% (8) 2.69
CEO of a Major Corporation
4% (4) 13% (13) 32% (31) 21% (20) 30% (29) 3.59
Pastor/Clergy
21% (22) 40% (41) 17% (18) 11% (11) 11% (11) 2.50
Parent
46% (53) 25% (29) 15% (17) 10% (12) 4% (5) 2.03
Firefighter
41% (52) 32% (41) 15% (19) 9% (12) 3% (4) 2.02
Member of the Armed Forces
63% (90) 17% (25) 11% (16) 5% (7) 3% (5) 1.69
Elected Official
5% (5) 7% (7) 26% (25) 29% (28) 33% (32) 3.77
Policeman
30% (38) 29% (36) 29% (36) 9% (11) 3% (4) 2.26
Movie Star
5% (5) 1% (1) 2% (2) 14% (13) 78% (75) 4.58
Doctor
9% (9) 42% (41) 35% (34) 10% (10) 4% (4) 2.58
Astronaut
24% (25) 28% (29) 30% (31) 11% (11) 7% (7) 2.48
Social Service Volunteer
18% (19) 31% (33) 25% (27) 16% (17) 9% (10) 2.68
Organ Donor
34% (42) 24% (29) 19% (23) 13% (16) 10% (12) 2.40
Blue Collar Worker
5% (5) 23% (22) 50% (48) 11% (11) 10% (10) 2.99
Homemaker
20% (21) 27% (28) 41% (43) 7% (7) 6% (6) 2.51
Total Respondents 155
(skipped this question) 6
24. Would you AGREE or DISAGREE with the following statement: “We currently live in an age without heroes.”
Response Percent Response Total
STRONGLY AGREE
4.4% 7
SOMEWHAT AGREE
42.4% 67
SOMEWHAT DISAGREE
27.2% 43
STRONGLY DISAGREE
25.3% 40
NO OPINION
0.6% 1
Total Respondents 158
(skipped this question) 3
25. If you could have dinner alone with one person CURRENTLY LIVING TODAY WHO YOU DO NOT KNOW PERSONALLY, who would you choose?
 Total Respondents  
108
(skipped this question) 53
26. Aside from a relative, if you could have dinner alone with one person who is NO LONGER LIVING, who would you choose?
 Total Respondents  
108
(skipped this question) 53
27. If the election for PRESIDENT of the United States were held today, would you vote for GEORGE W. BUSH, JOHN F. KERRY, or SOMEONE ELSE?
Response Percent Response Total
George W. Bush
82.4% 131
John F. Kerry
10.1% 16
Don’t know/Refused
6.3% 10
Other (please specify)
1.3% 2
Total Respondents 159
(skipped this question) 2
28. In what part of Pennsylvania is your business located?
Response Percent Response Total
Northwest PA
14.3% 23
Southwest PA
15.5% 25
Northcentral PA
4.3% 7
Altoona/Johnstown
5% 8
Southcentral/Harrisburg
18% 29
Southeastern PA
24.8% 40
Lehigh Valley
5% 8
Northeastern PA
13% 21
Total Respondents 161
(skipped this question) 0