4 days ago
Americans now support corporate activism again: Survey
U.S. adults' stance on corporate activism has flip-flopped, according to a Wednesday Bentley University-Gallup report.
Why it matters: After years of decline in support, more Americans across demographics and political affiliations want businesses to take a public stance on hot-button topics including free speech, immigration policy, diversity, climate change and health care issues.
"The data underscore an important insight for businesses," the report said. "What they say, and who they say it to, matters."
By the numbers: 51% of U.S. adults in the May survey said they believe companies should take public stances on current issues, per the poll.
That's a 13 percentage point increase from last year and a reversal of a downward trend that began after 2022.
Flashback: Last year, 38% of respondents said they thought business should take a public stance on current events.
At that point, the biggest drops in sentiment were within groups of people who were previously the most receptive — Democrats, Americans under 45, Black Americans and Asian Americans.
State of play: Now, 71% of Democrats and 33% of Republicans support businesses taking public stances.
Support for business has risen for them to take a public stance on free speech, immigration policy and international conflicts.
The intrigue: While Americans support businesses speaking out publicly, they're more apprehensive about their own employers communicating on most topics.
