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Fall 2004 Keystone Business Climate Survey

 

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 PercentResponse 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 PercentResponse 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 PercentResponse 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 PercentResponse 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 PercentResponse 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 PercentResponse 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 PercentResponse 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 PercentResponse 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?
PositiveNegativeNo OpinionResponse 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?
PositiveNegativeNo OpinionResponse 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 PercentResponse 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 PercentResponse 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 PercentResponse 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"
12345Response 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 PercentResponse 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 PercentResponse 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 PercentResponse 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:
12345Response 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 PercentResponse 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 PercentResponse 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 PercentResponse 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