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Americans trust business more than federal government

More Americans trust businesses (43%) than the federal government (31%) to act in society's best interest

How much do you trust the following groups to act in the best interest of society?

Americans trust businesses (43%) more than the federal government to act in society's best interest (31%)

Kristi Minnick, Stanton Professor of Finance - Bentley UniversityIf people believe companies will do more good than Washington, corporate leadership becomes civic leadership. That confidence is a mandate to tackle pay equity, climate impact and community well-being with clear goals, transparent reporting and accountability. Trust lasts only when results are visible and keep improving." 

Kristi Minnick
Stanton Professor of Finance
Bentley University

Jeff Gulati, Professor of Political Science and Senior Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences - Bentley UniversityThis should not be seen as a vote of confidence in American businesses. Americans' lack of faith in federal institutions is longstanding, setting a very low bar for other institutions to exceed. A majority of Americans do not trust businesses to do the right thing. Americans’ trust in national institutions, whether it be business, government, media or higher education, is depressingly low and makes it less likely for us to come together to confront the serious national and global challenges of today."

Jeff Gulati
Professor of Political Science and Senior Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences
Bentley University

Whom do Americans Trust? Not the Federal Government

Fewer than a third of U.S. adults trust Washington to act in society’s best interests – lower than charities, state government and businesses, according to a new article.

Read the Paper

Whom do Americans Trust? Not the Federal Gov’t