It's no secret that a lot
of Cincinnatians aren't totally enamored with the corporate world. Skeptics
have any number of reasons to question the motives of big businesses, and many
people appear to believe that companies care about maximizing profits and not
much else. Research from the
University of Pennsylvania shows
that people tend to perceive a link between companies that make a profit and
companies that cause social harm. When participants were asked to assess
various companies and industries -- some real, some hypothetical -- both
liberals and conservatives viewed profits as undeserved, and even associated
strong earnings with evil.
But those attitudes may
be slowly eroding. According to the 2014 Edelman Trust Barometer,
released last month by the public relations company Edelman, the public's trust
in business has been steadily rising since the financial crisis of 2008, while
trust in government has been declining worldwide.
This past year marked the
most significant gap between trust in the government and trust in business
recorded since Edelman began conducting the study in 2001. In nearly half of
the 27 countries surveyed, there was a difference of more than 20 points
between government and business trust ratings, and in some nations that gap was
as high as 40 points. In the U.S., the study found, business got a trust
score of 58 percent, while the government got just 37 percent, for a 21-point
gap.
A full 84 percent of
respondents worldwide even said that
they believe businesses can pursue self-interest and profits while also doing
good work for society.
More and more businesses are beginning to create
change, making social responsibility a part of their corporate mission and
taking action for the public good.
Just take a look at our
very own Horseshoe Casino, which has lately taken strides to invest in local communities as they help the
neighborhood surround the casino with a neighborhood cleanup earlier this week.
