The Harris Poll® #124, December 12, 2007

Most people value the benefits of economic growth. But most people are at least somewhat concerned about the problems related to environmental and other issues created by growth in their regions. They are equally split as to which is more important — encouraging and fostering growth or managing and limiting it.

These are some of the results of a Harris Poll of 2,455 adults aged 18 and over who were surveyed online between November 7 and 13, 2007 by Harris Interactive®.

Among the major findings of this research are:

• A 47 percent to 32 percent plurality of adults believe things in their own community today have "pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track";
• These results are more negative than they were in May 2006 (37% wrong track to 39% right direction) and in June of this year (45% to 38%);
• On balance, a modest 51 percent to 37 percent majority believes that economic growth is more important to their region than protecting the environment (however, other Harris Polls have shown that large majorities believe both are important. Furthermore many people believe it is possible to have economic growth and a cleaner environment);
• Most people (75%) believe that the problems and challenges facing their regions are at least somewhat related to growth. A substantial 39 percent minority believes these problems and challenges are "very" or "exclusively" related to growth;
• A large 73 percent majority of adults believes that it is extremely or very important for their regions to have "a vision or a long range plan for growth". Hardly anybody (3%) thinks this is not important;
• Americans are divided as to whether growth should be managed and limited (48%) or encouraged and fostered (47%). These numbers are virtually unchanged from May 2006.

While most people obviously see many benefits of growth, it is not an unmixed blessing. Many people are concerned about the problems and challenges created by growth. This explains why such a large majority believes that it is important to have a vision or plan for growth and why almost half of all adults think it so important to manage and control growth.　

"Do you feel things in your own community today are going in the right direction or do you feel things have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track?"

Base: All adults

Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100 percent due to rounding

"Thinking of the problems and challenges facing your region today, how closely do you think they are related to growth?"

Base: All adults

Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100 percent due to rounding

"What would you say is more important to your region – protecting the environment or economic growth and development?"

Base: All adults

Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100 percent due to rounding

"Please tell us which one is closest to your own opinion. One opinion is that growth in your region will bring many benefits and advantages. In other words, growth should be strongly encouraged and fostered. A second opinion is that growth in a region will jeopardize the quality of life for residents. In other words, growth should be strictly managed and limited. Again, which is closest to your opinion?"

Base: All adults

Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100 percent due to rounding

"How important is it that your region has a vision or a long range plan for growth in the region?"

Base: All adults

Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100 percent due to rounding

This Harris Poll^® was conducted online within the United States between November 7 and 13, 2007 among 2,455 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online.

All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, Harris Interactive avoids the words "margin of error" as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Interactive surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the Harris Interactive panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
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