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Low Satisfaction With U.S. Gov't Regulation of Businesses
Politics

Low Satisfaction With U.S. Gov't Regulation of Businesses

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Story Highlights

  • 28% satisfied with government regulation of businesses and industries
  • 29% dissatisfied and want more regulation, 18% less, 13% same amount
  • Steady 26% are satisfied with size, influence of major corporations

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- At the end of President Joe Biden's first year in office, Americans' satisfaction with the government's regulation of businesses and industries has fallen eight percentage points to 28%, the lowest point since 2016 when Â鶹´«Ã½AV first began tracking this measure annually. Dissatisfaction is at a new high of 60% and includes 29% of U.S. adults who prefer less government regulation, 18% who favor more and 13% who are dissatisfied but say it should remain about the same.

GovReg1

Line graph. Percentages of Americans who are satisfied with government regulation of businesses and industries since 2016. The graph also shows the percentages of U.S. adults who are dissatisfied and want increased regulation, dissatisfied and want decreased regulation and dissatisfied and want the same level of regulation. Currently, 28% are satisfied, 29% dissatisfied and want decreased regulation, 18% dissatisfied and want increased regulation and 13% are dissatisfied and want the level of regulation to remain the same. This is the lowest satisfaction reading and the highest dissatisfaction favoring less regulation since the question was first asked in 2016.

These findings are in line with a Â鶹´«Ã½AV reading in September that showed an increase in the percentage of Americans saying there is too much government regulation of business and industry. The latest data are from Â鶹´«Ã½AV's annual Mood of the Nation poll, which was conducted Jan. 3-16 and tracks Americans' satisfaction with 29 aspects of U.S. society and policy areas. This year's update finds a pandemic-weary public that continues to be largely dissatisfied with the state of the nation.

Donald Trump made deregulation one of his top goals entering the White House and touted it as a signature achievement in his 2020 campaign. The success and economic impact of his 2017 executive order aimed at limiting new government regulations is still hotly debated, but the policy goal was closely associated with Trump. During his presidency, roughly four in 10 Americans were satisfied with government regulation of the business sector, up slightly from the 32% found during President Barack Obama's last year in office in 2016.

Biden's regulatory priorities in 2021 were initially focused on reversing many of the policies of his predecessor. In addition, COVID-19 and its economic effects have been a significant focus of Biden's regulatory actions thus far. He plans to expand upon his work in these areas as well as enact policies to promote economic and racial equity and address climate change.

Republicans Increasingly Dissatisfied With Government Regulations Under Biden

Majorities of Americans in all party groups are currently dissatisfied with the government's regulation of businesses and industries, however, Republicans (72%) are more so than independents (59%) and Democrats (55%). Since Biden became president, Republicans' dissatisfaction has risen 25 points, independents' is up nine points, and Democrats' is down five points.

Democrats' dissatisfaction was under 50% until Trump became president, and it has been at the majority level since then. Republicans' dissatisfaction fell 21 points after Trump became president, but Democrats and independents have been far less subject to such large swings.

GovReg2

Line graph. Partisans' dissatisfaction with government regulation of businesses and industries since 2016. Currently, a 72% high of Republicans are dissatisfied, 59% of independents and 55% of Democrats are dissatisfied. Republicans' dissatisfaction jumped from 47% to 72% after Biden took office while Democrats' dipped five points and independents' rose nine points.

Although majorities of all three partisan groups are dissatisfied with the regulation of businesses by the government, their preferences for the level of regulation are quite different.

  • 55% of dissatisfied Republicans think regulation should be decreased, but few dissatisfied Democrats agree.

  • Rather, 32% of Democrats are satisfied with the current level of regulation, 34% are dissatisfied and think it should be increased, 15% do not have a preference (but are dissatisfied), and just 6% would like to see regulations rolled back.

  • For their part, roughly equal percentages of independents are satisfied (29%) and dissatisfied and think regulations should be decreased (31%). Fewer dissatisfied independents think regulations should be increased (17%) or have no preference (11%).

Partisans' Satisfaction With Government Regulation of Businesses and Industries
Republican Independent Democrat
% % %
Satisfied 20 29 32
Dissatisfied, should be decreased 55 31 6
Dissatisfied, should be increased 4 17 34
Dissatisfied, no preference 12 11 15
gallup

Broad Majorities Across Party Lines Dissatisfied With Major Corporations

After rising 15 points last year, Americans' dissatisfaction with the size and influence of major corporations is statistically unchanged at 74% but is by one percentage point the highest reading dating back to 2001. Since 2003, at least 54% of U.S. adults have expressed dissatisfaction with big corporations. Just 26% are satisfied.

GovReg3

Line graph. Americans' dissatisfaction with the size and influence of major corporations since 2001. Currently, a record high of 74% are dissatisfied, essentially steady from last year's 73%, but higher than the 2020 reading of 58%.

As with government regulations, majorities of Americans across party lines are dissatisfied with major corporations' reach. This includes 67% of Republicans, 75% of independents and 78% of Democrats. While at least 51% of Democrats have expressed dissatisfaction with corporations since 2001, no more than 51% of Republicans said they were dissatisfied until last year, when dissatisfaction shot up from 36% to 65%.

GovReg4

Line graph. Partisans' dissatisfaction with the size and influence of major corporations since 2001. Currently, 78% of Democrats, 75% of independents and 67% of Republicans are dissatisfied. Republicans' dissatisfaction jumped from 36% to 65% between 2020 and 2021 and is at its highest point historically. Democrats' and independents' dissatisfaction levels have been less prone to sharp swings.

Unlike their views on government regulations, however, partisans who are dissatisfied broadly agree that large corporations should have less power than they do now, including 68% of Democrats, 63% of independents and 53% of Republicans.

Partisans' Satisfaction With Size and Influence of Major Corporations, 2022
Republican Independent Democrat
% % %
Satisfied 33 24 22
Dissatisfied, should have less power 53 63 68
Dissatisfied, should have more power 1 4 3
Dissatisfied, no preference 13 8 7
gallup

Bottom Line

Dissatisfaction with government regulations on businesses and industries and the size and influence of major corporations are at their highest points in Â鶹´«Ã½AV's polling. Republicans have become significantly less satisfied with both measures since Biden became president, and Democrats' satisfaction levels have not changed much. Although Republicans and Biden differ in their preferences for government regulation, they could find common ground in their mutual desire to strip major corporations of their vast influence.

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