On Friday, February 29, BCLC hosted a webinar entitled, “The Image of American Business in a Globalized World.”  GlobeScan Inc. presented their findings based on research in over 50 countries around the world.  Here are some of the findings of interest to the business community:

• The attitude that globalization has had a positive affect on respondents’ families has trended downward over the past two years, as has the belief that the free market economy is the best model for the world. 
• Issues that respondents have expressed more interest in recently include the environment, health care, energy, and immigration.
• Participants express the least “trust” in global companies, with global companies falling below NGOs, religious organizations, national companies, press, national companies, and government. 
• Respondents from the Philippines have generally the most favorable opinion of American companies’ influence in the world, with Russians having the least favorable opinions.  China and South Korea are trending toward more favorable impressions of American companies.
• Attitudes toward American companies are strongly correlated with views of the U.S. government’s influence on the world, trust in the free enterprise system, companies protecting human rights, and the belief that companies are helping protect the environment. 
• The highest operational expectations that survey respondents have are: “not harming the environment, treating employees fairly, and ensuring a responsible supply chain".  The highest citizenship expectations that respondents have are: “improving education, listening and responding to local concerns, and increasing global economic stability.” 

These findings suggest that corporate citizenship can have a profound effect on how America is viewed globally.  For more information on on BCLC's work with the global community, contact Rebecca Freyvogel.