1. California Business and Economic Outlook
Survey of Executives’ Attitudes
March 17, 2011

2. Survey of Business Executives
Survey of 874 California business executives
February 22 - March 9, 2011
confidence is ±3.4%
Sample generally reflective of size, location, industry mix of California businesses

3. Generally speaking, do you think that things in California are going in the right direction, or do you feel things have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track?
Right Direction
Wrong track

4. How would you currently rate California's economy?

5. What is your outlook for California’s economy over the next year?

6. What is the outlook for your own business over the next year?

7. Overall, has your company added or reduced jobs in California over the past year?

8. Does your company plan to add or reduce jobs in California over the next year?

9. My company only does business in California
Would you say it is easier or harder to do business in California than in other states?
Easier
About the same
Harder
My company only does business in California

10. What would you say are the biggest challenges to doing business in California?
1st 2nd Combined
Too much government regulation
High state and/or local taxes
High cost of health care
State budget deficit
High labor costs
Hiring and maintaining a qualified workforce
High cost of housing

11. What would you say are the biggest advantages to doing business in California?
1st 2nd Combined
Climate/weather
Quality of Life
State is leader in many industries
Access to large and lucrative markets
Culture of innovation/R&D
Availability of qualified/skilled workers

12. Please select the issue you think elected officials in Sacramento should be paying most attention to?
1st 2nd Combined State budget deficit Economy and job creation Labor regulations Illegal immigration Taxes Health care costs Quality of public schools & higher ed

13. The state currently faces a $25 billion budget deficit
The state currently faces a $25 billion budget deficit. How serious a problem do you think this is?

14. Do you think California state government should deal with the budget deficit through spending cuts, through tax increases, or through a mixture of both?

15. In dealing with the state budget, which of the following is the highest priority for elected officials?

16. Which of these reforms would be your top choice for dealing with the California state budget?