Pump Up The Portfolio

American Demographics, Oct 1, 2002 by Pamela Paul

Byline: PAMELA PAUL

In July, President Bush called for a "new era of corporate integrity," offering potential solutions to the corporate corruption and scandals that marred the first half of 2002. Just in time. According to a June 2002 Gallup poll, a majority of Americans favor reform. Their priorities include simplifying the stock rating system of financial services firms (59 percent favor), increasing funding and authority for the Securities and Exchange Commission to provide stricter oversight of analysts (57 percent) and prohibiting analysts from receiving compensation as a result of investment banking deals (56 percent). And while more Americans favor enforcing existing laws over creating new ones, according to a July 2002 Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, 59 percent also say they're afraid "regulators will not go far enough toward raising the standards of accountability and restoring confidence in the markets and U.S. corporations."

ROBBER BARONS

Americans are more in favor of government regulations than they were seven years ago.

What is your view of government regulations: Most are necessary and protect consumers or the environment, or most are unnecessary and harm the economy?

Which statement do you agree with more concerning the current corporate accounting scandals?

Source: Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, July 2002