Perception of Wall St. mostly unchanged despite scandals
By Kristen Gerencher, CBS.MarketWatch.com
Last Update: 12:03 AM ET Nov. 7, 2002
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) - A beaten-down stock market and a bevy of corporate scandals haven't dimmed most Americans belief that Wall Street helps the U.S. more than harms it, a new poll found.
Two-thirds of more than 1,000 people surveyed by Harris Interactive said Wall Street is more beneficial than detrimental to national interests, a slight dip from 69 percent in September 2000, but a shart drop from the 80 percent polled in 1997.
Similarly, two-thirds said Wall Street is an essential source of money businesses need for investment, down from 72 percent who expressed the same feeling two years ago, the poll said.
Still, the number of Americans critical of the system is only slightly higher than two years ago, a fact that surprised Harris Poll Chairman Humphrey Taylor.
"They don't like the greed, but they think the work done by greedy people on Wall Street is very good and important, even though many may stray from the path of decency and honesty from time to time," Taylor said.
Carl
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