Press Release

SAN DIEGO, CA – Even after more than a decade of robust economic growth, San Diegans continue to strongly support efforts to attract technology-focused companies to the region, according to polling information released today by the San Diego Institute for Policy Research (SDI).

 

Two-thirds (65.9%) of county residents feel that, among all the local issues facing the region, it is extremely or very important for local leaders to work to attract new companies to the region and to help local companies expand. 

 

Q.       Thinking of all the local issues facing the region, how important is it that local leaders work to bring new companies to the San Diego region and help existing firms grow. Would you say this is . . .

 

 

“Increasing the number of quality jobs in the region is vitally important to San Diegans,” said Steven Francis, Chairman and Founder of SDI.

 

The Barometer also asked whether or not or not residents believe that the current focus on supporting technology companies was in the region’s interest.

Q.       Over the last 20 years local leaders have provided incentives and kept regulations low so that high-technology, bio-technology and telecommunications companies could grow and expand in San Diego County. Do you support or oppose these efforts?

 

 

 

While these efforts are broadly supported throughout the county, there is some variation by geography. Residents of the Eastern Suburban cities (La Mesa, El Cajon, Santee, Lemon Grove) and in the South County area (National City, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach and Otay) are notably less inclined (only 56% support) to favor this strategy than residents in other areas. 

 

The Barometer also wanted to see if criticism of this strategy is resonating. It is not. 

 

Q.        I’m going to read you what supporters and opponents say about economic development efforts. Supporters argue that these industries pay high wages, are environmentally clean and bring new dollars into the region’s economy. Opponents argue that this does not help our region because many jobs in those industries are filled by newcomers and, because these jobs require very high levels of education, many San Diegans that need economic opportunity do not benefit. Do you agree more with supporters or opponents?

 

 

 

SDI will be releasing the final findings of the March Barometer on City residents’ views on police pay, potholes and budget trade-offs on April 6.

 

The research was conducted from March 1 – 6, 2007 and included 1,005 randomly selected adult respondents within the County of San Diego. 

This survey was conducted by Competitive Edge Research & Communication (CERC) in conjunction with the San Diego Institute for Policy Research (SDI). SDI and CERC jointly determined the issues to be covered in this survey. SDI provided CERC with background information on the issues contained in the questionnaire and both entities discussed the topics in order to produce an effective questionnaire. Final responsibility for all questions and the data collection rests with CERC.

 

The interviewing was conducted March 1^st through the 6^th in English and Spanish from CERC’s San Diego facility. Professional interviewers were trained specifically for this project. The duration of the average interview was 13 minutes. The random digit dial sample was provided by Scientific Telephone Samples of Foothill Ranch, CA. After collecting the data, results were weighted on the voter registration, gender, area and age variables to CERC’s estimates of the overall San Diego City population gathered from the US Census and the San Diego County Registrar of Voters. 

 

 

According to statistical theory, the confidence level associated with a sample of this type is such that, with a question where the respondents answer 50% "yes" and 50% "no," 95% of the time the results are within plus or minus 3.0% of the true value in the county, where true value refers to the results obtained if it were possible to interview every possible qualified respondent. The degree of error is reduced when responses have larger (e.g. 60%-40%, 70%-30%) percentage differences. Conversely, the margin of error increases when a subset of the entire 1,005 responses is analyzed. The margin of sampling error for the San Diego City sample is plus or minus 4.4%.

 

In addition to error introduced by sampling variability, there are many other possible sources of bias such as how a question is worded, the question sequence, or individual interviewer techniques. Competitive Edge does everything in its power to minimize these potential sources of bias.

 

A survey of this type is a good measure of current attitudes that may change over time. This survey should not necessarily serve as an unqualified predictor of events, but as an indicator of the situation in early March, 2007.

 

 

The San Diego Institute for Policy Research (SDI) is a non-partisan organization whose goal is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the public sector throughout San Diego County. Established in 2006, SDI produces high quality policy research papers, economic bulletins, public opinion polls and major events and symposiums to help generate debate and discussion among San Diego’s decision makers and citizens alike.

 

Competitive Edge Research & Communication is San Diego County’s premier polling firm. Established in 1987, the firm provides insight and strategic advice to clients across the state and across the country. Among its many endeavors, the firm conducts its annual Super Bowl poll to determine the big game’s effect on the host city. Competitive Edge is proud to be affiliated with SDI in this effort to provide San Diegans with a reliable barometer of public opinion.

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