More than half (56 percent) of the 1,470 CPAs polled in the AICPA survey believe businesses and their executives should take a leadership role in helping shape public policy on these issues.

"CPAs make important decisions that help shape our economy," said Ken Witt, AICPA Technical Manager, Business, Industry and Government. "It is not surprising that professionals committed to serving the public interest believe companies and their executives should play a role in public policy issues."

Of the remaining survey respondents, 37 percent feel their companies should be involved in policy issues that relate to their strategic objectives. Only a small minority (7 percent) said companies and their executives should focus solely on providing returns to their shareholders.

The respondents' views were consistent across job position and industry, though there was a notable difference among those working for private organizations and those employed by publicly traded companies. Fifty-seven percent of executives from closely held entities expressed a preference for a leadership role in policy, compared to 47 percent of those from public companies. The difference among respondents from Government, Education and Non-Profits was even greater, with 61 percent favoring a leadership role.

The CPA executives weighing in on this question were polled in connection with the third quarter 2007 AICPA Business and Industry Economic Outlook Survey. 

Consistent with a softening noted in the second quarter of 2007, less than half the respondents (47 percent) have an optimistic view of the U.S. economy, primarily citing the housing and mortgage markets as the reason.  Those affiliated with large companies (more than $1 billion in annual revenue) tended to be more optimistic than those with small organizations (less than $10 million in annual revenue).

In contrast, respondents continue to be more optimistic about the outlook for their own organizations than the economy as a whole, with 65 percent indicating they were optimistic or very optimistic about their own prospects over the next 12 months.  Respondents from the service sectors – professional, scientific, technical, financial and insurance – had the most favorable views. Those working in the retail trade and construction were the least optimistic.