Exclusive Morning Consult/CGI Survey: “Doers” are More Likely to be Optimistic

According to exclusive new data provided for the CGI 2023 Meeting, people who take action and contribute to a larger cause – in their communities or on a global scale – are more likely to be optimistic about the future

NEW YORK, NY – Optimism is linked to action, according to an exclusive survey from decision intelligence company Morning Consult, the official data partner for the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) 2023 Meeting this September 18-19 in New York City. As the official data partner for the second year, Morning Consult conducted an exclusive survey timed to kick off CGI 2023 ahead of the United Nation’s General Assembly, with data that examines trends of optimism and action; the care economy, women’s equality, and much more. 

According to the survey, 25 percent of individuals who have donated, volunteered, or worked with a cause in the past year were optimistic about the future, compared to 16 percent of those who haven’t taken action. Almost all surveyed adults believed it was important to stay informed about current events in the world, however, 52 percent felt it was outside their control to make any positive change. GenXers – who are split between whether they have the power to make positive change or not (44 percent and 47 percent, respectively) – showed the highest optimism about their ability to make a difference. Other generations lean towards feeling they don’t have the power to make some positive change. GenZers were least likely to feel like they could make a difference – 30 percent – while 63 percent felt they couldn’t.

Launched by President Clinton in 2005, CGI has built a community of doers who are taking action to make a tangible difference in people’s lives around the world. In a letter last month to the CGI community, President Clinton, Secretary Clinton, and Chelsea Clinton said this year’s meeting will focus “on what we can do, not what we can’t—and will highlight how even seemingly small actions, when taken together, can turn the tide on even our most stubborn challenges.”

The full CGI 2023 agenda and sessions can be found at clintonglobal.org/2023.

Gen Z is the least optimistic generation when it comes to people

However, Baby Boomers lead younger generations in optimism about people with 49 percent believing that more people want to do good than bad compared to 37 percent of GenXers, 35 percent of Millennials, and 28 percent of GenZers.

Consensus around community-driven action and power of partnerships

In step with CGI’s mission of taking action together, 63 percent of adults say it’s easier to make progress on the issues they care about most when members of the community or other organizations work together. Morning Consult surveyed adults to gauge what motivates respondents to take action on the issues they care about, and according to the survey, 49 percent of adults are motivated “a lot” by family and friends; 46 percent are motivated by wanting to positively impact future generations; 42 percent are motivated by needing to make ends meet; and 37 percent are motivated to help others. 

Women looking to men to play a role in the fight for women’s equality

Morning Consult also surveyed adults on the role men should play in women’s equality. Overall U.S. adults are split between whether men should be doing more work to ensure women have the access to the same opportunities or if they’re doing the right amount, 44 percent vs. 43 percent, respectively.  According to the data, 52 percent of Baby Boomers surveyed said men should be doing more work to ensure that women have access to the same opportunities, compared to 54 percent of GenZers that said men are doing enough. 

Women lean towards feeling men could do more, with 49 percent of women reporting that men could do more work to ensure women have access to the same opportunities – 39 percent said they’re doing enough – while men lean towards feeling they’re doing enough, with 47 percent saying so and 39 percent feeling they could do more. 

Male caregivers feel more financially viable than female caregivers

Morning Consult’s data reveals that 47 percent of male caregivers surveyed reportedly often feel emotionally supported in their caregiving role and 73 percent feel they have the finances they need to be a caregiver compared to female caregivers at 33 percent and 52 percent, respectively. Also, surveyed male caregivers reported feeling more “appreciated” and “empowered” than female caregivers, who tend to feel more negative emotions –  51 percent feel burned out, 49 percent feel negatively impacted financially, and 45 percent feel depressed – compared to their male counterparts.

This data is reflective of CGI’s upcoming session, “The Base of the Care Economy,” which will address how despite the accelerated growth of the  care economy – formal and informal roles spanning childcare to elder and disability care that support over a billion people – the workers that make up the base of the economic pyramid (primarily women) often have their work undervalued and frequent exploited.

During this session, leaders will explore new and established solutions to better support, pay, and empower those in the care economy – from community-driven support systems to broad, systemic policy changes. Addressing these challenges can create more economic opportunities for women, promote dignified ways to care for aging populations, support brain development and early-childhood learning, and address a growing mental health crisis exacerbated by poverty, isolation, and loneliness. The foundation of our economy needs to work for everyone, not just those at the top.

# # #

About the Clinton Global Initiative

Founded by President Bill Clinton in 2005, the Clinton Global Initiative is a community of doers representing a broad cross section of society and dedicated to the idea that we can accomplish more together than we can apart.  Through CGI’s unique model, more than 9,000 organizations have launched more than 3,900 Commitments to Action — new, specific, and measurable projects and programs. 

About Morning Consult

Morning Consult is a global decision intelligence company changing how modern leaders make smarter, faster, better decisions. The company pairs its proprietary high-frequency data with applied artificial intelligence to better inform decisions on what people think and how they will act. Learn more at morningconsult.com.