Seven in 10 said the government is not doing enough to promote innovation in America, the survey said. Nearly two-thirds - 65% - said they don't think business is doing enough.

The interactive survey shows that most Americans expect their national economy to be the world leader in developing jobs for the 21st Century, and they think the engine of that economy should be fueled by college graduates. More than three out of four respondents - 77% - said they favor providing a four-year college degree to every American who wants one.

The online poll included 8,046 respondents. It was conducted July 2–5, 2007, and carries a margin of error of +/- 1.1 percentage points.

Interestingly, the older the respondent, the more likely they were to say that it was "of the greatest importance" that America be a leader in developing jobs for the future. Among those age 70 and older, 54% it was of the greatest importance, compared to just 25% of those aged 18–24 who said the same. Among men, 50% said it was of the greatest importance, compared to just 34% of women. Republicans, at 51%, were much more likely than Democrats to agree - just 34% of Democrats said it was of the greatest importance that America be the leader in developing 21st Century jobs.

Older respondents were also slightly more likely than their younger counterparts to say innovation is a key to America's economic prosperity.

The Zogby Interactive survey, commissioned by IBM, showed that, overall, a sizable majority of Americans (70%) believe that open trading markets around the globe increases tolerance and friendship among countries. Younger workers are much more likely to hold this belief intensely, the survey shows. Among those aged 18–24, 35% said they strongly agree that open markets can pave a path of peaceful international relations, compared to just 20% of those aged 35–69 who said the same thing.

A majority of Americans believe the U.S. must be an active player in worldwide commerce, and the Zogby poll found older Americans are twice as likely to strongly agree that growth of the U.S. economy depends on the government's aggressive work to open markets abroad for American products and services. While 59% of those over age 70 strongly agreed with that statement, just 27% of those aged 18–24 said they strongly believed the same. Majorities of both men and women generally agreed with the concept, but men were more likely to hold that belief intensely.

While 53% of men said that aggressive engagement in the world economy and promotion of U.S. trade is the key to America's continued growth, 39% of women agreed.

Most Americans - 69% - oppose erecting barriers to trade with other nations, the poll shows. Here, again, men are slightly more enthusiastic about free trade than women - 33% of men "strongly agree" that the U.S. should avoid constructing trade barriers, compared to 24% of women who felt the same way. Overall, wide majorities across all demographic groups in every region of the country opposed trade barriers as a way for the U.S. to deal with other trading partners.

A huge majority - 86% - said government investment in education and leading-edge skills is the key to making sure America will be able to compete successfully in a world economy, the survey shows - including 62% who said they "strongly agree" with that statement. Strong support for governmental investment in education and advanced worker training crossed all demographic lines, though Democrats were more somewhat enthusiastic about it than Republicans.

The survey showed Americans are less than convinced that the U.S. will be the technological leader moving forward. A plurality of 38% said they believed it would lead the world in innovation over the next decade. Another one in four respondents said they think China will outpace America in the next 10 years. Those respondents who have worked outside the U.S. were a bit more confident in America's edge over its international competitors, compared to those who had never worked outside the U.S. Republicans are more likely than Democrats to believe the U.S. will be the world's technology leader going forward.

The differences in partisan perception on America's future role in the world economy may stem from their view of the role government and business has played so far in fostering innovation. Democrats are much more likely to feel that both entities are falling short of all they could do to promote American ingenuity.

For a complete methodological statement, please visit:

http://www.zogby.com/methodology/readmeth.cfm?ID=1201