Friedman’s position on social responsibility appears to be losing traction with business executives. For example, a 2006 survey of business executives across the world by McKinsey & Company revealed that only 16% felt that business should focus solely on providing the highest possible returns to investors while obeying all laws and regulations, contrasted with 84% who stated that business should generate high returns to investors but balance it with contributions
to the broader public good. A 2007 survey of global executives by the Economist Intelligence Unit found that the
percentage of companies giving either high or very high priority to corporate social responsibility had risen from less than 40% in 2004 to over 50% in 2007 and was expected to increase to almost 70% by 2010.