Yes to Koch, No to Woke: Public Opinion, Free Markets, and Business Involvement in Politics.

This article examines how partisanship influences attitudes toward free markets, business involvement in politics, and corporate social responsibility, using data from the 2022 Cooperative Election Study (CES). It finds that Republicans express stronger abstract support for free markets and general business involvement in politics than Democrats, but they oppose CEO activism, especially when it involves environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. Conversely, Democrats are less supportive of free markets overall but more favorable toward CEO political activism on ESG matters. The study highlights a growing divide between the Republican Party and the business community as corporate political activity increasingly addresses social and environmental concerns, reflecting tensions between abstract economic values and specific political applications.