The lack of generalized trust in authority is an undercurrent in this post. Trust is a very complex concepts that is influenced by many factors, including transparent communication, trust in institutions, laws and regulations. Economic and social stability is a mechanism that has a significant impact on generalized trust. Research has shown that equitable income distribution is important for maintaining trust. A decrease in generalized trust is a possible outcome of high-income inequality and social fragmentation. There are countries with more equitable income distribution that tend to have higher levels of generalized trust. The link between trust and economic development is examined in an interesting report using the World Values Study. According to research, countries like Norway, Sweden, and Denmark often rank high in both equitable income distribution and generalized trust. The trust levels among their citizens are higher in these countries due to their strong social safety nets, progressive taxation, and policies designed to reduce income inequality. Norway and Sweden for example, have more than 60% of the survey respondents saying that most people can be trusted, with only 10% of people in Colombia, Brazil and Peru responding that this is the case. It's interesting to note that 63% of respondents in China believe that most people are trustworthy. Is this counterintuitive?
The lack of generalized trust in authority is an undercurrent in this post. Trust is a very complex concepts that is influenced by many factors, including transparent communication, trust in institutions, laws and regulations. Economic and social stability is a mechanism that has a significant impact on generalized trust. Research has shown that equitable income distribution is important for maintaining trust. A decrease in generalized trust is a possible outcome of high-income inequality and social fragmentation. There are countries with more equitable income distribution that tend to have higher levels of generalized trust. The link between trust and economic development is examined in an interesting report using the World Values Study. According to research, countries like Norway, Sweden, and Denmark often rank high in both equitable income distribution and generalized trust. The trust levels among their citizens are higher in these countries due to their strong social safety nets, progressive taxation, and policies designed to reduce income inequality. Norway and Sweden for example, have more than 60% of the survey respondents saying that most people can be trusted, with only 10% of people in Colombia, Brazil and Peru responding that this is the case. It's interesting to note that 63% of respondents in China believe that most people are trustworthy. Is this counterintuitive?
Ortiz-Ospina E, Roser M. 2019. Trust Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/trust.