Abstract
The central role institutions play in the development of generalized trust is well established by previous research. Yet, the role of the professionals employed in these institutions has received considerably less attention. This paper explores whether confidence in welfare state professionals is important in maintaining a high level of generalized trust in the Norwegian context. It is hypothesized that professionals may influence people’s generalized trust both via their formal role as gatekeepers and in informal settings as part of social networks. The results are based on novel cross-sectional data, and indicate that confidence in welfare professionals is correlated with generalized trust, while the presence of welfare professionals in a social network is not significantly associated with generalized trust. The relationship between confidence in professionals and generalized trust indicates that alongside good institutions, good service provision is important in maintaining a high level of generalized trust.
Highlights
The central role institutions play in the development of generalized trust is well established by previous research
This paper explores whether the perceived trustworthiness of welfare state professionals in the Norwegian context is linked with generalized trust, when accounting for one’s confidence in institutions and whether they are acquainted with welfare professionals
Unlike Cook, Hardin and Levi (2005, p. 69) who argue that institutions “will work well even if they are staffed by knaves”, this paper suggests that both trustworthy institutions and professional groups are of importance in maintaining generalized trust
Summary
The central role institutions play in the development of generalized trust is well established by previous research. This paper explores whether confidence in welfare state professionals is important in maintaining a high level of generalized trust in the Norwegian context. The relationship between confidence in professionals and generalized trust indicates that alongside good institutions, good service provision is important in maintaining a high level of generalized trust. A vast body of literature has reported that high levels of generalized trust are beneficial for democratic institutions, economic growth, and democratic stability Breaches of trust in any of these sectors may reduce the trust level in the society and in turn the costs of collaboration, as well as the economic and democratic stability of the society These claims are investigated with the aid of Norwegian cross-sectional data
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