Which trust matters and to whom in cross-sector collaboration? Evidence from the local level in the Middle East

Abstract

This article treats trust as multifaceted and compares the association of two dimensions of trust—trust in individuals and trust in organizations—with the likelihood and intensity of cross-sector collaboration between local governments and nonprofit organizations. The analysis offers evidence of the importance of trust as well as notable cross-sectoral heterogeneity in a developing country in the Middle East, a setting that is seldom the focus of research on trust in collaboration. Both types of trust correlate with the likelihood of collaboration, but trust in organizations appears to matter more for local governments while trust in individuals is more relevant for nonprofits. Both types of trust are also associated with the intensity of collaboration, but the effects vary by the degree of intensity and sector of the organization.