Who Is Willing to Pay More Taxes for Welfare? Focusing on the Effects of Diverse Types of Trust in South Korea and Taiwan

Abstract

This article examines the effects of diverse types of trust on a willingness to pay more taxes for welfare in South Korea and Taiwan. We ask whether trust as a solidaristic value contributes to an increase in welfare support. We focus on people’s attitudes toward paying taxes, and different types of trust, such as general trust, trust in acquaintances, trust in strangers and trust in government. This study analyzes the survey data from “Life and Society” of South Korea and Taiwan conducted for the purpose of studying attitudes and experiences of citizens with respect to social quality. First, the results demonstrate the positive effects of diverse types of trust on willingness to pay more taxes for welfare in both countries. Second, significant differences are found: institutional trust, such as trust in government, is critically important in South Korea, while trust in acquaintances strongly influences attitudes toward paying more taxes for welfare in Taiwan. In light of previous studies on the role of trust as a form of social capital, specified trust, such as trust in government or trust in acquaintances, more strongly affects attitudes toward paying higher taxes for welfare than unspecified trust in these two emerging welfare states.