Levels Of Trust In Government Research Articles

Vicious Circle of Public Conflicts, Conflict Behaviors, and Public Trust in South Korea

Conflict and trust interact in a complex self-reinforcing vicious circle. With frequent, serious public conflicts, as well as stagnantly low level of trust in government, Korea may suffer from a vicious circle. This paper tests empirically whether Korea is in a vicious circle of public conflicts and public trust based on data from a questionnaire survey for 3,000 Korean citizens conducted during January and February 2016. The results show that individual experience of public conflicts significantly reduced the level of trust in government, and rights- and/or power-based conflict behaviors of the individuals who experienced conflict lowered their level of trust in government more. As another link in a vicious circle, low level of public trust is believed to propel citizens to adopt more rights- and power-based approaches to conflict, which, in turn, may reduce the level of public trust in Korea. These results imply that the Korean government can build public trust through more effective conflict management.

Residents’ support for red tourism in China: The moderating effect of central government

This study proposes and tests a model that incorporates two competing theories of political trust, institutional trust and cultural trust, to examine community support for “red tourism” development. Using data gathered from residents living in close proximity to Jinggangshan Scenic Area in China, this study examines the influence of authoritarian values, particularly as they relate to level of residents’ power, their level of trust in government, and their effects on support for “red tourism.” Findings suggest that trust in central government moderates the relationship between trust in local government and support. Future studies should utilize the institutional trust framework to assess residents’ trust in the local government and the cultural trust framework to assess trust in the central government.

Governance Values and Public Trust in Government: An Exploratory Study of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand

Since the 1997 Asian financial crisis, special attention has been paid to public management reforms and good governance values in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. This study analyzes how citizen satisfaction with good governance values, government performance, and empowered citizenship affect public trust in government in these countries. The analysis is based on the Asia Barometer Survey data 2007. The study found that citizens' satisfaction with good governance values and perceived government performance in dealing with the economy and political corruption best explain the variation in trust in government among these countries. The variances in trust in central and local governments in Malaysia and Indonesia are best explained by citizen satisfaction with good governance values. Citizen satisfaction with good governance values is significantly associated with trust in local government only in Thailand. The study also finds that perceived government performance in the economy is significantly associated with trust in central governments in Malaysia and Thailand. Meanwhile, government performance in dealing with political corruption, quality of service, and government officials’ attention to citizen input are positively associated with trust in government in Thailand. Citizens who agree that there is wide spread corruption among those who govern the country expressed a low level of trust in government in Indonesia and Thailand. The study findings support that an approach comparing different countries can enhance our understanding of the complexity of and variations of the factors affecting public trust in government in different civil societies.

Not All Bad News After All? Exploring the Relationship Between Citizens’ Use of Online Mass Media for Government Information and Trust in Government

ABSTRACTMass media coverage of government is often blamed for inciting anti-public sector sentiment. Yet there have been few empirical assessments of these claims. To address this gap in the literature, this study examines whether relationships between citizens’ expectations of public sector performance, satisfaction with public services, and levels of trust in government vary according to their use of online mass media for information about government. Using data collected in 2012 from a survey of 1,100 Seoul citizens, we find that greater use of online mass media to obtain information about government reinforces negative relationships between (1) expectations of public sector performance and satisfaction with public services, and (2) expectations of public sector performance and trust in government. Moreover, the size and strength of the negative indirect relationship between expectations of public sector performance and trust in government increase as respondents use online mass media more frequently for information about government.

Perceived influences and trust in political institutions of public vs private television journalists in Spain

The goal of this paper is to describe the level of trust in political institutions and perceived influences among Spanish TV journalists, comparing TV vs. other media, as well as private TV vs. public TV. As part of the international Worlds of Journalism Study we surveyed 390 Spanish journalists (70 from the TV sector). We found that: private TV journalists had significantly higher levels of trust in government than those from public TV; and that TV journalists were more influenced by political and organisational dimensions than those working for other media. Moreover, data shows that private TV journalists perceived economic and group of reference influences to be higher when compared with those from public TV. In all cases, professional and organisational influences were higher than political, economic and group of reference influences. We discuss how media type and ownership were related to journalists’ perceptions of their own profession and cultural routines. Finally, more theoretical efforts are suggested in order to build models that explain journalists´ perceived influences and trust.

Periodistas de televisiones públicas vs. privadas: influencias percibidas y confianza en las instituciones políticas en España

The goal of this paper is to describe the level of trust in political institutions and perceived influences among Spanish TV journalists, comparing TV vs. other media, as well as private TV vs. public TV. As part of the international Worlds of Journalism Study we surveyed 390 Spanish journalists (70 from the TV sector). We found that: private TV journalists had significantly higher levels of trust in government than those from public TV; and that TV journalists were more influenced by political and organisational dimensions than those working for other media. Moreover, data shows that private TV journalists perceived economic and group of reference influences to be higher when compared with those from public TV. In all cases, professional and organisational influences were higher than political, economic and group of reference influences. We discuss how media type and ownership were related to journalists’ perceptions of their own profession and cultural routines. Finally, more theoretical efforts are suggested in order to build models that explain journalists´ perceived influences and trust.

Which Type of Social Capital Matters for Building Trust in Government? Looking for a New Type of Social Capital in the Governance Era

When the level of trust in government is low, government cannot effectively provide services, since the policy goals and the process of implementations are not fully understood by the people. This study hypothesizes that the level of trust in government may increase if the level of social capital increases. It also hypothesizes that the impact of social capital on the level of trust in government may differ depending on the type of social capital. The study examined the relationship between the level of trust in government and types of social capital, including bonding social capital and bridging social capital. The result of multiple regression analysis showed that bonding social capital shows a negative relationship with the level of trust in government, while a bridging social capital has a positive relationship with the level of trust in government. In addition, the study examined the variances of the perceptions of each group based on the degree of social cohesion on the level of trust in government by employing ANOVA. It showed that there are no significant differences in bonding social groups, while bridging social capital groups showed variances in their perception of the level of trust in government.

Explaining Change in Levels of Public Trust in Government in Cyprus, 2001-2013

Public trust in national government in the Republic of Cyprus steadily and significantly declined, especially since 2008. Data from the period between 2001 and 2013 suggests that there may be three reasons for this decline. Firstly, the economic situation may explain a large portion of the variance in public trust in government. Secondly, disagreements over the Cyprus problem negotiations may have translated into mistrust towards a specific incumbent, Dimitris Christofias, who was largely considered to be mishandling the negotiations. Thirdly, a catastrophic explosion in the village of Mari, followed by extensive blaming of the President as mainly responsible for the incident may have also contributed to the declining trust in government.

An investigation into the credibility of currency board arrangements in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bulgaria

Currency Boards are usually argued to increase the credibility of the monetary authority, although this effect ultimately depends on the economic, political and institutional circumstances in the specific country. Few studies have previously been able to address this issue empirically. Using a novel database, the analysis conducted in this paper finds that, other things being equal, the credibility of the monetary authority is likely to be higher in those European transition countries with currency board arrangements, namely Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bulgaria. The results also suggest that currency board arrangements are more likely to increase the credibility of the monetary authority in countries with a low level of trust in government and a weak economy. These findings imply that the maintenance of currency board arrangements in recent years in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bulgaria may have been advantageous.

Hard times: leadership in America

Leadership has never played a more prominent role in America's national discourse, and yet our opinions of leaders are at all-time lows. Private sector leaders are widely seen as greedy to the point of being corrupt. Public sector leaders are viewed as incompetent to the point of being inept. And, levels of trust in government have plummeted. As the title of this book conveys, leaders in America are experiencing hard times.Barbara Kellerman argues that we focus on leaders, and even on followers, while ignoring an essential element of leadership: context. This book is a corrective. It enables leaders to track the terrain that they must navigate in order to create change. Rather than a handy-dandy manual on what to do and how to do it, Hard Times is structured as a checklist. Twenty-four brief sections cover key aspects of the American landscape. They trace evolutions and revolutions that have revised our norms, transformed our populations and institutions, and shifted our culture.Kellerman's crash course on context reveals how significant it is to leadership. Clearer still is the fact that leadership is more difficult than it has ever been. It is context that explains why leadership is so fraught with frustration. And, it is context that makes evident why leadership will be better exercised if it is better understood. Calling out patterns that emerge from the checklist, Kellerman challenges leaders to do better. This fascinating read will change the way that all of us think about leadership, while compelling us to consider what it means for our future.

The roots of trust in local government in western Europe

When people say that they trust local authorities, is it simply because they have generalized trust in national government? Or is trust in local government rooted in distinctive considerations, connected to the character of local communities and the balance of power across levels of government? We explore how trust in local and national government differs across individuals and across countries in western Europe. We find that people trust local government for different reasons than those that drive trust in national government. Cross-national differences in levels of trust in government reflect the character of national institutions. While both proportional representation systems and federal systems are power-sharing designs, each has distinctive consequences for trust. When opportunities for voice in local government are high, as in decentralized systems, people report greater trust in local government. When opportunities for voice in national government are limited, as in majoritarian systems, people report lower trust for national government and higher trust in local government.

The Suspicious, Untrusting Hillbilly in Political-Economic Contexts: Stereotypes and Social Trust in the Appalachian Coalfields

Over the past fourteen years, the authors of this article have collaborated on two community-based participatory action research projects in Appalachian Kentucky. One focused on assessing the social impacts of a major environmental disaster (2000-2014) and the other involves partnering with a small community seeking to transition a struggling, coal-driven economy to a more diverse and sustainable one (2013-present). In what follows, we discuss our experiences working with these Appalachian coalfield communities, which are characterized by low levels of social trust, a situation complicated by negative stereotypes and confused thinking by non-residents about Appalachian coalfield culture. First, we discuss stereotypes of Appalachian culture, among them suspicion and hostility toward "outsiders" and native tendencies toward violence. After debunking the myth that Appalachian culture creates distrust of outsiders, we identify the political economic structures, which have eroded trust in the Central Appalachian coal communities, with particular attention to institutional, structural, and intraregional variation in social trust. Finally, we identify strategies to engage effectively in communities characterized by low levels of trust in government, corporations, and neighbors.

Assessing the Link Between Online Mass Media and Trust in Government: Evidence From Seoul, South Korea

This study examines the influence of citizens' use of online mass media on levels of trust in government, shedding light on the process by which citizens' use of online mass media serves to influence their levels of trust in government. I hypothesize that citizens' use of online mass media influences the relationship between citizens' predispositions toward government in general, and their levels of trust in government in particular, with perceptions of government performance acting as a mediating factor. To test this hypothesis a mediated moderation analysis is conducted using data from a sample of 907 Seoul citizens. The results suggest that citizens' use of online mass media has a positive indirect influence on their levels of trust in government. However, the strength of this influence decreases with more frequent use of online mass media.

The influence of personality on acceptability of sustainable transport policies

Previous research has shown that fairness, infringement on freedom, and perceived effectiveness are determinants of transport pricing acceptability. In the present study we investigate determinants of acceptability of environmental (carbon) taxation for which trust in government and environmental concern are additional determinants. Carbon taxation is an extension of fuel taxes and may thus be viewed as transport pricing. Our main focus is on the role played by personality traits. Structural equation modeling reveals that acceptability is related to the personality traits extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Extraverted individuals have higher levels of trust in government which leads to higher acceptability. Also correlations between agreeableness and conscientiousness as well as environmental problem awareness and personal norm are observed. We discuss strategies for effective marketing of transportation policies considering how acceptability is related to personality traits.

Getting Potomac Fever: Increasing Civic Engagement Through Experiential Learning Communities

Drawing upon the literature on experiential learning, learning communities, and the scholarship of civic engagement, this paper assesses the outcomes of the Washington D.C. Summer Study Program developed by the College of St Benedict and St. John’s University. We are especially interested in examining the extent to which students who undertake this two month, eight credit internship learning community experience engage with politics and political life. Do students learn more about the US political system, its operation and opportunities? Are they more enthusiastic about public policy and politics? Do they increase their level of trust in government or their feelings of efficacy? In addition to these questions, we examine what the students’ experiences mean for them in terms of the integration of past and future course material, and how students use these experiences to examine their career goals, to develop their own career path, and to learn to live and work independently and responsibly in an urban setting. Data gathered from a survey of the program’s interns is compared with an initial survey of 200 students who have not yet undertaken internships either inside or outside a learning community model, as well as data from interviews with students, site supervisors, and faculty, and student archival data from the three decades old program. The study demonstrates that while there are numerous tradeoffs and costs, internships embedded within a learning community create unique benefits not available to the more isolated individual internship model.

Impacts of Electronic Government Legislation and Initiatives on Community Health and Electronic Health Literacy

The electronic information the US government provides to the public on health issues may impact how the public protects itself from large scale diseases, illnesses and chronic conditions that are both self-inflicted as well as environment-based. This paper primarily focused on analyzing past research and survey data on linking electronic health literacy to electronic government legislation and perceptions of quality, confidence, and security of information in government. The study first applies a logistic regression on 2007 HINTS survey data analyzing the level of trust in government that impacts interest and access to e-health data. The paper then describes how the US has made efforts in improving e-health literacy through various pieces of e-government and e-health (as well as non e-health) legislation. Finally, focus was on state and federal e-health initiatives: mobile health programs or resources, health information exchanges, and state and privately funded health information technology centers, RHIOs. This shows how perceptions of government and government action may impact health literacy and access to e-health information in the community going forward.

Internet, Trust in Government, and Citizen Compliance

This research investigates how levels of citizen trust in government and compliance are affected by citizens’ use of the Internet. Starting from the premise that information is a key determinant of public opinion and citizen behavior, this research explores the extent to which the time that citizens spend on the Internet affects their trust in government and compliance with government policies, compared with the influence of the traditional, offline, mass media modalities, such as newspapers. In addition, we also assess the impact of citizens’ use of e-government on levels of trust in government and compliance. The results of the analyses suggest that the more time individuals spend on the Internet, the lower their degree of trust in government and lower level of citizen compliance. However, our results also suggest that such negative effects of the Internet can be moderated through citizens’ increased use of e-government.

The effect of trust in government on rallies ’round the flag

Previous research has shown that foreign policy crises can cause a ‘rally ’round the flag’ effect, boosting citizens’ approval of their leaders. While scholars agree on the effect’s existence, its magnitude and nature are less readily apparent. This article considers two factors that have been neglected in previous studies: the context in which a conflict occurs and the public’s level of trust in government. The theory presented here suggests that trust is not only an effect of a rally, but mediates the magnitude of the rally. It also proposes that the nature of the rally will be unaffected by whether the state is provoked by its opponent prior to crisis initiation. The resulting hypotheses are tested using aggregate US public opinion data around international crises, as well as individual-level data from the 1990–92 ANES panel regarding the Persian Gulf War. The analysis indicates that trust in government has a major influence on the size of a rally effect, especially at the individual level. However, trust matters more for those in the opposition than for those who have supported the government in the past. These results suggest implications for understanding public attitudes toward foreign policy and for the diversionary theory of war.

Public Segmentation and Government–Public Relationship Building: A Cluster Analysis of Publics in the United States and 19 European Countries

The purposes of this study are (a) to suggest a model of public segmentation and (b) to examine each segment's level of trust in government. By using individuals’ cognitive perceptions of government and participation in social organizations, as well as media use and demographic characteristics, as public segmentation criteria, a cluster analysis of international survey datasets of the United States and 19 European countries generated 3 public segments in each country. The largest cluster, named the underserved inactive majority, and representing a low level of income and education, low interest in politics, low trust in others, low citizenship standards, and minimal social participation, contrasted with the smallest cluster, named the satisfied active public. The identified segments differed in trust in governmental institutions, which is a key indicator of the quality of government–public relationships. Overall, the underserved inactive majority reported the lowest trust in governmental institutions, whereas citizen trust among the satisfied active public was the highest. This study highlights the theoretical and practical values of broad-based public segmentation in government public relations from the relationship-building perspective of public relations, rather than from a problem-solving perspective. Additionally, some targeted strategies for government communicators to enhance each segment's public trust in government are proposed based on the findings of this study.

Rural Farming Community Climate Change Acceptance: Impact of Science and Government Credibility

Independent research of Western Australian rural people's attitudes to climate change and influences on their attitudes offered a preliminary assessment of the WA rural sector's understanding of climate change and insights into po- tential barriers to communication. Of the farmers surveyed (N=255) only a third (33%) reported to the researchers they agreed climate change was occurring and just 19% believed climate change was human induced. Over half (52%) were uncertain whether human-induced climate change was occurring and only 31% thought climate change represented a major threat to the future of their farm busi- nesses. Results also showed that only 33% of all respondents (N =411) found climate change information easy to understand. In addition, results indicated that gener- ally respondents had concerns with the credibility of science and low levels of trust in government, which contributed to their attitudes to climate change. These results suggested the barriers to climate change communication resided with the very structures that sought to communicate with rural people and were embedded in the comprehensibility, relevancy and saliency of climate change in- formation. The results indicated that science and government may need to consid- er utilising alternative strategies to distribute climate change knowledge within the rural sector. The results suggest that a better approach to distributing climate change information would be to frame the information within the local socio- cultural, economic and biophysical environment of the people it was intended to influence.