Trust In Government Institutions Research Articles

The impact of government policies and regulations on the subjective well-being of farmers in two rural mountain areas of Italy

AbstractThe sustainable development of rural areas involves guaranteeing the quality of life and well-being of people who live in those areas. Existing studies on farmer health and well-being have revealed high levels of stress and low well-being, with government regulations emerging as a key stressor. This ethnographic study takes smallholder farmers in two rural mountain areas of Italy, one in the central Alps and one in the northwest Apennines, as its focus. It asks how and why the current policy and regulatory context of agriculture affects farmer well-being. Interviews and participant observation were conducted with 104 farmers. Three common scenarios emerged that negatively affect farmer well-being. First, policies and regulations designed for lowland areas do not always make sense when applied in the mountains. Second, when subsidies are put into effect at the local level, the reality of their implementation can veer away from the original goals of the funding program and have unintended effects on farmer well-being, agricultural practices, and the environment. Finally, when regulations are implemented on farms in rural mountain areas, the primacy of a techno-scientific knowledge system over other, local and place-based knowledge systems is exposed. These three scenarios affect well-being by eliciting feelings of stress, frustration, and disillusionment; by reducing farmer control over their work; and by fostering the perception that farming is not valued by society. They also create conditions of inequality and insecurity. The ways in which government policies and regulations play out on mountain farms can erode trust in government institutions, lead to an us versus them mentality, and contribute to the further abandonment of agriculture and rural areas.

The Impact of Service Quality on Customer Satisfaction of BPJS Employment at The Mojokerto Branch Office

The quality of public services needs to be optimized in order to meet the expectations of service users and strengthen public trust in government institutions. Several indicators to measure the quality of public services include: tangible, reliability, responsiveness, assurance and empathy. The aim of the research is to examine in depth the quality of public services which have an impact on community satisfaction through a qualitative approach. This research was conducted at BPJS Employment Mojokerto branch office, East Java Province, Indonesia. Research sampling used snowball sampling where existing subjects provided references to recruit the required samples. In this technique an individual subject provides information about only one other subject and then the chain continues with only one reference from one subject. This pattern is continued until the subjects available as samples are deemed to have met the requirements. The research subjects are customers who intensively use BPJS Employment services. The results of this research conclude that the quality of service at BPJS Employment, including the dimensions of tangible, reliability, responsiveness, assurance and empathy, its implementation is in line with the expectations of service users so that they feel satisfied with the services provided by BPJS Employment Mojokerto.

Socioeconomic Impacts of Climate Mitigation Actions in Greece: Quantitative Assessment and Public Perception

Appropriately designed and implemented climate mitigation actions have multiple co-benefits (yet some trade-offs cannot be excluded) that result in substantial social and economic value beyond their direct impact on reducing energy consumption and GHG emissions. Despite their wider acknowledgement by the research community, decision makers and the public have incomplete information on these multiple effects. This paper has a twofold objective: First, through analytical bottom-up approaches, it assesses, in quantitative terms, the macroeconomic effects and the public health benefits attributed to a variety of mitigation actions under consideration in the context of the Greek Energy and Climate Plan. Second, it investigates, through a social survey, how citizens perceive climate change and value these multiple impacts of mitigation actions, and to what extent they are willing to pay for them and support the adoption of policy measures aiming at the green transition of the Greek economy. We show that mitigation actions bring about significant health benefits, particularly in cities, and generate significant positive macroeconomic effects, particularly if mitigation actions focus on the decarbonization of the building sector and on the exploitation of local renewable sources. We also argue that most people do not realize that climate mitigation actions can have wider benefits for society, such as tackling energy poverty, improving public health, and creating new jobs. Unwillingness to pay tends to be the prominent attitude. People who are more reluctant to cover a part of the cost of environmental protection are less likely to perceive that climate change is one of the main challenges at global and national level and support the adoption of climate mitigation policies. In this context, the national strategy for climate change should focus on effectively informing and engaging the public in climate mitigation strategies, strengthening the public trust in government institutions, promoting mutually acceptable solutions with the local communities, and providing incentives for changing citizens’ behavior towards climate-related actions.

Why Trust Weighs More? Investigating the Endogenous Relationship Between Trust and Perceived Institutional Effectiveness

This study investigates the intricate interplay between citizens’ trust in government institutions and their perceptions of institutional effectiveness. The two may have an endogenous relationship as they influence each other. Yet, since they stem from different sources and have distinct dynamics, their relationship may exhibit a directional bias in terms of causality: citizens’ trust may impact the perception of institutional effectiveness more than vice versa. As the survey results from Hong Kong suggest here, this may indicate that trust is not only performance-based but also character-based, with the latter lasting longer and exerting a greater impact on perceptions of institutional performance.

Public attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccine mandates and vaccine certificates in Canada: a time series study.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, numerous public health measures such as COVID-19 vaccines, vaccine mandates and vaccination certificates have been introduced to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Public opinion and attitudes towards these measures have fluctuated in response to the dynamic political, social, and cultural landscape of the pandemic. We conducted a time-series study consisting of national cross-sectional surveys between November 2021 to March 2022 to evaluate the Canadian public's attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccine mandates and vaccine certificates. When examining public sentiment towards COVID-19 vaccine certificates and proof of vaccination measures, there was a shift in responses over time. The proportion of participants "strongly supporting" these measures decreased from 66.0 to 43.1% between W25(Capacity Limits), -W32 (Mask Mandate Removed), whereas "strongly oppose" was the second most common response and rose from 15.9 to 20.6% during this same time period. Concurrently, when examining participants views surrounding mandates, many participants believed that their province was reopening at "about the right pace", which remained relatively stable over time (33.0-35.4%) between W28 (Emergency Act)-W32 (Mask Mandate Removed). Our study's findings on the public's attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccine mandates and vaccine certificates in Canada may aid to guide and streamline the implementation of future similar public health interventions. Future research should include extended follow-up and a more comprehensive examination of trust in government institutions and polarized perspectives on vaccine mandates.

ICT-based environmental participation in China: Same, same but digital?

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have been credited with the potential to alter the dynamics of environmental governance by empowering citizens, enhancing accountability and improving government efficiency. However, in non-democratic contexts the link between ICTs and public participation is far from clear. Taking the case of China, this study investigates urban Chinese citizens’ use of digital technologies for environmental participation and the factors explaining (non)engagement. Drawing on an online survey with 2912 participants in 2021, we find surprisingly high levels of participation that is not hampered by regime-related factors such as trust in governmental institutions or concerns about the risks of taking action online. This shows that digital technologies have significant participatory potential also under restrictive conditions. However, our findings also show several major limitations of ICTs. Participation in our study is driven by citizens who are digitally skilled, environmentally concerned and also active in the offline sphere. This points, first, to a digital participation opportunity gap that could exclude the less digitally skilled and tech-savvy. Second, this supports the “reinforcement hypothesis” that ICTs are used by the already active and do not suffice to draw new social groups into the policy process. Third, in our study digital environmental participation is limited by citizens’ attribution of responsibility to the government, an unintended consequence of China’s “environmental authoritarianism” that curtails ICTs from unfolding their full potential. Together, our findings contribute to the debate on digital authoritarianism and the opportunities and limitations of ICTs for environmental participation in non-democratic contexts.

Reimagining Democracy: An Exploration of Anies Baswedan's "Desak Anies" Program

Global democracy is at a crossroads, amidst geopolitical turmoil and socioeconomic upheaval. Despite widespread support for democratic principles such as popular sovereignty and civic involvement, their practical implementation is frequently hampered by entrenched power dynamics and vested interests. Anies Baswedan's pioneering "Desak Anies" program in Indonesia takes a novel approach to democratic government, questioning traditional top-down methods and calling for active citizen participation in decision-making processes. This study, based on theoretical frameworks proposed by authors such as Dahl and Rousseau, investigates the Desak Anies initiative's complex impact. The study's qualitative research approaches, which include a literature review and content analysis observations, aim to provide thorough insights into Desak Anies' transformative potential in transforming democratic behaviors. The findings show that Desak Anies had a significant impact on youth empowerment, instilling a sense of agency and political efficacy in young Indonesians. Furthermore, the program has made a substantial contribution to improving community cohesiveness by giving a forum for varied views to be heard and respected. Desak Anies has ushered in a new era of governmental openness, with an emphasis on open data projects and citizen involvement, which promote accountability and trust in government institutions; establishes a new benchmark for democratic renewal and sustainability by leveraging grassroots mobilization and adopting inclusive policies, providing a replicable model for advancing democracy and fostering inclusive government on a global scale.

E-Government in Nigeria: Can Generative AI Serve as a Tool for Civic Engagement?

This paper examines the potential for using generative artificial intelligence (AI) to boost civic participation in Nigeria’s developing e-government ecosystem. Emerging generative technologies like ChatGPT demonstrate intriguing capabilities to make governance more interactive and engaging through conversational interfaces. Thoughtfully implemented AI tools could increase access and understanding of e-government, particularly for underserved groups. However, risks around bias, privacy, security and capability limitations pose challenges for public sector applications. Additionally, Nigeria’s substantial digital divides and defective trust in government institutions hamper e-government participation currently. This paper analyses opportunities and limitations for applying generative AI to advance civic engagement given Nigeria’s unique socio-cultural context. Findings suggest that while AI holds promise, targeted strategies focused on inclusion, accessibility, education and institutional legitimacy building are critical to realise benefits. Cautious optimism, human-centric design and responsible governance frameworks are needed to employ generative systems successfully. If challenges are addressed, AI could open innovative possibilities for energising civic participation. But further research and controlled pilot applications are required to determine optimal implementation.

The Moderating Effect of Digitalisation on the Relationship between Corruption and Domestic Resource Mobilisation: Evidence from Developing Countries

Purpose: Domestic Resource Mobilisation (DRM) is vital for government financing of essential sectors like infrastructure, education, and healthcare, but corruption impedes revenue collection and erodes trust in government institutions. Nevertheless, digitalisation offers a promising way to combat corruption and improve DRM. This study aims to explore how digitalisation can enhance transparency and efficiency in addressing these issues by specifically investigating how digitalisation can moderate the relationship between corruption and DRM in developing nations. Methodology: Utilizing panel data of 65 developing countries from 2007 to 2019, a Panel Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE) estimator was employed. Findings: The findings indicate that corruption negatively affects DRM, while digitalisation has a positive influence. Importantly, digitalisation was found to moderate the adverse impact of corruption on DRM, albeit after a certain threshold level of digitalisation. Across regions, the net effect of this interaction varied, with some regions experiencing negative consequences. Notably, the existence of a threshold level of digitalisation above which its influence becomes more pronounced in mitigating corruption's impact on DRM revealed that the association is non-linear. Originality: This study addressed an important gap in the literature by examining how digitalisation moderates the connection between corruption and DRM in developing countries, offering nuanced insights into the feasibility of leveraging digital technologies to bolster revenue mobilisation despite corruption challenges. Implication: These results have significant implications for policymakers, highlighting the potential of digitalisation to enhance revenue mobilisation and combat corruption in developing countries, albeit with context-specific considerations.

The Use of Modern Technologies to Increase the Level of Trust in Society

One of the pressing issues of the modern world is the problem of trust in government. The election process is a pivotal event in society’s life, influencing a country’s future. Decreased trust in authority, including elections, leads to vulnerability in the voting and result tallying process. Simultaneously, the rapid advancement of information technology, automation, and computerization affecting almost all spheres of life, among other things, has a widespread impact on the functioning of government institutions. One of the key tasks addressed by new technologies is increasing trust levels in society. Blockchain technology, or distributed ledgers, has revolutionized the world of information technology and found applications in various domains, including the organization of elections at different levels. The use of blockchain technology in the electoral process can help address the trust issue by ensuring transparency, reliability, and confidentiality in voting, while minimizing the possibility of result tampering. In a blockchain-based system, voting can occur anonymously without intermediaries and intermediate technologies. This article examines the problem of trust in government institutions, highlights issues in the electoral process, presents a description of the blockchain technology-based solution, and provides examples of existing systems used during the electoral process. It concludes that the implementation of blockchain technology in the electoral process will ensure a more transparent and secure voting process, significantly increasing trust in authority.

Concealment of administrative offenses by public officials: indicators and forms

Administrative offenses are offenses that can arise in various areas of activity involving public officials. These actions may have negative consequences for the public, undermining the principles of legality, transparency, and accountability. The article provides an in-depth analysis of the phenomenon of concealing administrative offenses by public officials and explores its impact on the legal system and society as a whole.
 The essence of the problem lies in the fact that public officials, who are obligated to act in the public interest and comply with the law, may conceal their wrongful acts or offenses. Such practices violate the fundamental principles of democracy and the rule of law, affecting the level of trust citizens have in government authorities and institutions. The article thoroughly examines the reasons that contribute to concealing offenses and also explores potential consequences for society.
 To effectively combat the concealment of administrative offenses, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the problem and identify ways to counteract this phenomenon. The article investigates various approaches to ensuring accountability for public officials and developing a system of control over their actions. The authors emphasize the need to create effective mechanisms of oversight and supervision, which will help prevent impunity within governmental structures and ensure the fair application of the law.
 All aspects explored in the article aim to promote the development of a legal culture, strengthen trust in government institutions, and ensure transparency and legality within society. The authors provide recommendations for improving mechanisms to detect and hold public officials accountable for concealing offenses. This will facilitate more effective functioning of state structures, enhance the quality of justice, and reinforce citizens’ trust in their government.

Public trust and collaborative e-governance performance: a study on government institutions and services

Purpose This study aims to investigate the correlation between public trust and the performance of collaborative e-governance, with a particular emphasis on trust in government institutions as the central aspect of inquiry. It assesses how public trust influences e-governance performance through the lens of good governance principles, encompassing evaluations of trust in government services and trust in the technological infrastructure used for citizen services. Design/methodology/approach The research framework is based on a thorough literature review, pilot study and practical experience. An empirical survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire to collect primary data from individuals who have used specific e-governance projects. To conduct the survey, the author used the snowball sampling method both offline and online. The author analysed the data using SmartPLS Version 3 to assess the measurement and structural model. Findings The study rigorously examines and confirms all formulated hypotheses using robust statistical analyses. Nonetheless, the results underscore the pivotal significance of the reliability and utility of e-governance services in nurturing public trust. Furthermore, the research unveils a troubling concern pertaining to the absence of tailored responses to citizen inquiries, grievances and recommendations, indicating an area of vulnerability in the effort to cultivate public trust. Research limitations/implications The research has implications for managers, citizens and researchers. It focuses on public trust in interaction-based collaboration, but researchers may extend it to other forms like content-based collaboration. Policymakers can implement the findings in present and future e-governance projects. Limitations include a moderate sample size, country context, and not assessing other factors that may influence public trust in collaborative e-governance performance. Originality/value This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by exploring the link between good governance, public trust and collaborative e-governance performance. It focuses on projects that require physical visits to government offices, where public trust has been impacted. This study is unique because it assesses public trust in collaborative e-governance, specifically in the context of India, where there is limited prior research on this topic exists.

Challenges Prevailing in Bangladesh Civil Service: A Brief Analysis

Civil Service is a critical component of a country's governance structure, and responsible for implementing government policies and delivering public services, and Bangladesh is not an exception to this. In the parliamentary democracy, ministers lay down policy, and the 'civil servants', which are often termed as 'bureaucrats' carry it out, therefore, successful delivery of services by the bureaucrats remains an inevitable pre-requisite to ensure good governance in a country. After the emergence of Bangladesh through a blood-shedding political turmoil in 1971, the country is gradually improving in terms of her political stability and good governance, though the trend of such improvement is not always seen stable in the true sense due to some factors, i.e. lack of political will and commitment, in absence of transparency and accountability, 'push and pull' factor among the civil servants, lack of powerful and effective regulatory board, and so on that hinder its effectiveness and contribute to poor governance, and corruption that undermine public trust in government institutions, leading to social unrest and economic stagnation. To address these challenges for promoting economic growth, reducing poverty, and ensuring that citizens have access to quality public services, government needs to take a holistic approach that includes reducing political interference, establishing clear mechanisms for accountability and transparency, providing greater autonomy to civil servants, and conducting regular training programs. This study aims to identify some of the major challenges currently prevailing in the Bangladesh Civil Service and prescribe some recommendations that may help ensure quality public services in the country.

Does Trust Mediate the Relationship Between Experiences of Discrimination and Health Care Access and Utilization Among Minoritized Canadians During COVID-19 Pandemic?

We sought to determine if trust in government institutions mediate the relationship between experiences of discrimination and health care utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic. We used datafrom Statistics Canada's Crowdsourcing Data: Impacts of COVID-19 on Canadians-Experiences of Discrimination. We used generalized linear latent and mixed models (Gllamm) with a binomial and logit link function as well as generalized structural equation modeling (GSEM) to determine if reported discrimination and trust were associated with difficulties in accessing health services, health care, and the likelihood of experiencing negative health impacts. We also examined if trust mediated the relationship between experiences of discrimination and these health outcomes. Our analytical sample consisted of 2568 individuals who self-identified as belonging to a visible minority group. The multivariate results indicate that experiences of discrimination during COVID-19 were associated with higher odds of reporting difficulties in accessing general health services (OR = 1.99, p ≤ 0.01), receiving care (OR = 1.65, p ≤ 0.01), and higher likelihood of reporting negative health impacts (OR = 1.68, p ≤ 0.01). Our mediation analysis indicated that trust in public institutions explained a substantial portion of the association between reported discrimination and all the health outcomes, although the effects of experiencing discrimination remain significant and robust. The findings show that building and maintaining trust is important and critical in a pandemic recovery world to build back better.

Context, culture, and cordons: The feasibility of post-earthquake cordons learned through a case study in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Increasingly, post-earthquake cordons (PECs) have been used to support response and recovery activities around the world. However, thus far, the empirical analysis of cordons has not considered the overarching feasibility of their use. This research aims to fill this gap through a case study of Kathmandu Valley following the 2015 Gorkha earthquake in Nepal. It draws on a broader study that has investigated various aspects of cordons in New Zealand and Italy. In total, 13 interviews were conducted in the Nepali language with relevant experts of varying backgrounds and expertise such as academics, disaster management officers, policymakers, municipality representatives, and practitioners (INGO). The interviews were semi-structured and conducted through purposive and snowball sampling. The data was translated, transcribed, and then coded into NVivo software which was then analyzed inductively through an iterative thematic process. The findings of this research demonstrate the importance of context in understanding PECs and their implications on disaster response and recovery. For cordons to be feasible, many factors such as resource challenges (physical, economic, and human) and provisions for temporary housing, welfare, access to essential services, security, and availability of alternative transportation routes are essential. In addition, legislative frameworks, trust in government institutions, and cultural nuances need to be taken into consideration if PECs are to be feasible as a disaster response and recovery strategy.

Don't stand so close to me: Perceptions of others’ compliance with COVID-19 recommendations and support for strict policy measures in Norway

Many democratically elected governments in states that are otherwise considered liberal have imposed strict policy measures, including policies allowing for coercion and/or punishment of transgressors to prevent the transmission of the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Previous studies have indicated that trust in government institutions engenders a positive public response during a crisis and that the implementation of strict policy measures in a crisis—measures otherwise considered authoritarian—can increase trust in government institutions, even in liberal democratic states. However, few studies have focused on the relationship between perceived compliance with government-issued recommendations and individual preferences with regard to authoritarian governmental crisis management. The objective of this study was to estimate the association between perceived compliance with government recommendations among citizens and support for strict policy measures in a pandemic setting. We draw on unique data from a cross-sectional survey conducted in the wake of the first COVID-19 wave in Norway (n = 935). Logistic regression analyses indicate a strong negative association between support for strict policy measures and the belief that others are following the government-issued recommendations. Our results suggest that participants would consider strict policy measures less essential if they believed that other citizens were complying with the rules.

Why do U.S. conservatives take fewer COVID‐19 precautions? The role of worry, perceived risk, and governmental trust

AbstractResearch suggests a U.S. political ideology gap for taking COVID‐19 precautions, but we do not know the role of cognitive risk (assessed here as perceived risk) and affective risk (assessed here as worry) in explaining why conservative Americans participated in fewer recommended precautions (e.g., mask wearing) and whether governmental trust attenuates the effect. We predicted that conservatives (compared with liberals) would take fewer precautions because they thought they were less at risk and were less worried about COVID‐19, but that this would be more pronounced for those with low governmental trust. In this study, U.S. adults (representative sample: N = 738; Mage = 46.8; 52% women; 78% white) who had not had COVID‐19 took two online surveys 2 weeks apart during the first wave of the pandemic (April 2020). Participants reported ideology, perceived risk of getting or dying of COVID‐19, worry about COVID‐19, and trust in the CDC and state officials at baseline. At follow‐up, participants reported on COVID‐19 precautions: (1) prevention behavior participation (e.g., mask wearing) and (2) behavioral willingness for future behaviors (e.g., vaccination). Results showed that, politically conservative Americans took fewer precautions due to lower worry (but unexpectedly not due to lower perceived risk). As predicted, when trust was high, the ideology gap was muted for predicting precautions as well as for predicting perceived risk and worry. In sum, conservatives worried less about COVID‐19 which predicted fewer precautions, but trust in governmental institutions reduced this ideological gap. Improving governmental trust could be one fruitful path to increasing COVID‐19 precautions.

Reexamining health messages in the political age: The politicization of the COVID‐19 pandemic and its detrimental effects on vaccine hesitancy

AbstractOur work investigates the extent to which the politicization of health science may have impacted consumers' vaccine hesitancy during the COVID‐19 pandemic. This inter‐disciplinary, multi‐method manuscript reports the results of three empirical investigations designed to examine how the consumers' political leanings and the sources they rely on for information might influence their decisions to receive a COVID‐19 vaccine. We explore how radically opposing viewpoints regarding the pandemic may have eroded public trust in government institutions and health science during the months leading up to the 2020 U.S. presidential election. In addition, we examine how consumers with opposing political leanings may be differentially influenced by promotional messages that represent the two dominant contrasting viewpoints regarding the COVID‐19 pandemic. Importantly, we find that low vaccine‐hesitant Trump voters can be successfully targeted for pro‐vaccination interventions using highly credible spokespeople, perceived to have high levels of expertise and trustworthiness.

Ensuring the effectiveness of professionalization of local self-government officials

Ensuring the effectiveness of professionalization of local self-government officials

Determinants of COVID-19 immunisation uptake in a country with high mortality and a low vaccination rate

BackgroundResearch concerned with attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination in upper middle-income countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) is scarce. Currently, B&H has the lowest number of fully vaccinated adults in Europe, and the highest cumulative number of COVID-19 deaths and SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals. The aim of our study was to examine the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination status in B&H. MethodsAn online survey among 1304 B&H adults was conducted in October 2021 evaluating vaccine acceptance, together with socio-demographic variables, attitudes and beliefs related to COVID-19 vaccination. ResultsThe results from a binary logistic regression indicate that those who believed that the COVID-19 vaccine was effective were 45 times more likely to be vaccinated compared to those who did not. We also show that those who had received childhood immunisations were 41 times more likely to be vaccinated against COVID-19 compared to those who had never been previously immunised. Other significant factors were related to respondents’ trust in government institutions and healthcare policymakers as well as trust in public healthcare workers. ConclusionWe suggest that future vaccination campaigns should be aimed at educating the public regarding the importance and safety of vaccines, together with strengthening trust in the public health system.