Citizen Trust Research Articles

Empowered Minipublics for Democratic Renewal? Evidence from Three Conjoint Experiments in the United States, Ireland, and Finland

This article investigates the potential of deliberative minipublics to provide a new set of institutions for democratic renewal. Using three preregistered and identical conjoint experiments in the United States, Ireland, and Finland, it first shows that minipublics are moderately attractive institutional innovations, but that in all three country contexts, citizens in general are very reluctant to grant them empowerment and autonomy as well as ask for additional provisions (such as large size or large majorities for recommendations). Subgroup analyses, however, reveal that especially participation in minipublics as well as trust in other citizens as decision-makers in combination with low political trust produces more support for empowered and autonomous minipublics. But what stands out in the empirical analysis is that most citizens want minipublics as additions to the representative system, not as a replacement of the existing democratic infrastructure, as some minipublic advocates have suggested.

Determinants of Citizen Trust in Public Institutions in Bangladesh

Institutional trust is an essential indicator in the governance mechanism involving citizens’ confidence in public institutions. The article main goal is to shed light on the theoretical insights into the field of trust in public institutions and what determines the degree of citizen trust in public institutions in Bangladesh. Methodologically, the article is a content analysis involving a literature review of vast secondary materials on books, journals, and websites regarding institutional trust which has been used, interpreted, and reinterpreted to validate the arguments. The article presents an analysis that cultural variables have the strongest overall effect on variations in citizens’ trust in public institutions in Bangladesh than institutional or performance variables. Social capital and authoritarianism tend to override the service satisfaction and quality of government variables in determining the trust level in public institutions in Bangladesh.

Fiscal Illusion and Democratic Maturity: Exploring the Roles of Information, Trust, and Participation in Citizens’ Perception ff Taxes and Spending

The concept of fiscal illusion is a paradox in public finance; that is, people believe that it is possible to expand government services despite decreased revenues. Evidence suggests that fiscal illusion relates to democratic maturity, considering the lack of transparency, trust, and participation in developing countries. Accordingly, an important research question arises: What factors remedy such misperceptions of fiscal situations? This study explores these factors through a survey experiment. The empirical evidence indicates that citizens’ fiscal illusion decreases when transparency in the fiscal process is ensured through information, trust, and participation. This research contributes to the field of public administration by identifying the factors that reduce fiscal illusion in public finance management and providing important policy implications, namely, that developing countries should make more efforts to reduce citizens’ illusion regarding public spending for sustainable growth by transparently disclosing financial information and ensuring trust in government and civic participation.

Mapping barriers and bottlenecks for personalized preventive approaches in health systems worldwide

Abstract Over the past decades, the growing prevalence of chronic disease globally raised the public health need to plan tailored personalized preventive approaches, mainly through big data and -omic sciences. However, a conspicuous body of literature highlighted the existence of many barriers and bottlenecks hindering their actual implementation in real-word settings. From here, this scoping review of reviews aims to map all known barriers and bottlenecks to the implementation of personalized preventive approaches in European health systems and beyond. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and gray literature sources were consulted from 2017 to January 2023, identified barriers and bottlenecks were analyzed against the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Out of 11,602 records, 220 were deemed eligible for full-text screening, and a final sample of 34 review studies were extracted. Studies were mainly performed in USA 15 (44%) and UK 3 (9%), followed by Canada 2 (6%), India 2 (6%) and Italy 2 (6%). From our results, the lack of evidence on clinical utility, guidelines, specialized professionals, citizen trust and cultural issues are the most frequently reported barriers to the implementation of personalized preventive approaches worldwide. These in turn affect country specific policies and the applicability of such innovations across different populations, raising the risk of increasing health inequalities and discrimination concerns. Findings confirmed that most translational challenges pertain to primary and secondary prevention levels across several chronic diseases, with particular concerns for non-European ancestry individuals. Key messages • The identification of bottlenecks are informative of future precision public health interventions. • Barriers reported in most of the studies suggest the need to establish a targeted agenda.

The truth or your truth: polarization in Arctic climate change on X (Twitter)

ABSTRACT Political polarization is increasingly undermining citizen trust. As authorities and science lose legitimacy due to the intensification of polarization, the barriers to finding policy solutions, particularly on divisive issues like climate change, become more daunting. Exacerbating this problem, by drawing on diverse sources of validation, including scientific findings and traditional and social media, opposing sides construct their own ‘truth,’ often fueled by misinformation and misperceptions. This phenomenon, known as factual belief polarization, is exacerbated by selective exposure within echo chambers on social media, where individuals are insulated from alternative perspectives. This paper examines polarization in public debate on climate change in the Arctic, focusing on the role of social media via X (Twitter). Through an analysis of top retweets between the period of May 2021 to April 2022, key themes related to climate change are identified and the degree of polarization assessed. In combination with an overview of the content of the tweets, the paper elucidates whether polarization is similar to general debates over climate change and what type of argumentation is made by both climate change advocates and deniers.

Does enforcement style influence citizen trust in regulatory agencies? An experiment in six countries

Abstract Establishing and maintaining citizen trust is vital for the effectiveness and long-term viability of regulatory agencies. However, limited empirical research has been conducted on the relationship between regulatory action and citizen trust. This article addresses this gap by investigating the influence of various regulatory enforcement styles on citizen trust. We conducted a pre-registered and representative survey experiment in six countries (n = 5,765): Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, and Norway. Our study focuses on three key dimensions of enforcement style: formalism, coerciveness, and accommodation. We hypothesize that a strict and punitive enforcement style with minimal accommodation will enhance citizen trust. Surprisingly, we found no overall effect of enforcement on trust. However, specifically high levels of formalism (strictness) and coerciveness (punitiveness) exhibited a small positive effect on trust. Furthermore, we observed no discernible impact of an accommodative enforcement style. Additional analyses revealed that the effects of enforcement style were not consistent across country and regulatory domains. This suggests we need to reconsider assumptions underlying enforcement theory, as our findings imply that public trust seems less conditional on heavy-handed enforcement than initially anticipated.

Policing and citizen trust in Kenya: How community policing shapes local trust-building and collaboration

Abstract In contexts of high insecurity and mistrust in the police, how and why do local residents still choose to collaborate with the police, and what is the role of community policing in such considerations? Research on policing in Africa has emphasized the structural and macropolitical barriers to effective police reform, including institutionalized cultures of impunity and corruption. Less attention, however, has been paid to the contextual and relational dynamics that shape police-community collaboration. We argue that a relational perspective, which centres local residents’ interactions with police and community policing structures, provides novel insights into the challenges of policing reforms. This perspective also demonstrates how contingent and incremental trust can be built in very challenging circumstances. We study these dynamics in Karagita and Kaptembwo, two low-income urban settlements in Nakuru County, Kenya, that have experienced violent crime and repeated electoral violence. Despite considerable challenges of crime, police misconduct, and political interference in these settlements, our findings point to how positive everyday interaction and community policing structures can contribute to incremental improvements in police-community relationships. In contrast to existing work on African policing that primarily highlights the challenges of police reform, this study offers insights into when reform has the potential to be effective.

Effects of Government Public Relations on Citizen Trust and Engagement in Sudan

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the effects of government public relations on citizen trust and engagement in Sudan. Materials and Methods: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: The study indicated that effective public relations strategies can enhance transparency, accountability, and open communication, fostering a sense of trust among citizens. When governments actively engage in clear and honest communication, they address citizens' concerns, clarify policies, and provide timely updates on public affairs. This transparency helps mitigate misinformation and builds credibility, leading to increased citizen trust. Furthermore, well-executed public relations efforts can stimulate civic engagement by encouraging public participation in decision-making processes, promoting community involvement, and fostering a collaborative environment between the government and its citizens. Studies indicate that when citizens perceive their government as trustworthy and responsive, they are more likely to engage in civic activities, support governmental initiatives, and participate in democratic processes, thereby strengthening the overall relationship between the government and its citizens. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Grunig's excellence theory, social exchange theory and institutional trust theory may be used to anchor future studies on assessing the effects of government public relations on citizen trust and engagement in Sudan. For effective practice, government agencies must prioritize transparency and proactive communication strategies to build trust with citizens. On the policy front, governments should formalize frameworks that mandate transparency and accountability in public relations practices.

Is Trust in Local Government Influenced by the “Marketplace” of Choice?

AbstractGovernments are subjected to many sources of competition that can be productive or destructive to their ability to maintain citizen trust. This paper explores the role of competition in the local government marketplace as a determinant of trust in local government. Using individual respondent data from the Gallup Poll Social Series in the United States from 2001 to 2022, this paper explores the effect of policy space autonomy and availability of choice in government on trust in local government. We find evidence of productive competition increasing with the number of local governments in the respondent's labor market. Similarly, states that restrict the diversity of choice through tax and expenditure limits reduce productive competition, while limits on issuing debt enhance local trust. The results are supported by numerous robustness checks and a placebo test on trust in the federal government.

Desiderata for discoverability and FAIR adoption of health data hubs

BackgroundThe future European Health Research and Innovation Cloud (HRIC), as fundamental part of the European Health Data Space (EHDS), will promote the secondary use of data and the capabilities to push the boundaries of health research within an ethical and legally compliant framework that reinforces the trust of patients and citizens. ObjectiveThis study aimed to analyse health data management mechanisms in Europe to determine their alignment with FAIR principles and data discovery generating best.practices for new data hubs joining the HRIC ecosystem. In this line, the compliance of health data hubs with FAIR principles and data discovery were assessed, and a set of best practices for health data hubs was concluded. MethodsA survey was conducted in January 2022, involving 99 representative health data hubs from multiple countries, and 42 responses were obtained in June 2022. Stratification methods were employed to cover different levels of granularity. The survey data was analysed to assess compliance with FAIR and data discovery principles. The study started with a general analysis of survey responses, followed by the creation of specific profiles based on three categories: organization type, function, and level of data aggregation. ResultsThe study produced specific best practices for data hubs regarding the adoption of FAIR principles and data discoverability. It also provided an overview of the survey study and specific profiles derived from category analysis, considering different types of data hubs. ConclusionsThe study concluded that a significant number of health data hubs in Europe did not fully comply with FAIR and data discovery principles. However, the study identified specific best practices that can guide new data hubs in adhering to these principles. The study highlighted the importance of aligning health data management mechanisms with FAIR principles to enhance interoperability and reusability in the future HRIC.

Exploring the Relationship Between E-Government, Transparency, and Citizen Trust in Government Services

This study investigates the relationship between e-government initiatives, transparency, and citizen trust in government services. By synthesizing existing literature and analyzing case studies from various countries, the research aims to understand how digital governance and transparency can influence public trust in governmental operations and services. E-government, which encompasses the use of digital platforms and technologies to deliver government services, is found to play a significant role in enhancing transparency and accessibility. The study reveals that e-government initiatives facilitate greater openness by providing citizens with easy access to information and services, thereby reducing opportunities for corruption and enhancing accountability. This increased transparency is shown to be crucial in fostering a more informed and engaged citizenry. Transparency in government is identified as a key factor in building citizen trust. The research highlights that when governments are open about their processes, decisions, and use of resources, citizens are more likely to perceive them as reliable and trustworthy. Transparency initiatives, such as open data platforms and online public consultations, allow for greater scrutiny and participation, which in turn can increase public confidence in government actions. Citizen trust in government services is essential for the effective functioning of a democratic society. The study indicates that trust is significantly influenced by the perceived transparency and accessibility of government services. When citizens trust that their government is transparent and accountable, they are more likely to engage with and utilize government services, leading to greater societal cohesion and cooperation. In conclusion, the interplay between e-government, transparency, and citizen trust is critical in shaping the effectiveness and credibility of government services. The study suggests that enhancing digital governance and transparency can lead to increased public trust and more effective government operations. Future research should explore the specific mechanisms through which e-government initiatives can further enhance transparency and trust in different socio-political contexts.

Interaction of the population with authorities using digital technologies: sociological analysis

In the modern world new formats of civil participation for the population are emerging, associated with the use of innovative technologies. The problem of introducing and developing digital services into the public administration system at all levels of government is urgent. Experts argue that digitalization will ensure an increase in the level of efficiency in the provision of public services to the population. The problematic field of research is the level of involvement of the population in interaction with government structures in the digital space. Mastering the information environment requires certain competencies that are not developed immediately. The speed of mastering such competencies depends on many factors, including the understanding of the need for their constant use. The goal of the research is to determine the attitude of the regional population towards digital technologies used for interaction between citizens and government agencies.Today, comprehensive sociological research on this topic is required. When working on a scientific article, methods of sociocultural analysis, document analysis, and empirical collection of primary information in the form of a survey were used. The main conclusion is that for the effective development of digital interaction between the population and the authorities, it is necessary not only to introduce, but also to increase the level of trust of citizens in the digital resources of the state.

Autocratization Spillover: When Electing an Authoritarian Erodes Election Trust across Borders.

The rich literature on election trust predominantly uses domestic determinants as explanatory factors. But given the international nature of the autocratization wave, can an autocratization event across borders erode election trust? This article argues that an authoritarian's electoral success in a neighboring country can shatter democratic norms and demonstrate the viability of authoritarians. This autocratization event abroad can thus reduce citizens' principled support for democracy and its political system. Consequently, citizens across borders are less likely to see democratic elections as the "only game in town" and they have less trust in elections. To test this idea, I study the spillover effects of the 2018 Brazilian presidential election, in which an authoritarian candidate won decisively. Using the AmericasBarometer in Colombia that was launched throughout this election, I find that the election trust of Colombian citizens erodes after Jair Bolsonaro's electoral success. To probe into the mechanism, I uncover that his electoral victory leads Colombian citizens to be less supportive of the domestic political system and reduces their principled support for democracy. The causal mediation analysis demonstrates that these two variables mediate the effect of the authoritarian's electoral success on election trust. These findings on autocratization spillover effects illustrate the importance of external autocratization events in the study of election trust.

Government performance and citizen trust before and after the Great Recession: the case of Greece and Italy

Purpose The Great Recession that began around 2008 hit hard on Greece and Italy. During a period of extreme economic distress, the two countries suffered the loss of government performance and citizen trust in government. The purpose of this study is to describe how government performance and citizen trust in government had been altered in the context of the Great Recession.Design/methodology/approach This study conducts a case study on France and Germany. These in-depth case studies afford a lens for diagnosing how the Great Recession affected macro and micro-performance in practice.Findings Comparative case studies of Greece and Italy provide evidence that government performance in Greece and Italy was diminished to a large extent as a result of the Great Recession. In addition, citizen trust in both countries was impaired during the Great Recession period.Social implications It is a matter of grave concern how the government responds to crises. During the crisis, some states implemented stringent austerity measures. This case brings out the careful point that austerity measures could diminish government performance as well as the state’s fundamental potential.Originality/value Due to its significance, the Great Recession has been widely investigated, with the explanations often concentrating on economic and political repercussions. Nonetheless, how the economic crisis transformed into public administration and policy has largely gone unheeded. The case studies of Greece and Italy newly identify and help to explain how the Great Recession contributes to governments and citizens in a multitude of aspects.

Цифровизация электоральных процедур и обеспечение доверия граждан к избирательному процессу

The article is dedicated to the study of digitalization of electoral procedures and assurance of trust of citizens in the electoral process. The article reviews the procedure for organization of and holding elections and observance of applicable legal requirements, the author analyzes the introduction of electronic voting in this process. Strengthening of democratic processes in the Russian Federation directly depends on the civil involvement in the political life of the country including in elections of the head of the state.

A study of trust and satisfaction with local authorities in Ukraine. The impact of populism

The article analyzes a number of aspects and factors that, in the authors’ opinion, influence the penetration of populism into local government. It is the aspect of trust that can influence the penetration and even greater influence of populism in local self-government. The authors highlight such important topics as the factors that would contribute to the success of populism and the specifics of its manifestations at the local level. Special attention is paid to the analysis of trust and satisfaction of Ukrainian citizens with the work of local authorities, based and analyzed on empirical data obtained in cooperation with the sociological center "Factum Group". The article considers populism in local politics as a phenomenon that requires serious attention and analysis. It can have negative consequences for local self-government and lead to political instability and insufficient effectiveness of decisions. One of the main problems with populism is its focus on short-term, populist promises and rhetoric instead of the need for long-term planning and real development. This can lead to unjustified spending of resources and creating dependence on external financial sources, which can negatively affect the sustainability of the local economy. In addition, populism can undermine the principles of democracy and the rule of law. In the context of academic analysis, studying the impact of populism at the local government level is critical. This analysis is based on the works of R. Putnam and P. Sztompka. In the context of P. Sztompka's theory, the issue of trust in government and its importance for social institutions is considered. R. Putnam emphasizes that democracies and economies in society work better when there is citizen involvement. It was the involvement and influence of citizens on local government that became possible as a result of the decentralization process. Thus, these studies provide an understanding of what trends can affect social processes and public life. The study of these aspects makes it possible to identify effective mechanisms for counteracting the potential threats of populism, which is important for assessing the general prospects for the development of the state and its social stability. To overcome this problem, active participation of citizens, strengthening of civil society institutions, development of critical thinking and principles of openness and transparency are needed. In the future, we need further research on the aspects of influence and raising questions about other factors and systems of influence on the appearance of populists in local authorities, in order to know what local authorities should pay attention to in order to strengthen trust and resist the spread of populism. Which, as the authors note, are mutually dependent processes.

Trust, collaboration, and participation in governance: A Nordic perspective on public administrators' perceptions of citizen involvement

AbstractThis study analyzes public administrators' trust in citizens' capacities to participate in governance, their collaborative tendency, and the association between these factors and public administrators' willingness to implement citizen involvement efforts. The purpose of the study is to examine whether public administrators' trust in citizens' participatory capacities predicts a willingness to implement citizen participation efforts within the central administration of a Nordic welfare country. The central administration of Finland presents a counter case to previous studies, which have mostly focused on the United States. A unique survey of administrators, operationalized similarly to previous studies, was conducted, and analysis of the data provides both confirmatory and novel insights. The analysis finds that administrators' trust in citizens' participatory capacities strongly predicts their willingness to implement citizen participation initiatives. However, this relation can significantly decrease or increase depending on the degree to which administrators value the procedural legitimacy of collaborative governance.

How Digital Platforms Promote Roles of Nonprofit Human Service Organizations During the COVID-19 in China

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic compelled nonprofit human service organizations (NPHS) to rapidly adapt to heightened service demands while prioritizing the well-being of their staff and volunteers. Although digital platforms hold promise in facilitating NPHS adaptation, little is known about their impact during the crisis. How and through what pathways do digital platforms help NPHS adapt their service roles in times of crisis? Did digital platforms with different types of sponsorship vary in the way they affect NPHS’s roles? Our study, based on 94 interviews in China, reveals that digital platforms assisted NPHS through three pathways: reducing transaction costs in stakeholder engagement, mitigating information asymmetry in targeting service recipients, and promoting shared responsibility for volunteer participation. Different sponsorship types influenced these pathways: government-sponsored platforms enhanced legitimacy, business-sponsored platforms leveraged private resources, and nonprofit-sponsored platforms bolstered citizen trust. This research informs scholars and practitioners on understanding how NPHS remained agile and innovative while facing extraordinary external challenges.

Examining the drivers and barriers to adoption of e-government services in Saudi Arabia

PurposeThis study investigates the factors influencing citizen attitudes toward e-government services and their effects on the adoption of e-government services in Saudi Arabia. It sheds light on the moderating role of citizen motivation in the relationship between factors influencing citizen attitudes in favor of e-government services and their adoption and usage behavior in the Saudi Arabian context. The study analyzes both the drivers propelling the uptake and the barriers impeding it.Design/methodology/approachA descriptive research design was employed in this study, which surveyed 487 respondents from Jeddah and Madina cities and the surrounding region. The research identifies key drivers, including cultural factors, digital literacy, government policy and interventions, privacy and security, technical infrastructure, support services and citizen trust, alongside barriers such as concerns about data security and digital literacy.FindingsThe findings reveal the complex interplay of these factors in shaping citizen attitudes toward e-government services and their effects on adoption in Saudi Arabia. The study indicates that citizen motivation toward e-government services moderates the relationship between, adoption and usage behavior.Originality/valueThis study contributes valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners by offering a nuanced perspective on e-government service adoption in the Saudi Arabian context. It enhances our understanding of the factors influencing citizen attitudes and their impact on e-government adoption, highlighting the importance of citizen motivation as a moderating factor in this relationship.

Профессионализм судей как основа формирования доверия к судебной системе

The work raised the problem of increasing the confidence of citizens in the judicial system. According to the author, the professionalism of judges, the ability to motivate and substantiate their conclusions based on the results of consideration of a particular case, on which the fairness of the decision depends, and hence the trust of citizens in the court, should be considered fundamental for this.