Political trust

Political trust is confidence that political institutions and actors will act competently and in the public interest. It concerns expectations about their performance, fairness, and motives.

Political legitimacy: The recognized right of a political authority to make and enforce collective decisions. Belief that authority is rightful can support confidence in institutions beyond satisfaction with particular outcomes.
Political participation: Activities through which people seek to influence government or public decisions. Confidence can encourage engagement, while distrust may redirect participation toward protest or withdrawal.
Interpersonal trust: The expectation that other people will act reliably, honestly, or cooperatively. Confidence in citizens is distinct from confidence in political institutions and officeholders.
World Values Survey: A cross-national research program that surveys values, beliefs, and social attitudes. Its repeated questions on confidence in institutions allow comparisons across countries and time.
Procedural justice: The perceived fairness of the processes used to make decisions and treat people. Fair procedures can sustain trust even when political decisions disappoint.
Tax compliance: The extent to which taxpayers fulfill their legal obligations to report and pay taxes. Trust in fair and competent government can strengthen willingness to contribute public revenue.
Institutional trust: Confidence that an organization or system will perform its functions reliably and fairly. Political trust is a domain-specific form focused on public institutions and political actors.
Edelman Trust Barometer: An annual survey measuring public trust in institutions across countries. It offers a prominent contemporary measure of trust in government alongside other institutions.
Government responsiveness: The extent to which public authorities recognize and address citizens’ needs and preferences. Visible responsiveness gives citizens evidence that institutions attend to their interests.
Policy compliance: Adherence to laws, regulations, and government policies by individuals and organizations. People may be more willing to follow rules when authorities are seen as trustworthy.

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