Public trust

Public trust is the confidence people place in public institutions to act competently, fairly, and honestly. It shapes whether people accept institutional decisions and cooperate with public authorities.

Institutional legitimacy: The belief that an institution has rightful authority and that its decisions deserve acceptance. Perceived legitimacy helps turn confidence in public institutions into acceptance of their authority.
Political legitimacy: The widely accepted right of a political authority to govern. Public confidence can strengthen acceptance of government authority beyond formal legal powers.
Political trust: Confidence in political actors and institutions, including elected officials, parties, and government. This narrower concept focuses trust on political institutions and actors.
Edelman Trust Barometer: An annual survey measuring public trust in business, government, media, and nongovernmental organizations. Its cross-institution comparisons illustrate how trust is tracked in public opinion.
Social capital: Resources available through social networks, shared norms, and relationships of trust. Public trust is one proposed ingredient in the broader capacity for collective cooperation.
Procedural justice: The perceived fairness of the processes used to make decisions and treat people. Fair procedures can sustain trust even when institutions deliver unfavorable outcomes.
Tax compliance: The extent to which people and organizations meet their tax obligations under the law. Trust that public money is handled responsibly can encourage voluntary tax payment.
Institutional confidence: A favorable expectation that an institution can perform its role reliably. Confidence emphasizes expected competence, while public trust also includes fairness and honesty.
Eurobarometer: A series of public opinion surveys commissioned by the European Commission. Its repeated measures provide evidence about trust in European and national institutions.
Trust in government: Confidence that government will act in the public interest and perform its responsibilities. This frequently measured subset raises questions about which levels and functions deserve trust.

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