Trust in institutions diminishing around the world

Amid the global pandemic and efforts to quickly develop a safe and effective vaccine, a recent survey found that trust in scientists is fairly high in much of the world. However, the survey also found that trust in national governments, news media and businesses — all important actors in efforts to help societies manage and overcome the pandemic — is low.

Overall, surveys have found that trust in institutions have been in decline in many places, particularly in developed economies that have experienced growing levels of economic inequality.

A recent survey of 20 countries by the Pew Research Center found that strong majorities in all the countries had “a lot” or “some” faith in scientists “to do what is right.” This is encouraging at a time when medical science is necessary to combat the pandemic, and when science is critical to addressing environmental and other concerns.

European respondents were particularly likely to trust scientists. Across the survey, people with higher levels of education also were more likely to trust scientists. However, the survey results found an ideological divide in some countries — notably the US, Canada, Australia and the UK — with those on the left of the political spectrum significantly more likely to trust scientists than those on the right. Among other institutions, the Pew survey found that the military scores particularly well in terms of public trust — with levels similar to scientists. In some countries, such as India, the US, Malaysia and Canada, the public has particularly high trust in the military. Again, there is an ideological divide in some countries, with people on the right of the political spectrum more likely to trust the military than those on the left.

The Pew survey found much lower levels of trust in national governments (with the notable exception of Singapore), news media and businesses. In terms of high levels of trust — trusting an institution “a lot” to do what is right — national governments received a median score of only 13 percent, with the media at 12 percent and businesses at 9 percent.

To some extent these results line up with other research. The 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer, which examined data from 28 markets, also found high levels of trust in scientists (80 percent). Levels of trust in national governments were higher than

Pew found but still not impressive, at about 49 percent. It also found only 46 percent of respondents had trust in religious leaders. News media performed better in the barometer than in the Pew survey, at 49 percent, but this still indicates low levels of trust. The barometer found a much higher level of trust in businesses — 58 percent for businesses in general and 51 percent for CEOs in particular — than the Pew survey.

These two studies have differing approaches to research and cannot be directly compared, but together they offer a broader perspective on global trends in trust.

The pandemic has highlighted the importance of two other groups: Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and multilateral institutions.

The public tends to have relatively high levels of trust in and approval for these organizations. Leaders who want to stop a decline in trust need to take critical actions, such as combating corruption, addressing economic inequality, enhancing education and improving transparency.