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The Optimal Trust in Government

Author

Listed:
  • Jeff R. Clark

    (University of Tennessee at Chattanooga)

  • Dwight R. Lee

    (University of Georgia)

Abstract

Public trust in government to promote the general interest has declined sharply since the early 1960s. Almost all those commenting on the trend see it as detrimental to government's ability to perform. We recognize that up to some level, trust does improve government performance, but beyond that level additional trust harms government performance by giving too much latitude to organized interest groups. Making use of the model of expressive voter behavior, we develop a model of the optimal trust in government, and consider how trust should vary over different political levels, and might cycle over time.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeff R. Clark & Dwight R. Lee, 2001. "The Optimal Trust in Government," Eastern Economic Journal, Eastern Economic Association, vol. 27(1), pages 19-34, Winter.
    • Handle: RePEc:eej:eeconj:v:27:y:2001:i:1:p:19-34
    as

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    File URL: http://web.holycross.edu/RePEc/eej/Archive/eeconj/Volume27/V27N1P19_34.pdf
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Arif Jameel & Muhammad Asif & Abid Hussain & Jinsoo Hwang & Noman Sahito & Mussawar Hussain Bukhari, 2019. "Assessing the Moderating Effect of Corruption on the E-Government and Trust Relationship: An Evidence of an Emerging Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-14, November.
    2. Hassan Danaee Fard & Ali Anvary Rostamy, 2007. "Promoting Public Trust in Public Organizations: Explaining the Role of Public Accountability," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 7(4), pages 331-344, December.
    3. Ankush Goyal & Rajender Kumar, 2022. "Does Social Welfare Programmes Influence Households Trust in Local Administration and Their Political Participation? Evidence from the MGNREG Scheme in India," Indian Journal of Human Development, , vol. 16(3), pages 602-617, December.
    4. Yunsoo Lee, 2021. "Government for Leaving No One Behind: Social Equity in Public Administration and Trust in Government," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(3), pages 21582440211, July.
    5. Benno Torgler, 2003. "Tax Morale, Rule-Governed Behaviour and Trust," Constitutional Political Economy, Springer, vol. 14(2), pages 119-140, June.
    6. Samuel Mann & Nigel O’Leary & David Blackaby, 2022. "Sexual orientation, political trust, and same-sex relationship recognition policies: evidence from Europe," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 192(3), pages 331-355, September.
    7. Mwoya Byaro & Abel Kinyondo, 2020. "Citizens' Trust in Government and Their Greater Willingness to Pay Taxes in Tanzania: A Case Study of Mtwara, Lindi, and Dar es Salaam Regions," Poverty & Public Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 12(1), pages 73-83, March.
    8. John E. Anderson, 2017. "Trust in Government and Willingness to Pay Taxes in Transition Countries," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 59(1), pages 1-22, March.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Government Performance; Government; Interest Group; Voter;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior

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