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Citizens' Trust in Government and Their Greater Willingness to Pay Taxes in Tanzania: A Case Study of Mtwara, Lindi, and Dar es Salaam Regions

Author

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  • Mwoya Byaro
  • Abel Kinyondo

Abstract

This article examines the citizens' trust in government and their willingness to pay taxes to improve public goods/services in Tanzania. Descriptive statistics show that 79.4 percent of the citizens trust the government. The findings show that a citizen's trust in government varies positively and significantly with the quality of public goods/services. An increase of one unit of public service delivery is associated with an increase in a citizen's trust in the government. A χ2 test shows a significant association between a citizen's trust in the government and willingness to pay more taxes for improved public services. About 91.3 percent of citizens were willing to pay more taxes if public services were improved. A higher level of citizens' trust in government and good quality of public service delivery encourage greater willingness to pay taxes in order to improve public services. Therefore, targeting public policies toward dissatisfied citizens is critical to making a stronger impact on trust in government. 本文检验了坦桑尼亚公民对政府的信任及其在通过缴税提高公共物品/服务方面的支付意愿。描述性统计显示, 79.4%的公民信任政府。研究发现显示, 公民对政府的信任会随公共物品/服务的质量而发生积极且显著的变化。每增加一个单位的公共服务交付, 都与公民对政府的信任上升有关。卡方检验显示, 公民对政府的信任与通过多缴税提高公共服务的支付意愿之间存在显著联系。如果公共服务得以提高, 则有近91.3%的公民愿意多缴税。公民对政府的信任程度的提升, 加之公共服务交付的良好质量, 会鼓励更高程度的缴税意愿, 用于改善公共服务。因此, 将不满意政府的公民作为公共政策的目标导向尤为重要, 以期对信任政府一事产生更强劲的影响。 Este documento examina la confianza de los ciudadanos en el gobierno y su disposición a pagar impuestos para mejorar los bienes/servicios públicos en Tanzania. Las estadísticas descriptivas muestran que el 79,4% de la confianza de los ciudadanos en el gobierno. Los resultados muestran que la confianza de los ciudadanos en el gobierno varía de manera positiva y significativa con la calidad de los bienes/servicios públicos. Un aumento de una unidad de prestación de servicios públicos se asocia con un aumento de la confianza de los ciudadanos en el gobierno. La prueba de Chi cuadrado muestra una asociación significativa entre la confianza de los ciudadanos en el gobierno y la disposición a pagar más impuestos por servicios públicos mejorados. Alrededor del 91.3% de los ciudadanos estaban dispuestos a pagar más impuestos si se mejoran los servicios públicos. El mayor nivel de confianza de los ciudadanos en el gobierno y la buena calidad de la prestación de servicios públicos fomenta una mayor disposición a pagar impuestos para mejorar los servicios públicos. Por lo tanto, orientar las políticas públicas hacia ciudadanos insatisfechos es fundamental para lograr un mayor impacto en la confianza en el gobierno.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:povpop:v:12:y:2020:i:1:p:73-83
    DOI: 10.1002/pop4.271
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    References listed on IDEAS

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