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Transparency and Trust in Government: Evidence from a Survey Experiment

Author

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  • Alessandro, Martín
  • Cardinale Lagomarsino, Bruno
  • Scartascini, Carlos
  • Torrealday, Jerónimo

Abstract

Does providing information improve citizens’ perception about government transparency? Does all information matter the same for shaping perceptions about the government? This paper addresses these questions in the context of an online randomized survey experiment conducted in Argentina. Results show that providing information to citizens matters for shaping perceptions about transparency, and the content of the information matters for affecting the evaluation people make about the government. Those who received a “positive” treatment (showing that the government was over-performing on its promises) increased their trust in the government more than those who received a “negative” treatment (showing that the government was underperforming). The evidence highlights that the channel between transparency and trust may be mediated by the performance of the government.

Suggested Citation

  • Alessandro, Martín & Cardinale Lagomarsino, Bruno & Scartascini, Carlos & Torrealday, Jerónimo, 2019. "Transparency and Trust in Government: Evidence from a Survey Experiment," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 9496, Inter-American Development Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:idb:brikps:9496
    DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18235/0001569
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    Cited by:

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    2. Eduardo de Sá Fortes Leitão Rodrigues, 2021. "Citizens' Confidence in Government and Inefficient Public Spending. Is there a Trust Trap?," Working Papers REM 2021/0199, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, REM, Universidade de Lisboa.
    3. Ardanaz, Martin & Otálvaro-Ramírez, Susana & Scartascini, Carlos, 2023. "Does information about citizen participation initiatives increase political trust?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    4. Natalia Dmitrieva & Evgeny Styrin & Nikolay Lavrentyev & Ruslan Artamonov, 2021. "Linking Distrust Of The Public Sector To Awareness Of Covid-19: The Covid Dissidence Phenomenon," Public administration issues, Higher School of Economics, issue 6, pages 24-48.
    5. Ardanaz, Martín & Otálvaro-Ramírez, Susana & Scartascini, Carlos, 2022. "Does Citizen Participation in Budget Allocation Pay? A Survey Experiment on Political Trust and Participatory Governance," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 12256, Inter-American Development Bank.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Survey experiments; Information; Beliefs: Trust;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C83 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Survey Methods; Sampling Methods
    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • H40 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - General
    • C38 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Classification Methdos; Cluster Analysis; Principal Components; Factor Analysis
    • C99 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Other
    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General

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