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Trusting neighbours or strangers in a racially divided society: Insights from survey data in South Africa

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  • Dorrit Posel

    (University of KwaZulu-Natal)

  • Tim Hinks

    (University of the West of England, Bristol)

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate reported measures of trust in South Africa, collected in the 2008 National Income Dynamics Study. In particular we compare responses to two questions asked of all adult respondents about the likelihood that a lost wallet or purse containing 200 Rand will be returned either by "someone who lives close by" or by a "complete stranger". Although reported levels of trust are very low, we find that South Africans are significantly more likely to report trusting neighbours than strangers. We use ordered probit regressions to estimate the determinants of these two measures of trust. Consistent with studies from the U.S. and from South Africa, we find considerable racial variation in reported trust. In comparison to Whites, other population groups in South Africa are significantly less likely to report trusting people who live close by. However, these racial differences are dramatically reduced once differences in personal and neighbourhood income are controlled for. In contrast, racial differences in trust of strangers are smaller, and differences are even reversed among Black South Africans, who appear more trusting than other population groups of strangers. Because the majority of the population is Black, respondents may assume that a complete stranger is Black, and this finding would therefore be consistent with in-group favouritism, where individuals are relatively more likely to trust people who belong to their own population group.

Suggested Citation

  • Dorrit Posel & Tim Hinks, 2011. "Trusting neighbours or strangers in a racially divided society: Insights from survey data in South Africa," Working Papers 20111112, Department of Accounting, Economics and Finance, Bristol Business School, University of the West of England, Bristol.
  • Handle: RePEc:uwe:wpaper:20111112
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zak, Paul J & Knack, Stephen, 2001. "Trust and Growth," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 111(470), pages 295-321, April.
    2. Vollan, Björn, 2011. "The difference between kinship and friendship: (Field-) experimental evidence on trust and punishment," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 14-25, February.
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    7. Dorrit Posel & Daniela Casale, 2011. "Relative Standing and Subjective Well-Being in South Africa: The Role of Perceptions, Expectations and Income Mobility," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 104(2), pages 195-223, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Fundiswa T. Khaile & Nicolette V. Roman & Kezia R. October & Maria Van Staden & Tolulope V. Balogun, 2022. "Perceptions of Trust in the Context of Social Cohesion in Selected Rural Communities of South Africa," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-16, August.
    2. Timothy Hinks, 2012. "Fractionalization and well-being: Evidence from a new South African data set," New Zealand Economic Papers, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(3), pages 253-271, December.
    3. Dorrit Posel, 2022. "Within-Race Trust and the Trust Radius: Race Differences in Post-Apartheid South Africa," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 164(2), pages 649-664, November.

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