Rebuilding Trust in Government and Public Institutions for a Functioning Democracy

Trust is the foundation for the legitimacy of public institutions and a functioning democratic system. Crucial for maintaining political participation and social cohesion, trust helps ensure the success of a wide range of policies that depend on behavioral responses from the public—as shown by the COVID-19 emergency. However, on average across OECD countries, only about half of people say that they trust their national government. Since the global financial crisis of 2008, trust in government has eroded in many countries and recovered only in some.

On Thursday, 27 January, join the OECD iLibrary, OECD Governance Directorate and Choice-ACRL as we discuss how countries and regions can better understand what drives widespread trust in public institutions and the crucial role it could play for achieving a sustainable recovery in our civic systems. Pulling critical data from OECD iLibrary’s database, Santiago González will discuss the value of responsive and reliable public services, resources, and policies in governmental and public institutions.