Who Trusts Local Government?

The New York Times editorial board called out New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo on Friday for breaking his promises to investigate corruption in the state’s politics. After shutting down the commission he had started to “investigate and pursue wrongdoing” among a government riddled with recent scandals, it seems the Times has lost their trust in Cuomo's efforts—a value he had repeatedly espoused.

Trust is an essential bond between the government and the governed. It allows for the state to operate efficiently and for citizens to take advantage of government services. Yet, as in New York, almost every society has some lapses. But how does everyone compare?

Below is data drawn from the WJP Rule of Law Index 2014. The graph shows the percent of people in each country who expressed distrust in their local governments (percent expressing little or no trust), ranging from the hyper trustworthy in Botswana to the skeptical in Nigeria. The United States sits right above average, where 52% express little to no trust compared with a global average of 53%.

Check back to this blog in the coming weeks and months as we continue to examine issues of trust and how it affects society and governance—and more.

Methodological note: Data presented here is taken from surveys conducted as part of the General Population Poll (GPP), one component of the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index 2014.  The GPP questionnaire includes 87 perception-based questions and 56 experience- based questions, along with socio-demographic information on all respondents. The questionnaire is translated into local languages, adapted to common expressions, and administered by leading local polling companies using a probability sample of 1,000 respondents in the three largest cities of each country. Depending on the particular situation of each country, three different polling methodologies are used: Face-to-face, Telephone, or Online. The GPPs are carried out in each country every other year. 

Learn more in the Methodology section. 

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Photo Credit: Cuomo-Moreland Commission/Gotham Gazette