New findings from the GRBN Global Trust Survey show how trust in different types of organizations and institutions has changed since 2022.
The Global Research Business Network (GRBN) has partnered with eight national research associations from across the globe and nine corporate partners to conduct the GRBN Global Trust Survey.*
The results**, published today, show that only 30% of respondents across the eight countries personally trust their government compared to 38% in 2020.
Remarkably, the governments’ average net trust index (the proportion of those trusting vs not trusting) has now dropped into negative figures (-6) with 36% of respondents saying they do not trust the government in their country.
In Brazil, Korea, the UK and the US, each government’s net trust index is even more negative (ranging between -13 and -17 in these countries). In contrast, the government’s net trust index is positive in Australia and Canada (+12 and +14 respectively).
The sharp decline in the trust in government overall across the countries included is driven mostly by a very sharp decline in Germany, Korea and the UK. Despite the net trust indices remaining positive in Australia and Canada, these countries have also seen significant declines. The governments in Brazil and Japan are bucking the trend with marginal improvements in the level of net trust.
Trust in the health authorities is also down on average across the eight countries from a very high net trust index of +49 in 2020 to +39, with this decline largely down to a huge decline in Korea (+45 to +16), as well as significant decreases in Canada and the US.
The research also shows a slight decrease in trust in the police from a net trust index across the eight countries of +45 down to +37. This drop is most noticeable in the US (+53 in 202- to +32 in 2022), with significant declines also seen in Canada and Germany.
Impact of Covid-19
The research also provides valuable insight into how trust in different sectors has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Trust in organizations and institutions has declined significantly as a result of Covid-19 in all countries except the UK (flat) and Brazil (slightly up).
Looking more closely at the impact Covid-19 has had on trust in different types of organizations and institutions, trust has been most eroded in government in recent months, with 40% saying they trust their government less and only 10% saying they trust their government more due to their handling of the pandemic. The negative impact of Covid-19 on trust in government is much more noticeable now than in 2020, when the corresponding figures were 27% trust less and 22% trust more. The impact of the pandemic on trust in the health authorities has turned form a positive to neutral over the last two years.
Debrah Harding, GRBN Chair and Managing Director of MRS, comments: “As we continue to face some of the most extraordinary times, we are looking to institutions and experts for solutions out of the crises. It is vital that we understand how today’s challenges are affecting people’s trust in these sectors and professions. GRBN’s latest research provides insight into changing attitudes and will be a useful tool as countries look to develop solutions in response to challenges society is facing.”
The full GRBN Global Trust Survey report is available to download here.
* Thanking our partners
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our national association and corporate partners without whose participation and support this initiative would not be possible.
** The results cited in this press release are based on the responses of 8000 people aged 18+ living in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Korea, Japan, the UK and the USA, who completed online surveys in either April-May 2020 or July-August 2022. The responses reflect the 18+ year old population in each country in terms of age, sex and region.
Ends
Notes to Editors
About GRBN
- Global Research Business Network connects 45 research associations and over 3500 research businesses on six continents.
- More than US$25 billion in annual research revenues (turnover) are generated by these businesses.
- GRBN’s mission is to promote and advance the business of research by developing and supporting strong autonomous national research associations.
For further information, please contact:
Andrew Cannon
GRBN
+358 (0)50 5226922
