Close (Causally Connected) Cousins? Evidence on the Causal Relationship between Political Trust and Social Trust
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Close (Causally Connected) Cousins? Evidence on the Causal Relationship between Political Trust and Social Trust. / Dinesen, Peter Thisted; Sonderskov, Kim Mannemar; Sohlberg, Jacob; Esaiasson, Peter.
In: Public Opinion Quarterly, Vol. 86, No. 3, 29.09.2022, p. 708-721.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Close (Causally Connected) Cousins?
T2 - Evidence on the Causal Relationship between Political Trust and Social Trust
AU - Dinesen, Peter Thisted
AU - Sonderskov, Kim Mannemar
AU - Sohlberg, Jacob
AU - Esaiasson, Peter
PY - 2022/9/29
Y1 - 2022/9/29
N2 - Trust in one's fellow citizens and in politicians are both conducive to well-functioning government. Beyond their separate importance, it is a long-standing notion that generalized social trust and political trust are connected in a mutually reinforcing relationship that further undergirds democratic governance. While it is well established that social trust and political trust are robustly positively associated at the individual level, there is much less compelling evidence regarding the causal nature of this relationship. Previous analyses have been unable to adequately rule out confounding and correct for reverse causality. This paper tackles these challenges through data and a research design close to ideally suited for addressing the causal status of the relationship. Using a 20-wave individual-level panel survey from Sweden analyzed using a dynamic panel model, we find evidence for a relatively strong positive causal effect of political trust on social trust, but little evidence for the reverse relationship.
AB - Trust in one's fellow citizens and in politicians are both conducive to well-functioning government. Beyond their separate importance, it is a long-standing notion that generalized social trust and political trust are connected in a mutually reinforcing relationship that further undergirds democratic governance. While it is well established that social trust and political trust are robustly positively associated at the individual level, there is much less compelling evidence regarding the causal nature of this relationship. Previous analyses have been unable to adequately rule out confounding and correct for reverse causality. This paper tackles these challenges through data and a research design close to ideally suited for addressing the causal status of the relationship. Using a 20-wave individual-level panel survey from Sweden analyzed using a dynamic panel model, we find evidence for a relatively strong positive causal effect of political trust on social trust, but little evidence for the reverse relationship.
KW - STATE
U2 - 10.1093/poq/nfac027
DO - 10.1093/poq/nfac027
M3 - Journal article
VL - 86
SP - 708
EP - 721
JO - Public Opinion Quarterly
JF - Public Opinion Quarterly
SN - 0033-362X
IS - 3
ER -
ID: 343359677