A Meta-Analysis of the Government Performance-Trust Link: Taking Cultural and Methodological Factors into Account

The performance-trust link constitutes an important issue, but the public administration and political science literature has been equivocal regarding how it is influenced by cultural and methodological factors. Meta-analyzing 72 empirical studies, this article finds that the link is stronger in low power distance countries, when outputs are used to measure government performance, or when the focus is on local government. In addition, the performance-trust link holds true regardless of whether performance data are subjective or objective, or whether the studies focus on performance of government as a whole or specific agencies. The results imply that in order to nurture and sustain trust in government, we should pay more attention to societal cultures and the way government performance information is provided. Trust in government studies should become both more scientific and more culturally sensitive.

Automated summary

The relationship between performance and trust in government is stronger in countries with low power distance, when performance is measured using outputs, or when the focus is on local government. Regardless of the subjectivity or objectivity of performance data, or the specific focus of the studies, the performance-trust link remains valid. To nurture and sustain trust in government, attention should be paid to societal cultures and the provision of government performance information. Trust in government studies should be more scientific and culturally sensitive.