This article provides a comprehensive examination of social trust in China. It addresses ongoing debates about how much people trust, whether there is a trust crisis, and where trust comes from. Analyzing extensive harmonized data from the Chinese General Social Survey (2003–2021) and the World Values Survey (1990–2018) spanning three decades, we find that Chinese people have high levels of general trust in others; this high social trust has been largely stable over the last three decades; and political confidence and perceived fairness are two key drivers of trust. On the other hand, we see marked low trust toward several groups, such as strangers, businessmen, and religious individuals. Potential explanations are discussed. This study contributes to key trust debates and identifies novel trust patterns that can serve as valuable subjects for future research.
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November/December 2024
Research Article|
November 11 2024
Social Trust in China: A Three-Decade Analysis
Cary Wu,
Cary Wu
Cary Wu is York Research Chair Professor at York University, Canada.
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Zhiwen Gong,
Zhiwen Gong
Zhiwen Gong is Associate Professor in the School of Public Administration, University of Science and Technology Beijing, China.
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Zhilei Shi
Zhilei Shi
Zhilei Shi is a Professor and Dean of the School of Economics at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan, China.
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Asian Survey (2024) 64 (6): 1004–1036.
Citation
Cary Wu, Zhiwen Gong, Zhilei Shi; Social Trust in China: A Three-Decade Analysis. Asian Survey 1 December 2024; 64 (6): 1004–1036. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/as.2024.2386997
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