China has the highest trust amongst the general population. That’s according to an annual report published by an influential U.S.-based communications group, the Edelman Trust Barometer.
China scored an index of 82 compared to 47 in the U.S.. At the very bottom of trust was Russia with 30. Countries like the UK, France and Japan were also listed among the least-trusted countries.
The country with the biggest loss of trust was Saudi Arabia down from 70 points to 61. This is the third year running that China has scored the highest points with regard to people’s trust in their government.
In the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak, the Chinese government has introduced a number of measures including quarantine. This has happened without provoking social protests or panic.
The absence of protests suggests Chinese faith in their country’s socio-political order. The report surveyed 34,000 people online in 28 countries, examining public trust in four sections — government, business, media and NGOs. These institutions come under public scrutiny in their handling of social issues and rising economic inequalities.
