Trust, but verify? Understanding citizen attitudes toward evidence-informed policy making

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Bundi, Pirmin; Pattyn, Valerie
• 署名单位: University of Lausanne; Leiden University - Excl LUMC; Leiden University
• 刊物名称: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0033-3298
• DOI: 10.1111/padm.12852
• 发表日期: 2023
• 页码: 1227-1246
• 关键词: generalized trust; UNITED-STATES; 2 communities; post-truth; science; GOVERNMENT; technocracy; COMMUNICATION; determinants; INFORMATION

摘要

In this article, we inquire to what extent different manifestations of trust are associated with public support for evidence informed policy making (EIPM). We present the results of a cross-sectional survey conducted in the peak of the second COVID-19 wave in six Western democracies: Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Switzerland, and the United States (N = 8749). Our findings show that public trust in scientific experts is generally related to positive attitudes toward evidence-informed policy making, while the opposite is the case for trust in governments and fellow citizens. Interestingly, citizens' assessment of government responses to COVID-19 moderates the relationship between trust and attitudes toward EIPM. Respondents who do rather not trust their governments or their fellow citizens are more in favor of EIPM if they evaluate government responses negatively. These findings suggest that attitudes toward EIPM are not only related to trust, but also strongly depend on perceived government performance.