Trust in institutions and implications for the social contract
Date
2023
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Abstract
This research explores the relationship that trust in institutions, more explicitly trust in the police, has with the social contract in South Africa. Trust in one another, in institutions, and in leaders are all essential components of social and economic improvement (Gould & Hijzen, 2017) because they encourage people to collaborate and stand in solidarity (Perry, 2021, p. 1). When people are not given equal opportunities economically, income gaps are likely because some are acquiring more\ than others, and this "erodes a general sense of trust" (Gould & Hijzen, 2017, p. 38). Research done by the General Social Survey for the United States "shows that trust is lower in states where inequality is high" (Alesina & La Ferrera, 2002; Rothstein &
Uslaner, 2005, as cited in Gould & Hijzen, 2017, p. 38). Economic security and equality stand as some of the critical duties of the state and its institutions and as some of the fundamental anchors of the social contract between the government and its population (Perry, 2021, p. 3). When economic uncertainty spreads, as evidenced by the uncertainty that came with the COVID-19 pandemic, trust in institutions may suf
Description
A research report submitted to the Faculty of Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in 50% requirement of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management (in the field of Governance, Johannesburg, 2023
Keywords
Police, Social contract, Trust, UCTD
Citation
Ndofirepi, Tafadzwa Glory. (2023). Trust in institutions and implications for the social contract[Master’s dissertation, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg]. WireDSpace. https://hdl.handle.net/10539/39885