Exploring relationships of trust within and between race groups: evidence from South Africa

Abstract

This study investigates intra-racial and inter-racial trust in South Africa, more specifically, if relationships of trust between groups and within groups differ by race. Using the 2017 wave 5 National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS), which asked respondents to rank their trust levels towards people of the same race or of a different race; this research compares the responses for these two questions to analyse whether adults in South Africa are more likely to trust same race members than members of a different race. Probit regression estimations were also employed to assess the influence of socio-economic, individual demographic, household, and neighbourhood characteristics on intra-racial and inter-racial trust. The results showed that 1) trust levels in South Africa are generally low, 2) people tend to report higher trust levels towards their same race members than towards other race members, and 3) there is considerable racial variation in intra-racial and inter-racial trust in South Africa. In particular, compared to Whites, other race groups in South Africa are less likely to report trust towards both same race members and members of a different race. Although race differences in trust reduce once other correlates of trust are controlled for, and particularly when relative economic status is added in the analysis, they remain persistent and significant among Africans and Coloureds