Transparency and Trust in Government: A Two-Way Relationship

Abstract

This paper investigates the complex relationship between transparency and trust. If trust in government is most of the time regarded as a positive effect of transparency, it should also be considered as a factor influencing citizens’ perceptions of transparency, and not only as a result of transparency measures. Moreover, the principles underpinning transparency policies, especially accountability and trust, have not been widely tested empirically yet. This article proposes some paths of research regarding the effect of administrative transparency on citizens’ trust in government in the Swiss context.

Keywords

• Administrative transparency
• Citizens’ trust
• Governance
• Switzerland