3 ms·

I'm reflecting more these days on what I call "trust inequality." I'm curious how much trust in each other relates to wealth. Any thoughts?

CGMthrowaway 11mo ago
What does trust inequality mean to you?
- jimkleiber 11mo ago
  Not sure yet, curious to reflect on it more. But initial take is that some environments people trust each other more. Trusting intentions, actions, words, ability. For example, a low-trust environment would probably be most prisons. High-trust might be a neighborhood where people don't lock their doors. I remember reading a World Bank economist saying that we might be able to explain the difference in GDP per capita between the US and a place like Somalia based on how much people trust each other. How mistrust can add so much friction to interactions.
  - CGMthrowaway 11mo ago
    There's a lot of research in this area. You might not like the conclusions. Fukuyama (Trust) or Putnam (Bowling Alone) might be a good place to start, or here is a public paper by Putnam: https://www.puttingourdifferencestowork.com/pdf/j.1467-9477.2007.00176%20Putnam%20Diversity.pdf https://www.puttingourdifferencestowork.com/pdf/j.1467-9477.... Here's another prominent paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0047272701000846 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S00472... Uslaner (2002) makes a distinction between moralistic trust ("Can people be trusted?") and strategic trust ("Can THIS person be trusted?") that you may find interesting. There is also Yamagashi's Paradox: Japanese cooperate more, but trust less. Americans trust more, but defect more in specific situations.
    - jimkleiber 11mo ago
      I am very very fascinated by these leads. Thank you so much for sharing them, and excited to hear about any more that you may have.
      - jimkleiber 11mo ago
        "Collectivist societies promote security, but at the same time destroy trust" Yes, very fascinated. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-4-431-53936-0 https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-4-431-53936-0

CGMthrowaway 11mo ago

What does trust inequality mean to you?

jimkleiber 11mo ago
Not sure yet, curious to reflect on it more. But initial take is that some environments people trust each other more. Trusting intentions, actions, words, ability. For example, a low-trust environment would probably be most prisons. High-trust might be a neighborhood where people don't lock their doors. I remember reading a World Bank economist saying that we might be able to explain the difference in GDP per capita between the US and a place like Somalia based on how much people trust each other. How mistrust can add so much friction to interactions.
- CGMthrowaway 11mo ago
  There's a lot of research in this area. You might not like the conclusions. Fukuyama (Trust) or Putnam (Bowling Alone) might be a good place to start, or here is a public paper by Putnam: https://www.puttingourdifferencestowork.com/pdf/j.1467-9477.2007.00176%20Putnam%20Diversity.pdf https://www.puttingourdifferencestowork.com/pdf/j.1467-9477.... Here's another prominent paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0047272701000846 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S00472... Uslaner (2002) makes a distinction between moralistic trust ("Can people be trusted?") and strategic trust ("Can THIS person be trusted?") that you may find interesting. There is also Yamagashi's Paradox: Japanese cooperate more, but trust less. Americans trust more, but defect more in specific situations.
  - jimkleiber 11mo ago
    I am very very fascinated by these leads. Thank you so much for sharing them, and excited to hear about any more that you may have.
    - jimkleiber 11mo ago
      "Collectivist societies promote security, but at the same time destroy trust" Yes, very fascinated. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-4-431-53936-0 https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-4-431-53936-0