The Erosion of Trust: A Threat to Social Progress

Trust is central for societies, the State, and markets to function. It is key to building and maintaining social cohesion, as it promotes cooperation between groups of people as well as between people and the State. Trust is also fundamental to foster international cooperation and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). When people perceive institutions as legitimate, fair and efficient, they are more likely to comply with rules and uphold their duties and responsibilities. They might be more willing to cooperate, participate and adhere to rules and norms such as paying taxes, com-plying with government regulations, accepting the rule of law, adhering to contracts, or voting. Trust thus enables public institutions to provide for people’s needs. However, evidence shows that trust in institutions is in crisis: more than half of the world’s population reports little or no trust in their government (United Nations and UNU-WIDER, 2025). Restoring people’s trust is essential to repair the social fabric, mitigate rising polarization, accelerate social progress and achieve global goals.