Does Trust in Local Institutions Translate into Trust in People in the Local Community? Evidence from a Swedish Panel Study

For decades, social science has emphasized the importance of various forms of trust for a well-functioning and healthy democracy. When citizens have confidence and trust in local institutions, they are more likely to participate in politics and community activities, perceive the government as legitimate, and build social cohesion and a sense of community. Therefore, it is essential to understand how trust is generated. This article aims to contribute to this discussion by focusing on a neglected aspect of the study on trust, namely the relationship between local institutional trust and community trust. Drawing on a two-wave panel study from Sweden, the results indicate bidirectional relationships between the two forms of trust over time. However, the impact of local institutional trust seems to be somewhat stronger on community trust than the inverse path. This supports the institutionalist account, which suggests that people’s experiences with local institutions influence interpersonal trust.