Could this be related to the fact that it is much easier for developing countries to improve something since the overall level is nowhere near the limit of technology or what can be purchased in terms of infrastructure and other government services?
That’s an unlikely explanation given that living conditions in the west are actually declining for majority of the people.
That doesn’t really contradict my hypothesis at all. If anything that would be an additional data point to support the idea that it is difficult to improve things in a significant enough way that it leads to trust in the government.
Except it’s not difficult at all to improve things, and most people understand that their lives are getting worse because the government that serves the interests of the oligarchs has no interest in improving things.
From the slide deck (which is well worth a read IMO), "The Trust Index is the average percent trust in NGOs, business, government and media. ". The same deck indicates that government is seen as, “as Far Less Competent and Ethical than Business.” So what this really tells me is that business (as a whole) is doing a FAR better job of marketing/PR than governments are, which is to be expected I suppose.
Interesting that countries where it’s dangerous to speak out against government institutions show the citizens answering the survey by saying what those those same institutions would want them to say.
Idk about you but as a Canadian in the US I feel like it’s dangerous to speak out against the US-backed genocide in Gaza.
GOP Presidential Candidates Threaten to Revoke Visas From Pro-Palestine Students
In a two-party system when one party will seek to deport me for speaking out, it’s not exactly the bastion of free speech you make it out to be.
