Strained Social Capital

Declining trust in government and limited progress in public sector integrity pose risks to social cohesion and effective governance.

Themes

Authenticity and Transparency Reign Supreme , Navigating Global Uncertainty , The Power of Community and Connection

Timeframe

near-term

Subcategories

Governance & Policy Social Cohesion

Impact areas

governance Public trust Social Cohesion

Detailed Analysis

Social capital, essential for societal resilience and effective governance, shows signs of strain. Declining trust in government, coupled with limited progress in addressing public sector corruption, could erode public confidence in institutions and hinder collective action. These trends warrant close monitoring and proactive measures to strengthen social cohesion and rebuild trust.

Context Signals

No OECD country has significantly improved perceived public sector integrity since 2019 Government stakeholder engagement in regulatory processes has shown limited progress Trust in others has remained stagnant in most OECD countries

Edge

Promoting transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in government decision-making can help rebuild trust. Addressing corruption and promoting ethical conduct in the public sector are crucial for restoring public confidence. Investing in civic education and fostering a sense of shared identity can strengthen social cohesion.

Click to access the source report

Tune in
to all the
TRENDS

Keywords

governance public trust social cohesion

in 2023, on average 48% of people across the OECD said they trust their national government · a higher share than pre-pandemic levels, but a decline from its peak in the early years of the COVID-19 crisis.

Categories for this trend