Low Level of Trust Among Chinese People
Trust among people in China dipped to a record low with less than half of respondents to a recent survey feeling that “most people can be trusted” while only about 30 per cent trusted strangers.
The Blue Book of Social Mentality, the latest annual report on the social mentality of China, analysed respondents’ trust toward different people and organisations and drew a conclusion that trust in society is poor. The trust level was 59.7 points out of a full mark of 100 points.
In 2010, the trust level was 62.9 points.
The study, conducted by the Institute of Sociology under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, was based on a survey that asked more than 1,900 randomly selected residents in seven cities including Beijing and Shanghai about their opinions on trust.
The latest poll also found that in China, family members are viewed as the most trustworthy, followed by close friends and acquaintances.
It showed that around 30 per cent of the people polled trusted strangers on the street and about 24 per cent trusted strangers online.
When respondents were asked to name institutions that they generally trust, about 69 per cent said government, 64 per cent public media, 57.5 per cent non-governmental organisations, but only about 52 trusted commercial organisations.
The study also found that mistrust among different social groups, particularly between government officials and ordinary citizens as well as doctors and patients, has grown.
Wang Junxiu, who co-edited the blue book from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the low level of trust in China has led to many problems such as the waste of resources.
To improve trust, Wang urged the government to work harder to ensure all powers are under close watch and punish people who operate scams.
– China Daily/ANN