Key Points:
- India Drops to Third in Global Trust Rankings: India falls to third place in public trust across government, business, media, and NGOs, with Indonesia overtaking it.
- Disparity Between Income Groups: Trust levels vary widely between income groups in India 80% of high-income individuals trust Indian institutions, compared to 65% among the lower-income group.
- Global Trends in Mistrust: Rising fears of discrimination and polarization are driving grievances worldwide, with 6 out of 10 respondents reporting medium to high levels of discontent.
- India’s Business Trust Ranking: India ranks 13th globally for trust in its companies, behind countries like Canada, Japan, and Germany.
- Edelman Trust Barometer Findings: The 25th annual survey reveals global concerns over misinformation, discrimination, and economic fears turning into societal grievances.
Davos, Switzerland: Ahead of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, the 25th annual Edelman Trust Barometer revealed that India has dropped to third place globally in terms of public trust in government, business, media, and NGOs. While India’s overall score remains unchanged from last year, Indonesia overtook it to claim the second spot, with China retaining its position at the top.
The survey, which polled over 33,000 respondents across 28 countries, highlighted a significant disparity in trust levels among India’s income groups. While 80% of high-income respondents trust Indian institutions, only 65% of those in the lower-income group expressed similar confidence.
Global Business Trust Rankings
India also ranked 13th globally in trust in Indian-headquartered companies. Canada leads the rankings for trust in foreign-headquartered companies, followed by Japan, Germany, and the UK. On the other hand, countries like China, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia continue to outperform India in terms of institutional trust across income groups.
UK and Japan Rank Lowest
At the other end of the spectrum, the UK and Japan were ranked the least trusted among the surveyed nations. This reflects a broader global trend of diminishing faith in institutions, particularly among lower-income populations.
Rising Global Concerns
The survey unveiled disturbing global trends, such as a growing acceptance of violence and misinformation as legitimate means to enact change. More than 60% of respondents reported medium to high levels of grievance due to economic fears, societal polarization, and perceived discrimination.
- Fear of discrimination reached a record 63%, cutting across genders, age groups, and income levels.
- The US recorded a sharp 14-point rise in discrimination concerns, particularly among white respondents.
India’s Trust Challenges
In India, trust remains more robust among the high-income group, but the drop to third place indicates mounting challenges in bridging the trust gap between economic classes. Richard Edelman, CEO of Edelman, remarked on the findings, stating, “Over the past decade, society has shifted from fear to polarization, and now to grievances, fueled by economic disparity and misinformation.”
The Road Ahead
As global trust declines, countries like India face the dual challenge of rebuilding confidence among their lower-income populations and addressing broader issues of misinformation and economic inequity. With the WEF annual meeting underway, these findings are likely to dominate discussions on global economic and social policies.
