Trust and the Rule of Law: A Multilevel Analysis

Frederik Gremler

doi:10.22151/politikon.36.3

Authors

Frederik Gremler Zeppelin University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22151/politikon.36.3

Keywords:

crowding out, generalized trust, hierarchical analysis, multilevel analysis, political sociology, rule of law

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between generalized trust and the rule of law on a national level. Previous research has often neglected this issue, instead focusing on related issues of property rights, economic freedom and corruption. Employing multilevel modelling with cross-sectional data from the World Values Survey, Freedom House and other sources, this paper finds that the quality of the rule of law negatively affects levels of generalized social trust. I argue that this is due to laws crowding out trust in social interactions as a mechanism of guaranteeing fulfillment of expectations. However, severe restrictions caused by possible endogeneity and validity of the rule of law measure utilized apply.

Author Biography

Frederik Gremler, Zeppelin University

Frederik Gremler, 22, from Dortmund (Germany), is a recent graduate of Zeppelin University Friedrichshafen with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology, Politics and Economics. His paper “Generalized Trust and Rule of Law” is strongly based on research for his bachelor’s thesis. The investigation shows his penchant for the nexus of quantitative methods, sociology and comparative political studies. As of October 2017, Frederik is going to pursue his Master’s degree in political science and administration at the University of Konstanz, Germany.