Studying the level of trust in regional authorities

Abstract

The absence or low level of trust in regional authorities hinder the development of the country’s economy. Building trust is a long-term objective and largely depends on the region’s educational environment, especially the university one, which should nurture human resources. The study aims to establish the level of trust in the institutions of higher education, healthcare and regional authorities in the educational environment of Chelyabinsk oblast (Russia). The theory of spatial development, cultural and institutional theories of trust constitute the theoretical framework of the study. The methods of ranging and grouping, as well as correlation analysis were applied. Empirical evidence is obtained through the survey of 382 respondents working in the field of higher education in Chelyabinsk oblast. In the paper, we determine the level of their trust in the institutions of education, healthcare, regional and municipal authorities. Among students, lecturers and other university employees, the highest and the lowest levels of trust were recorded in educational institutions and regional and municipal authorities, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed the relationship between trust and possible factors in its formation within each institution under study. It was found that this relationship was not universal either in the context of respondents’ categories or trust forms. The paper provides recommendations for regional and municipal authorities focused on increasing the confidence in their activities and, as a result, enhancing their effectiveness.