EDELMAN TRUST BAROMETER

PRELIMS BITS

• Purpose: An annual survey to measure public trust in government, business, media, and NGOs.
• Started by: Edelman, a global communications firm, in 2001.
• Key Highlights:
  1. Business is the most trusted institution in recent years, seen as ethical and competent.
  2. Government trust is declining due to inaction on global issues like inequality and climate change.
  3. Media faces distrust due to misinformation and perceived bias.
  4. Growing polarization of trust between elites and the general population.
• Significance:

• • Helps identify public expectations from institutions.
  • Encourages transparency, accountability, and societal leadership by businesses and governments.

Edelman Trust Barometer 2024: India’s Position

• Overview: The annual Edelman Trust Barometer was released ahead of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. This survey, conducted across 28 countries, evaluates public trust in key societal institutions—government, media, business, and NGOs.
• Key Findings for India:
  1. Global Ranking: India has slipped to 3rd place in terms of overall trust, behind China and Indonesia, particularly among the low-income population.
  2. High-Income Group: Among the high-income population, India ranks 4th in trust across institutions.
  3. General Trust: Overall, India ranked 13th globally in terms of trust in government, businesses, media, and NGOs.

Implications:

• India remains relatively trusted, especially in high-income groups, but there is a noticeable decline in trust among lower-income groups.
• India’s position reflects a growing divide in trust across different socioeconomic groups, which may require focused efforts to restore confidence across all sections of society.