Ethics and Public Trust: Results from a National Survey

Abstract

Is the public more likely to trust an ethical administration? Does ethical behavior by civil servants influence public trust? This article empirically examines the relationship between administrative ethics and public trust. A model is developed linking the ethical behaviors of public organizations to citizen trust as perceived by managers. The model is tested with data from a survey of cities in the United States. The results show that there are higher perceptions of trust in cities where there are higher perceptions of ethical behaviors. The study indicates that an effective strategy to improve trust should emphasize honest behavior by employees, encourage employee openness, and promote organizational and individual loyalty to the public interest.