Transparency and government trust

Trust is essential for democracies, for it enhances the legitimacy of governments by linking citizens, their institutions and politicians (Godefroidt, Langer and Meuleman, 2017). Besides, trust is considered a solution to many current social problems, including the lack of confidence stemming from the crisis in democratic governance (Choi and Woo, 2016). An appropriate level of confidence in institutions is essential for democratic governance (Yang and Holzer, 2006). In addition, public trust in the government is not only important for citizens, but also for public officials, since it is essential that they receive the necessary support for implementation of public policies (Gordon, 2000)