The Origins of Generalized and Political Trust among Immigrant Minorities and the Majority Population in the Netherlands

In this study, we investigate whether differences in generalized and political trust levels between immigrants and natives are related to immigrants’ relatively disadvantaged socio-economic positions in society. We compare trust levels for native Dutch respondents and Turkish and Moroccan minorities, based on the NELLS population survey (2009, n = 4,222). The results demonstrate that there are significant differences between immigrants and natives in the levels of generalized and political trust. Regarding trust in political institutions, however, the initially observed differences could almost fully be attributed to differences in economic position and social resources. We conclude that the economic and social integration of immigrants in society is most clearly associated with native-immigrant differences in political trust, but objective living conditions are also related to immigrants’ generalized trust. Therefore, policies aiming to improve immigrants’ economic and social integration in society will generally be conducive to generalized and political trust levels