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Social implications of Covid-19: Its impact on general trust, political trust, and trust in physicians in China

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  • Liu, Ning
  • Bao, Guoxian
  • Wu, Shaolong

Abstract

Motivated by current debates over the relationship between epidemic and trust, this paper estimates the short-term effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on general trust, political trust, and trust in physicians in China. Using an individual-level national longitude dataset, results from the Difference-in-Difference estimation show that greater exposure to Covid-19 risks significantly decreased general and political trust among the Chinese population, except for the younger generation (age 8–22). Higher exposure to Covid-19 in malleable ages of trust formation (age 8–22) may worsen individuals’ general trust but improve their trust in local officials and physicians. Results from heterogeneity tests reveal that Covid-19 exacerbated general trust among the vulnerable groups, whereas their political trust was stable.

Suggested Citation

  • Liu, Ning & Bao, Guoxian & Wu, Shaolong, 2023. "Social implications of Covid-19: Its impact on general trust, political trust, and trust in physicians in China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 317(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:317:y:2023:i:c:s0277953622009352
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115629
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