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Building and Eroding the Citizen–State Relationship in the Era of Algorithmic Decision-Making: Towards a New Conceptual Model of Institutional Trust

Author

Listed:
  • Jaana Parviainen

    (Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, FI-33520 Tampere, Finland)

  • Anne Koski

    (Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, FI-33520 Tampere, Finland)

  • Laura Eilola

    (Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, Tampere University, FI-33520 Tampere, Finland)

  • Hannele Palukka

    (Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, FI-33520 Tampere, Finland)

  • Paula Alanen

    (Faculty of Education and Culture, Tampere University, FI-33520 Tampere, Finland)

  • Camilla Lindholm

    (Department of Finnish, Finno-Ugrian and Scandinavian Studies, University of Helsinki, 4, FI-00100 Helsinki, Finland)

Abstract

In liberal welfare states, algorithmic decision-making systems are being increasingly deployed, impacting the citizen–state relationship in a multitude of positive and negative ways. This theoretical paper aims to develop a novel conceptual model—the institutional trust model—to analyse how the implementation of automated systems erodes or strengthens institutional trust between policymakers and citizens. In this approach, institutional trust does not simply mean public trust in institutions (though it is an important component of democratic societies); instead, it refers to the responsive interactions between governmental institutions and citizens. Currently, very little is known about policymakers’ trust or distrust in automated systems and how their trust or distrust in citizens is reflected in their interest in implementing these systems in public administration. By analysing a sample of recent studies on automated decision-making, we explored the potential of the institutional trust model to identify how the four dimensions of trust can be used to explore the responsive relationship between citizens and the state. This article contributes to the formulation of research questions on automated decision-making in the future, underlining that the impact of automated systems on the socio-economic rights of marginalised citizens in public services and the policymakers’ motivations to deploy automated systems have been overlooked.

Suggested Citation

  • Jaana Parviainen & Anne Koski & Laura Eilola & Hannele Palukka & Paula Alanen & Camilla Lindholm, 2025. "Building and Eroding the Citizen–State Relationship in the Era of Algorithmic Decision-Making: Towards a New Conceptual Model of Institutional Trust," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-20, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:14:y:2025:i:3:p:178-:d:1613921
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. repec:osf:socarx:mwhnb_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Veale, Michael & Brass, Irina, 2019. "Administration by Algorithm? Public Management meets Public Sector Machine Learning," SocArXiv mwhnb, Center for Open Science.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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