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Institutional Trust and Subjective Well-Being in Post-Soviet Countries

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  • Egamberdiev, Bekhzod
  • Bobojonov, Ihtiyor
  • Kuhn, Lena

Abstract

Post-Soviet countries have still been experiencing a transition in governance and institutional performance. However, such transitions are not always explained by citizens' high institutional trust, reflecting on their subjective well-being. One of the objectives of the study is to identify a typology of institutional trust using a post-Soviet context. We use the Life in Transition dataset by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for twelve transitional countries. We apply a three-step approach for Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) in the estimation strategy. Using LPA with 11-item scale questions for subjective well-being, we obtain “Low Satisfaction”, “Medium Satisfaction”, and “High Satisfaction” homogenous profiles. Using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with 14 personal statements, we also measure institutional trust towards the performance of institutions. The relationship between institutional trust and life satisfaction profiles indicates that the "Medium Satisfaction" and "High Satisfaction" classes, compared to the "Low Satisfaction" profiles, are positively associated with higher institutional trust. We also analyse the effect of institutional trust on life satisfaction through corruption. The findings confirm a positive effect of institutional trust on life satisfaction.

Suggested Citation

  • Egamberdiev, Bekhzod & Bobojonov, Ihtiyor & Kuhn, Lena, 2025. "Institutional Trust and Subjective Well-Being in Post-Soviet Countries," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 67(4), pages 779-805.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:espost:335116
    DOI: 10.1057/s41294-025-00259-z
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    JEL classification:

    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • J17 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Value of Life; Foregone Income
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • P20 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - General

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