Whether to Trust Local Government? : From the Good Governance Perspectives

Abstract

The public's impression of the overall government structure is greatly influenced by the performance of the local governments. As indicated by Public Complaint Bureau statistics, the operational responsibilities that these local authorities are expected to depict have to some extent fallen short of the public expectations. This could have a negative impact on the public's confidence in their local government. As a result, this study aims to investigate the factors associated to public trust in local government. Purposive sampling was used in this quantitative study, which included 120 Kuantan residents as respondents. As a part of this study, the data was analysed using SPSS 24. Transparency, accountability, and responsiveness were found to be strongly connected with public trust in Kuantan City Council. This study adds to the body of knowledge about the components of good governance and the effect they have on public confidence in local government. It is intended that this study would help the local government in Pahang establish a sound public policy and programme in order to increase the public trust.

Reengineering Imperatives for Revamping Public Trust in Zimbabwe’s Local Government

“…The literature has also found a positive relationship between principles of good governance, such as accountability, and trust in government. Many studies have confirmed accountability"s central role in enhancing public trust [33], [40]. In addition, [40] empirical evidence proved that local government accountability positively influences loyalty, which is a mediator variable for public trust.…”

“…Various studies have shown a positive relationship between transparency, citizen participation, responsiveness, and trust in government [33; 39; 38]. As found in [33], transparency is an essential tool in strengthening public trust. Through correlational analysis, they established that transparency (r= 0.792**, p=0.000) and responsiveness (r=0.893**, p=0.000) are significantly correlated with trust among the public [33].…”

“…As rightly mentioned in [6], local governments are key implementers of public policy and decisions in the governance matrix. Local governments are central in creating a conducive living environment for locals [33]. In the era of Sustainable Development Goals, local government is of utmost importance because it plays a central role in enhancing democratic governance and realizing citizens" rights.…”

“…Studies in other countries have shown that the political arm of the government is the least trusted [36]. Additionally, [33] found that councilors" behavior in terms of expending taxpayers" money, being truthful, having regular engagements with the community, justifying decisions, meeting electoral promises and taking responsibility for their mistakes is more important in enhancing trust in local governments. The image of local politicians strongly affects people"s trust in local government [30].…”

“…As found in [33], transparency is an essential tool in strengthening public trust. Through correlational analysis, they established that transparency (r= 0.792**, p=0.000) and responsiveness (r=0.893**, p=0.000) are significantly correlated with trust among the public [33]. The data presented here demonstrate a substantial correlation between transparency and responsiveness and public trust in local government.…”