| Cross-cultural studies |
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| Topics |
Alow-trust society is defined as one in which interpersonaltrust is relatively low, and sharedethical values are lacking.[1] Conversely, ahigh-trust society is one where interpersonal trust is relatively high, and where ethical values are strongly shared.
According to researchers, low-trust societies are typicallykinship-based;[1] outcomes of low-trust societies can include difficulty in forming and maintaining corporate structures.[2] Mechanisms and institutions that are corrupted, dysfunctional, or absent in low-trust societies include respect for private property rights, a trusted civil court system, democratic voting and acceptance of electoral outcomes, and voluntary tax payment.[3]
Research has identified a correlation betweenlinear-active cultures (i.e. following a daily schedule with a single task at a time)[4] with high-trust societies, andmulti-active cultures (flexible schedules with many tasks at once, often in an unplanned order) with low-trust cultures.[5]
High-trust societies display a high degree of mutual trust not imposed by outside "contractual, legal or hierarchical regulation", but instead are based upon "prior moral consensus".[1] Much writing on the subject refers toFrancis Fukuyama's 1995 book,Trust: Social Virtues and Creation of Prosperity, in which he describes "the ability of various peoples to organize effectively for commercial purposes without relying on blood ties or government intervention".[6]