SINGAPORE: Singapore has moved up to the number two
spot for the most trusting nation in the world, according to the
2013 Edelman Trust Barometer. It was third in 2012 and seventh in
2011.
Edelman, which measured levels of trust in
institutions in 26 countries worldwide, said on Wednesday that
Singapore's total trust score rose by nine points and is three
points more than the global average increase.
Trust levels rose across three of the four
institutions measured -- business (up 11 points), non-governmental
organisations (up 11 points) and government (up 9 points).
At 82 per cent, trust in Singapore government recovered to approach
the 2010 high of 84 per cent.
Trust levels in the media remained stable and high.
Edelman said while the government and business fared well in the
latest trust survey, there remains scepticism about trust in their
leadership.
Only 19 per cent of Singaporeans in the general population trust
business leaders to tell the truth, no matter how complex or
unpopular it is. While trust in government leaders is higher than
in business leaders, there remains room for improvement.
Edelman said the lack of trust in leaders, compared with the
institutions they lead, is a trend in all the markets where trust
was measured. This, it said, points to a common need to increase
transparency at the leadership level.
-CNA/ac