Trust in State Authority and Non-State Actors

The ability of the state to maintain trust with its citizens is a challenge in emerging economies. The proposed study examines how perceptions of relative state effectiveness determine a citizen's engagement with state and non-state actors. It does so by introducing a range of "exposure treatments" to individuals in Pakistan, a country that offers an excellent study context. The treatments vary from information provision about positive state and non-state initiatives to facilitated access to state initiatives. The study tests whether these interventions change a citizen's beliefs and attitudes towards state and non-state actors and whether this in turn impacts the citizens’ engagement with each actor. These ideas raise the possibility of a two-way feedback between the effectiveness of the state and citizens' attitudes towards it.