Happy citizens trust their rulers

Youxing Zhang (), Peter Howley () and Clemens Hetschko ()
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Youxing Zhang: Zhejiang University
Peter Howley: University of Leeds
Clemens Hetschko: University of Leeds

Journal of Population Economics, 2025, vol. 38, issue 3, No 14, 28 pages

Abstract: Abstract Using Chinese panel data, we examine whether citizen well-being impacts the formation of political trust, which is key to regime stability. Through a quasi-experimental method, we demonstrate how an improvement in subjective well-being directly leads to increased political trust. In a supplementary analysis, we also demonstrate how low political trust is predictive of actions that undermine regime stability. These findings suggest that any government, even an authoritarian one, has an incentive to foster the happiness of its citizens.

Keywords: Political trust; Life satisfaction; Social contract; Regime stability; Accountability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D72 D78 H11 I31 P35 P48 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s00148-025-01120-4

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