Sociologický časopis / Czech Sociological Review 2022, 58(2): 119-150 | DOI: 10.13060/csr.2022.016

The Temporary Increase in Trust in Government and Compliance with Anti-pandemic Measures at the Start of the Covid-19 Pandemic

Aleš Kudrnáč1, Jan Klusáček2
1 Umeå university, Umeå
2 Sociologický ústav AV ČR, v. v. i., Praha

Public support for government institutions tends to increase in the face of threats such as armed conflict, terrorism, or natural disasters. This phenomenon, known as the 'rally-'round-the-flag' effect, has also been observed as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic in many countries. Citizens' trust in the government's good intentions and ability to handle a crisis is very important, as it gives government the legitimacy to take strong measures. High trust in government also increases citizens' willingness to comply with these measures. The aim of this study is to examine the 'rally-'round-the-flag' effect in the Czech Republic, analyse the characteristics related to the increase in trust in government, and test the relationship between trust in government and compliance with anti-pandemic measures. The analysis uses data from five waves of the Czech Household Panel Study (2016–2020) and finds a dramatic increase in trust in government in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. A relatively higher increase in trust in government was observed among people with a low level of education and low social trust. Overall, however, the rise in trust in government is more of a general tendency across society than it is an increase in one specific group of the population. Trust in government is also linked to compliance with anti-pandemic measures.

Keywords: Covid-19, trust in government, health, 'rally-'round-the-flag' effect

Received: September 10, 2021; Revised: March 21, 2022; Accepted: March 22, 2022; Prepublished online: April 27, 2022; Published: May 16, 2022  Show citation

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Kudrnáč, A., & Klusáček, J. (2022). The Temporary Increase in Trust in Government and Compliance with Anti-pandemic Measures at the Start of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Sociologický časopis / Czech Sociological Review, 58(2), 119-150. doi: 10.13060/csr.2022.016
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