Determinants of Overall Public Trust in Local Government: Meditation of Government Response to COVID-19 in Indonesian Context
Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy
ISSN: 1750-6166
Article publication date: 8 February 2021
Issue publication date: 23 June 2021
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to empirically investigate the relationship of perceived transparency, perceived accountability and perceived responsiveness with overall public trust in local government. Moreover, it addressed the “why” and “how” questions about the existence of this relationship by examining the underlying mechanism of the government response to COVID-19.
Design/methodology/approach
Quantitative research design is applied in the current study. Data was collected from two cities situated in Indonesia via a cross-sectional survey at local administration levels. The final data set of 330 respondents was then analyzed using Smart partial least square (PLS)3 by testing through the measurement and structural model.
Findings
Results revealed positive associations among the study variables. Also, the mediatory role of the government response to COVID-19 was supported by the results.
Originality/value
This study aims to bring awareness and contribution in the body of knowledge about the importance of elements of good governance in building and sustaining public trust in local governments based on the fact that in countries such as Indonesia, there is a dearth of literature in this context. Further, it provides strategic and practical suggestions to the state regarding the advantages of using good governance practices in their communication with citizens in certain and uncertain situations, especially nowadays during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper is part of research report collaboration with funding by Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara with Grant Number: 007-UMSU-02-2020.
Citation
Hartanto, D. and Siregar, S.M. (2021), "Determinants of Overall Public Trust in Local Government: Meditation of Government Response to COVID-19 in Indonesian Context", Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy, Vol. 15 No. 2, pp. 261-274. https://doi.org/10.1108/TG-08-2020-0193
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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