Generalized Trust in China and the United States, 1989 to 2022

Generalized trust plays a crucial role in economic development and social governance. Using six waves of the World Values Survey from 1989 to 2022, this study employs hierarchical age-period-cohort cross-classified random effects models to examine long-term trends in generalized trust in China, with the US as a comparative reference. The results show that generalized trust increases with age in both societies, though more slowly in China. Period effects indicate an initial decline followed by a subsequent rise in both societies, with China exhibiting lower trust than the US before 2005–2009, but higher levels thereafter. Cohort effects are statistically significant in the US but not in China. Specifically, in the US, generalized trust is significantly higher among cohorts born 1926–1940, and significantly lower among those born 1966–1975. These findings highlight distinct institutional and historical dynamics shaping trust trajectories across societies.