Quarterly Journal of Economics Vol. 115 No. 3 2000

Measuring Trust*

Edward L. Glaeser^1,2; David I. Laibson^1,2; José A. Scheinkman³; Christine L. Soutter⁴

¹ National Bureau of Economic Research · ² Harvard University · ³ Princeton University · ⁴ Harvard University Press

Abstract

We combine two experiments and a survey to measure trust and trustworthiness—two key components of social capital. Standard attitudinal survey questions about trust predict trustworthy behavior in our experiments much better than they predict trusting behavior. Trusting behavior in the experiments is predicted by past trusting behavior outside of the experiments. When individuals are closer socially, both trust and trustworthiness rise. Trustworthiness declines when partners are of different races or nationalities. High status individuals are able to elicit more trustworthiness in others.

DOI

10.1162/003355300554926

Volume

115

Issue

3

Pages

811-846

Language

en

Sources

bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

Cite

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