In the Mayor We Trust? Trust as the Micro-Foundation of Complementary Politico-Administrative Relations in Local Governments

TY - JOUR

T1 - In the Mayor We Trust? Trust as the Micro-Foundation of Complementary Politico-Administrative Relations in Local Governments

AU - Grøn, Caroline Louise Howard

AU - Salomonsen, Heidi Houlberg

PY - 2019/4/1

Y1 - 2019/4/1

N2 - This article investigates trust between politicians and public officials in local government. Beginning with Svara’s claim that such relations are characterized by complementarity, we point to the importance of trust as the micro foundation for these relationships. Applying a mixed-methods strategy, we investigate a number of factors we expect to be related to the level of trust between politicians and public officials, as perceived by the latter. We find that the communication climate and a clear distribution of tasks correlate positively with trust, whereas an unstable environment correlates negatively with trust.

AB - This article investigates trust between politicians and public officials in local government. Beginning with Svara’s claim that such relations are characterized by complementarity, we point to the importance of trust as the micro foundation for these relationships. Applying a mixed-methods strategy, we investigate a number of factors we expect to be related to the level of trust between politicians and public officials, as perceived by the latter. We find that the communication climate and a clear distribution of tasks correlate positively with trust, whereas an unstable environment correlates negatively with trust.

KW - complementarity

KW - local governments

KW - politicians

KW - public officials

KW - trust

U2 - 10.1177/0095399718791541

DO - 10.1177/0095399718791541

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85053331467

SN - 0095-3997

VL - 51

SP - 581

EP - 606

JO - Administration & Society

JF - Administration & Society

IS - 4

ER -