Some researchers claim that diverse populations lead to less trust. Generalized trust is a core value that leads to positive outcomes in societies - from greater tolerance of minority groups and immigrants and willingness to do good deeds, to less corruption, more social welfare and education...

Corruption is generally considered to be a curse. It flouts rules of fairness and gives some people advantages that others don't have. Corruption transfers resources from the mass public to the elites - and generally from the poor to the rich (Tanzi, 1998). It acts as an extra tax on citizens,...

Transition countries are short on both trust in people and trust in government. Scarcity and corruption meant that ordinary citizens had to use informal connections to accomplish everyday tasks. Ordinary people also regularly had to make extra quot;giftquot; payments to doctors and government...

The importance of social trust has become widely accepted in the social sciences. A number of explanations have been put forward for the stark variation in social trust among countries. Among these, participation in voluntary associations received most attention. Yet, there is scant evidence...