Comment on “How Inequality Affects Trust in Institutions: Evidence from Indonesia”

Suryahadi et al. (2022) is an ambitious and innovative paper. Highlighting the importance of trust as a key ingredient in process economic political development, authors examine impact inequality on trust, by extension institutions, at village district levels Indonesia. The paper has several distinctive features. First, carefully disaggregate concept into economic, social, (“the state”) dimensions, plausibly conjecturing that each these may have different behavioral relationships to variables interest. Second, analysis also geographically disaggregated. This adds richness study given Indonesia world's largest archipelagic state. Third, they introduce intermediate variable analysis, education, finding more highly educated individuals' state institutions sensitive higher inequality. authors' main conclusions are reassuring. In general, high (Suryahadi al.'s figures 2 3), some cases arguably than might been expected, mostly rising. Not surprisingly, particularly for social ties. Evidently, respondents least trusting only toward “strangers.” Financial enjoy trust; one surmise absence any major bank crashes this century contribute finding. Trust governments civil service very high, approaching 80% 2018. perhaps little unexpected endless “coffee shop” discussions corruption. Nevertheless, discussing their figure 5 add important qualifier, “lower does not pertain like elections or parliament, but apparatus.” exceptions conclusion include across religious communities, surprise view country's occasional tensions, decline press media, which global phenomenon era proliferating “fake news.” comparatively interest Indonesia's outcomes. Historically expenditure was moderately low, it risen significantly much century. therefore, conclude keeping “in check” healthy institutional development. I comments fine paper, be explored future work subject. would interesting set out analytical “priors,” what hypothesize likely relationships. For example, had episodes quite serious conflict over past 50 years, including ongoing unrest two Papua provinces (which presumably were survey). But generally contained, addition level reported criminality low. passing, both variables, criminality, could introduced analysis. Moreover, fact successfully conducted five national democratic era, is, from 1999 onward, with credible processes outcomes, similarly so (on most occasions) sub-national elections, provides prima facie support recorded trust. And even if people unhappy leadership various tiers government know can vote them next election (as do often). It inferred factor navigating Covid crisis without stress its fabrics. context, document pandemic increased Indonesia, especially workers informal sector. overall effects relatively mild and, importantly, about two-thirds negative mitigated government's protection programs. Connecting paper's central topic, want emphasize significant achievement trust-enhancing outcome, almost continuous reduction head count poverty since 1970s, apart during Asian financial crisis. A second questions relate World Value Survey (WVS) data, employed generate original empirical contribution. Indonesian WVS data obtained interviews 3200 adults, who dispersed identified gender, age, location (urban/rural). those (like reviewer) used brief commentary origins construction helpful. how collected (phone, internet, face-to-face interviews), interviewers, well potentially value-laden concepts travel international boundaries, developed developing countries? great subnational diversity, explore whether there spatial variations relationship between differ densely-settled, industrialized Java districts lightly-settled, resource-rich, remote regions, where personal connections assumed important. sample size large enough undertake such case employ island dummies.