Evaluating Confidence in Government and its Determining and Contributing Factors: A Case Study of Pakistan using World Value Survey

Abstract

This paper assesses public confidence in the Government of Pakistan and examines the key factors influencing this confidence, as identified in existing literature. Using data from the 7th wave of the World Values Survey (2017–2020), the analysis is conducted in two stages. First, Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping is employed to visualize the spatial distribution of average confidence levels across multiple dimensions, including trust in government, armed forces, judiciary, democratic and religious political systems, business ownership preferences, and overall happiness. The subsequent part of the study employs ordered-logistic regression analysis to quantify coefficient values corresponding to the determinants and contributing factors of confidence levels. These coefficients are extrapolated as mean values representative of the entire nation. Furthermore, the study generates average marginal effects of the variables, which aid in interpreting the coefficients in terms of probabilities. The study's findings underscore the pivotal role of public institutions in fostering substantial government confidence. Key determinants such as public institute confidence, income levels, education, health, life and job security, political engagement, happiness, life satisfaction, and perceptions about corruption all significantly influence and contribute to the public's confidence in the government.