Public trust declines as economic anxiety deepens, survey finds

Public trust is in decline as economic anxiety and pessimism about social mobility cause people to retreat into narrower social and political camps, according to the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer.

Seven in 10 respondents globally say they are unwilling or hesitant to trust people with different values or information sources. This “insularity” is most pronounced in advanced economies, including Japan, Germany and the UK, and cuts across age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds. 

Economic insecurity is a key factor, as two-thirds of employees worry that trade policies and tariffs will harm their employer, while many low- and middle-income respondents fear they will miss out on the benefits of generative artificial intelligence. Only 32 per cent believe the next generation will be better off, with optimism particularly weak in France, Germany, Canada and the US.

According to the report, confidence in institutions is declining as anxiety heightens. Low-income respondents rate institutions as far less competent and ethical than high earners, widening a mass–class trust gap that has more than doubled since 2012. Trust has fallen most sharply in national governments and major news organisations, while it has risen for employers, colleagues and neighbours.

Richard Edelman, the consultancy’s chief executive, said societies had moved “from fear to polarisation to grievance and now to insularity”, with people prioritising familiarity over compromise.

This shift brings economic consequences, too. Rising nationalism is undermining support for multinationals, with more than a third of respondents favouring fewer foreign companies in their home markets, even at the cost of higher prices. 

Employers stand out as one of the few institutions still trusted, particularly by their own staff. Yet Edelman warns that the sink into insularity may deepen without improvements in economic confidence and credible leadership.