In transparent government we trust: open government data, transparency perception, and public trust in China
Abstract
Despite extensive research on open government data and political trust in Western contexts, less is known about how such reforms shape trust across different levels of government in non-Western countries. We argue that governments in these settings may strategically use open data reforms to signal transparency and thereby enhance political trust, with higher-level governments that lead these reforms more likely to benefit. Using data from China, we find that open government data increases trust in central and county governments, but not in township governments, and that perceived transparency mediates this relationship.
Fields of Study & Subjects
E-Government and Public Services
China's Socioeconomic Reforms and Governance
Ethics and Social Impacts of AI
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Public Management Review
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Pages
- 1–25
- Publication date
- 18 February 2026
- Language
- EN