Accountability and Trust in Government: What’s Next?
During the last four years the need for trustworthy leaders who possess both integrity and courage toaddress societal needs and inequities in the U.S. was highlighted, as has been the need for a trust-worthy government. A global pandemic and weakened economy have made it is highly unlikely that governments across the world will return to the old normal, but where do we go from here? Drawing upon the experience in U.S., I discuss what efforts are needed to rebuild accountability, trustworthy governments, and trust in public institutions across the globe. I discuss what the exercise of accountability involves, and describe how authentic evidence-building may support both accountability and trust-building. I also highlight some challenges and opportunities to build trustworthy government and increase trust in government.