Assessing the Determinants of Trust in Public Institutions in Botswana : A Multilevel Linear Model Approach

Abstract

This article examines factors that explain trust in public institutions in Botswana and factors that explain trust in public institutions. The Afrobarometer surveys from 2008 to 2014 show a decline in public institutional trust in Botswana even though the country is considered a hub for good governance in Africa. Using Afrobarometer survey data, the article employs multilevel analysis to assess factors that explain trust in public institutions. The findings indicate that education, satisfaction with democracy and perceptions of corruption are significant factors in explaining trust in public institutions. The article argues that while Botswana’s democratic credentials are undisputed, citizens are increasingly becoming too critical of public institutions.