Trust during troubled times: Evidence from Sierra Leone's Ebola epidemic

Existing literature provides evidence that crises can considerably impact public trust. However, research on these dynamics in lower-income and postconflict countries like Sierra Leone is limited. Using nationally representative survey data and district-level Ebola infection data, herein, we examine the relationship between the Ebola epidemic and various measures of government trust. Our analysis, which employs propensity score matching and other techniques, reveals a notable decline in trust among individuals exposed to the outbreak. Our estimates indicate that individual perceptions of trust in government and other government entities decreased by 11.6%–33.6% following the Ebola epidemic. This relationship is driven by factors such as perceived poor performance in epidemic response management and healthcare service provision. These findings contribute to our understanding of the intricate correlation between these variables and the importance of taking proactive measures to mitigate the detrimental effects of epidemics on government–citizen relations. • We study the impact on trust in government during the Ebola epidemic. • An erosion of trust in government exists after the Ebola epidemic. • Inefficient health services and corruption are underlying mechanisms. • Policies to improve healthcare and transparency postepidemic are suggested.