A recently completed global public opinion poll reveals that trust in global companies and national governments has rebounded to levels not seen since the start of 2001. Trust is the single largest driver of public attitude on a whole range of issues from globablization to terrorism to the role of governments. Trust also is a prime driver of corporate and country brands. As goes trust, so goes the world.
~Doug Miller, President of Globescan - April 1, 2004 - derived from 19,000 in person or telephone interviews with citizens across 20 countries conducted between November 03 and February 04.
Commenting on the poll's findings, Michel Ogrizek, Managing Director, Head of Communications at the World Economic Forum, said, "At our Annual Meeting 2003 in Davos, the Forum chose TRUST as our theme because we saw what we called "the public trust deficit" as a worrying and urgent challenge. The fact that trust in global companies has rebounded to pre-Enron levels and trust in governments has returned to pre-September 11 levels suggests that important progress has been achieved. However, companies and governments cannot be cheered by simply returning to historically low levels of trust. Further, rebuilding public trust must continue to pre-occupy leaders in both business and public life. Corporate responsibility initiatives and public-private partnerships can play key roles."