Corruption erodes social trust more in democracies than in autocracies

This study theorizes and tests two mechanisms—normative amplification and representative contagion—by which corruption erodes generalized social trust more strongly in democracies than in autocracies. Using multilevel analysis of survey data from 62 countries, the authors find that while perceived corruption predicts lower trust universally, the effect is significantly stronger in democracies. The findings highlight an asymmetric vulnerability: the accountability structures central to democratic functioning also make democratic social capital uniquely fragile to corruption.