Global Trust Levels In Business And Governments

80 percent of people surveyed in 27 markets across the globe distrust their governments, businesses or both, according to Edelman's 2015 Trust Barometer. Looking at several key countries in the survey, distrust is most rampant in Britain, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.

Falling trust levels for 2015 come as little surprise given last year's events. 2014 saw the largest outbreak of Ebola in history, civil war in Ukraine and two mysterious disasters for Malaysia Airlines, amongst others. Trust is higher in developing nations including China and India where 82 percent of respondents in both nations trust their governments.

In Russia, 54 percent of people trust their government compared to 45 percent who trust the business sector. In the United States, however, business comes before government for trust. 60 percent of Americans trust business compared to just 41 percent who trust the government. In countries badly affected by the financial crisis like Spain, it comes as no surprise that trust levels in the government are extremely low - just 26 percent. People are more optimistic about business and it's trusted by 43 percent of people.