Contents

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents v
3. Preface ix
4. Introduction: The Decline of Confidence in Government 1
5. PART ONE The Scope and Performance of Government
6. One. The Evolving Scope of Government 19
7. Two. Measuring the Performance of Government 55
8. Three. Fall from Grace: The Public’s Loss of Faith in Government 77
9. PART TWO. The Menu of Explanations
10. Four. Is It Really the Economy, Stupid? 109
11. Five. Social and Cultural Causes of Dissatisfaction with U.S. Government 133
12. Six. The Polarization of American Parties and Mistrust of Government 155
13. Seven. The Politics of Mistrust 179
14. PART THREE. Data on Public Attitudes Toward Governance
15. Eight. Changing Attitudes in America 203
16. Nine. Postmateralist Values and the Erosion of Institutional Authority 217
17. Ten. Public Trust and Democracy in Japan 237
18. Conclusion: Reflections, Conjectures, and Puzzles 253
19. Notes 283
20. Contributors 325
21. Index 329