Good morning! Today, Brazilians don’t trust each other. Facilities run out of Covid tests as Omicron spread outstrips supply. Twitter hits back at prominent pro-Bolsonaro accounts.
Trust is a rare commodity in Brazil
It comes as no surprise that Brazilians don’t trust institutions — surveys have shown that for years. However, a new study published today by the Inter-American Development Bank adds a new dimension to the country’s misgivings: Brazilians don’t trust each other.
- As a matter of fact, Latin America is the region around the world where people are least trustful of their communities — and Brazil has the lowest rates of them all, with less than 5 percent saying they trust other people.
- The lack of trust could be linked to the fact that Latin America is the most unequal region in the world — which may lead people to believe they can only rely on themselves.
Why it matters. Trust “underlies countless interactions that are essential for healthy societies,” says the IDB. When people believe others will always act opportunistically, they become less open to entrepreneurship — which deters innovation, investment, and growth.
- Moreover, it keeps people “from making the collective sacrifices that leave everyone better off.”...