In the wake of a recession that saw large, global companies such as Lehman Brothers, General Motors, and AIG collapse, trust in business imploded. Government stepped in with bailouts and new regulations. But in 2011, government became paralyzed by the politics of extremism and endless haggling—and the public lost confidence.

For more on the State of Trust:

Credibility of Gov’t Officials, CEOs Plummets

Japan and the Fragility of Trust

Social Media Surges as Skepticism Rises