Government Trust in a Time of Crisis: Survey Evidence at the Beginning of the Pandemic in China

China adopted rigorous lockdowns and restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19 from 23 January to 8 April 2020. Although the quarantine severely limited people’s freedom and caused multiple secondary disasters, most Chinese citizens tolerated it. Based on an online survey conducted at the beginning of the lockdown (from 31 January to 4 February 2020), we argue that local governments in many parts of the country gained more trust than usual, narrowing the trust gap with the central government. In the early stage of the pandemic, effective implementation of anti-COVID policies, official media propaganda, and public expectation all contributed to the public’s increased confidence in local governments.