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The comment acknowledges Hardin's ‘Government without trust’ analysis, but raises conceptual issues that point to normative biases and limitations as well as unresolved issues for further trust research: first, Hardin stays within the perceived trustworthiness paradigm. Second, confidence and distrust are no simple alternatives to trust. Third, some of Hardin's assumptions at the system level could be challenged and studied as a matter of system trust. The comment concludes that while trust in government may be overrated, to say it is impossible or unnecessary is overstated.
Guido Möllering (Mon,) studied this question.