ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author examines the experience of Japan with comparisons to other East Asian countries, notably South Korea. Looking in depth at Japan's experience, she offers a far more compelling explanation—corruption as a source of public mistrust. The author provides answer for this question: Why do corruption and other forms of misconduct on the part of leaders have such dire consequences for public trust? She shows that misconduct by politicians and bureaucrats has been by far the single best predictor of citizen confidence in government. No explanation for citizen disaffection with politics has greater currency among media pundits and political scientists alike than economic malaise. When times are good, the theory holds, citizens credit their leaders with wise economic policies. And deservedly or not, the public also holds leaders responsible for poor economic performance and registers dissatisfaction with government.
