Abstract: This research investigated the importance of social capital and public trust in Nordic governments' decision-making during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social capital or trust is a valuable yet difficult asset for governments to acquire. By examining the level of public trust in the government, one can understand the level of social resilience and tolerance of the people of a country towards the government's decisions in critical situations. If this capital is substantial, the government can rely on it to make difficult decisions with fewer challenges, as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research method in this article is quantitative and qualitative with an interpretive approach to the available statistical data and their investigation in the conceptual framework of the research, which was the conceptual model of Nordic development. The findings showed that social capital plays an essential role in the decision-making process of governments. The governments of the Nordic countries made complex decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic. They faced fewer challenges due to the citizens' social trust, which made the governments better be able to allocate financial resources to different sectors, especially the welfare. Considering that these government decisions were in line with the public interest, they were welcomed by the people. A fact that was facilitated by the people's trust in the government. More empirical research is needed to measure the different dimensions of social capital in Nordic countries and its multifaceted benefits in those societies.Abstract: This research investigated the importance of social capital and public trust in Nordic governments' decision-making during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social capital or trust is a valuable yet difficult asset for governments to acquire. By examining the level of public trust in the government, one can understand the level of social resilience and tolera...Show More
