By Daniel Costello

Ever lost your wallet and wonder what's the chance you'll get it back? The answer may depend on where you live.

According to a recent nationwide poll from Gallup, how much we trust our neighbors varies greatly across states. Utah and South Dakota residents are the most likely to express trust in those who live nearby -- with 85% in these states saying they would expect a neighbor who found a lost wallet or purse containing $200 to return it. Residents of Nevada and Mississippi are the least likely to express such trust, at 60% and 61%, respectively. In all states, a majority of residents would expect a lost purse or wallet to be returned.

The bottom line: 70% of Americans express trust in their neighbors but trust varies greatly across regions. A number of Western and Midwestern states, along with states with smaller populations, top the list of high-trust places, whereas Southern and highly populated states are more prevalent on the low-trust list.

Also interesting is that trust and well being may be linked. Scores by state reveal evidence of a link between social trust and well-being. States in which high percentages of respondents said "yes" to the wallet question also tend to have higher levels of overall well-being.

categories: Fun With Economics

2:11 - November 3, 2009

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