In the paper, we argue that trust is the missing link relating education, institutions, and economic development. We … argue that increased trust both increases education and improves legal and bureaucratic institutions, which in turn spurs … education and the quality of institutions, and that education and institutions in turn affect GDP per capita. …

We report evidence that trust is the missing root relating education, institutions, and economic development. We … observe that more trust both increases education and improves legal and bureaucratic institutions, which in turn spurs … both education and the quality of institutions, and that education and institutions in turn affect GDP per capita …