When the economic system seems rigged, and some people get much more than others, trust erodes. Income inequality has many roots, but one of them is a capitalistic flavor of individualism that tilts tax and government policy toward an “everyone for themselves” attitude. Lack of trust can also come from the move away from social rules that stems from individualism; although individualism teaches respect for others’ differences, it can also promote a “me first” mentality that disregards others’ preferences and can lead to distrust.
