Luottamus

Luottamus is a Finnish noun that denotes trust, confidence, or reliance placed in people, institutions, or processes. The term derives from the verb luottaa (to trust) and the related noun luotto (trust, credit). In everyday use, luottamus covers interpersonal trust as well as broader forms of trust in institutions, systems, and social norms.

Trust can be categorized into interpersonal trust (the expectation that another person will act in a reliable and benevolent way) and institutional or social trust (the belief that organizations, governments, and media will act competently and honestly). Economic contexts also speak of trust, such as financial trust or trust in markets, which reduces transaction costs and enables cooperation.

Trust is influenced by multiple factors, including perceived integrity, competence, benevolence, and consistency of behavior. It is built through direct experience, reputation, transparency, and shared norms, and it can be damaged by breaches of reliability, misinformation, or corruption. Social capital and norms of reciprocity support higher levels of luottamus within a community.

The concept is central to Finnish social life and public policy discussions, where high levels of trust are linked to cooperation, civic engagement, and effective governance. While luottamus is often discussed in general terms, the word also appears in formal contexts such as law, business, and political discourse, always capturing the idea of reliance on others' actions or commitments.

Translations include trust and confidence; related Finnish words are luottaa (to trust) and luotto (trust, credit).