The Edelman Trust Barometer, a survey that has been conducted for twenty years to gauge trust in governments, media, business, and NGOs, has revealed increasing trust in autocratic states such as China. Despite concerns about its commitment to social fairness, the business sector has maintained strong levels of trust globally, attributed to its efforts in developing vaccines and adapting to changes in the workplace and retail practices. Richard Edelman, of the Edelman communications group which published the survey based on interviews with over 36,000 respondents in 28 countries between Nov 1-24 of the previous year, noted a decline in trust in democracies. He emphasized the importance of economic confidence, with high levels of concern about job losses due to the pandemic or automation. In the past year, public trust in institutions has decreased in several countries such as Germany, Australia, the Netherlands, South Korea, and the United States. However, trust in institutions in China, the United Arab Emirates, and Thailand has increased. Despite the trillions of dollars spent by wealthy nations to support their economies during the pandemic, there is still a lack of lasting confidence. In Japan, only a small percentage of people believe they will be better off in the future, while in China and India, a majority are optimistic about their economic prospects. Edelman stated that the higher levels of public trust in China are not just based on economic beliefs but also on a sense of predictability in Chinese policy, especially during the pandemic. He mentioned that there is a consistency between actions and words in China, which has resulted in better control of COVID compared to the US. The latest Edelman survey reflects previous findings of growing dissatisfaction with capitalism, political leaders, and the media. Concerns about "fake news" have reached record highs, with 75% of respondents globally worried about its use as a weapon. Climate change has become a significant concern among society, now ranking just below unemployment. Business leaders are feeling pressure to align their actions with their beliefs and values, with many making decisions based on this. However, a sizable portion believe that businesses need to do more to address climate change, economic inequality, and workforce reskilling.