Administrative Culture and Citizen Trust: Comparative Analysis of U.S.–Denmark disparities and their Implications for India

Abstract

Administrative ethics and political culture are pivotal in shaping the quality of governance within democratic systems. This research paper presents a comparative analysis of administrative ethics in Denmark and the USA, employing indicators such as the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) and levels of public trust. The study further extends this analysis to include India. Denmark is recognized as a global leader, characterized by high integrity and strong public confidence. Denmark is the only country in the world to have a data ethics council and the first country to establish science ethics committees and later the Ethical Council. In contrast, the USA demonstrates moderate ethical robustness, with notable concerns regarding political financing. However, India faces more significant challenges related to corruption and institutional enforcement. The inclusion of India provides a contrast between mature Western democracies and a large developing democracy, thereby highlighting differing capacities and reform trajectories. Through an examination of these contrasting democracies, the study identifies institutional trust, historical and administrative cultural factors that influence ethical behaviour among administrators and politicians. The discussion subsequently extends these comparative insights to the Indian context, particularly in relation to the Second Administrative Reforms Commission’s recommendations on ethics in governance. The central thesis posited is that administrative ethics are profoundly shaped by the interplay between institutional design, civic culture and mechanisms of accountability. Building on these findings, the paper also emphasizes the potential of greater decentralization to reduce hierarchical corruption and the role of AI-based systems for fraud detection and risk mapping to strengthen oversight in public administration. These reform directions align with global best practices while addressing India’s systemic vulnerabilities. The paper concludes with policy recommendations aimed at enhancing ethical governance in India through reforms in political funding, electoral adjudication, institutional independence, civic education and transparency. Strengthening RTI mechanisms and expanding proactive disclosure requirements are also essential to reinforcing public accountability.