Trustworthiness costs less to build than what it saves – and far less than what it creates.
The hidden economics of trust
What's Really Happening
Trustworthiness is not a moral cost; it is an economic advantage.
Why This Matters
Evidence consistently shows that low trust quietly inflates costs – through duplication, oversight, delay, and defensive behaviour. These costs are rarely labelled as “trust”, yet they shape performance every day. Trustworthy systems reduce these hidden taxes while enabling discretionary effort, collaboration, and long-term value creation. In our experience, this pattern holds across sectors and scales.
What To Address
Identify where low trust currently drives:
excessive controls or approvals
duplicated checks
defensive reporting
Then redesign those points with clarity, accountability, and fairness.
What Improves
Lower operational overhead
Improved speed and quality
Higher return on human effort
The Takeaway
Trustworthiness is one of the highest-return investments available.
