Trust in UK pensions policy: a different approach?

This article discusses the nature of trust and its importance for pensions policy. Trust in the financial services sector has suffered in the face of a 'pensions crisis'. Government's response focuses on 'empowering' consumers through education, information and pensions simplification, to create a domain of 'active trust' (Giddens, 1994). This approach is likely to fail many, and government must focus on rebuilding trust in its own ability to manage long-term pensions policy. It is argued that this should involve a greater role for government as a provider, but in any event the first step is a meaningful dialogue with the public.