Social Credit Score for Public Administration in the US?

Research Topic and Question

The topic for this research would be the potential implications of introducing a social credit score system in the US.

The research question would be: What are the potential impacts for society and for public administration of introducing a social credit score system in the US?

Empirical Research

The concept of a social credit score, which evaluates citizens based on their behavior, trustworthiness, and societal contributions, has been implemented in countries like China. One thing that Liu (2022) found was that only those who have trust in the public administration are likely to support social credit score policies. Those, on the other hand, who do not have trust in government are likely to see a social credit score system as emblematic of government overreach and of totalitarianism. The ramifications of these perceptions could have very serious political and administrative effects.

According to Liu (2019), the purpose of the social credit scoring system is that it aims to promote trustworthiness and good behavior among citizens, and that it also aims to prevent and deter untrustworthy or bad behavior by using what might be called excessive public monitoring of peoples actions and behaviors (like whether they adhere to all laws such as crossing a street at crosswalks or paying their bills on time or things like that). However, critics argue that such systems can infringe on individual rights and freedoms by restricting a persons ability to commit minor infractions or make judgement calls about ones personal risk or safety or to use subjective judgements that the system does not take into consideration very well (Mac Sthigh & Siems, 2019). Among such critics there is evidently concern about privacy rights as well, plus whether truly has the freedom of expression to question government actions, as well as the potential for misuse of power with respect to the rule of law established in the US, where distrust is already running high (Von Blomberg, 2020).

Thus, the "so what" aspect of this research is clear: understanding the potential implications of a social credit score in the US is important. It can help public administrators better understand how to approach their roles, as other countries try to implement policies and practices that may be effective at curtailing unwanted behavior but that also go against the grain of free-world thinking in the US. This research could be a guide for policymakers in making decisions that balance societal benefits with the American love of individual rights. The research could also be useful in shedding light on whether such a system would be compatible with...…to Mac Sthigh and Siems (2019) and Von Bloomberg (2020), these impacts can be understood through a series of indicators. One such indicator is the level of public trust in the government. A social credit system might support this trust, if people feel that everyone is held to a standard of behavior, or it might erode it, if peoples perceptions are that the government is engaging in totalitarian overreach and is misusing its power to restrict peoples rights. Another important indicator is the perception of peoples freedom of expression. With a system in place that monitors and potentially penalizes certain behaviors (like anti-government sentiment or expressions on social media), people might feel less free to express dissenting opinions or engage in actions (like organizing or protesting) if they will negatively affect their score. Privacy concerns are also an issue. The data collection required for such a system could lead to apprehensions about how personal information is used and who has access to it. Lastly, societal cohesion, or the sense of unity and mutual trust among members of a society, could be influenced. While the system might promote certain societal norms, it could also lead to divisions or stigmatization based on scores. Each of these indicators provides a comprehensive lens to understand the broader implications of such a…