Governance evaluation represents a fundamental issue and a critical link in assessing the effectiveness of government governance. It is widely acknowledged that social trust serves as a pivotal factor for effective governance. However, existing research primarily concentrates on the correlation between social trust and objective measures of governance performance, lacking a systematic exploration of how social trust influences governance evaluation and the underlying mechanisms involved. Based on the relevant data from the “2021 China Social Survey (CSS2021),” a quantitative study was conducted on the relationship between three types of social trust of Chinese farmers and their evaluation of grassroots government governance. At the same time, the mediating effect of fairness perception and its sub-dimensions among was explored. The study findings demonstrate that social trust has a positive impact on the evaluation of grassroots government governance in rural China. Specifically, trust in government exerts the most significant influence, highlighting the predominant role of grassroots governments in rural governance in China. Furthermore, fairness perception and its sub-dimensions serve as causal mediators between social trust and the evaluation of governance at the grassroots level, validating the importance of social equity as a primary objective in rural governance. This research unpacks the complex relationship between social trust and the evaluation of grassroots government governance, elucidates the differentiated pathways, and establishes fairness perception and its sub-dimensions as key transmission mechanisms. It provides significant reference for optimizing grassroots government governance strategies and enhancing rural governance effectiveness.

The idleness of rural residential lands (RRLs) has become a universal governance challenge amid global urbanization. In China, revitalizing these dormant assets is particularly critical yet constrained by its unique collective ownership system and a state-dominated institutional environment. To systematically assess the current governance logic, this study transcends traditional single-dimension evaluations by constructing a three-dimensional analytical framework of “policy path–policy tool–policy effectiveness.” Employing the content analysis method, the PMC-Index model, and the coupling coordination degree model, we quantitatively evaluated 22 central and local RRL revitalization policies issued between 2019 and 2024. The results indicate that (1) The policy path forms a logical “goal–resource–process–guarantee” linkage; however, it lacks regional adaptability and exhibits a characteristic of “strong administration but weak participation.” (2) Policy tools present a structural contradiction: supply-oriented tools are overused, demand-oriented tools lack adequate market orientation, and environmental tools rely heavily on rigid regulatory constraints, reflecting a systemic tendency to “emphasize control over guidance.” (3) Despite these structural imbalances, the overall design quality and effectiveness of the policies remain relatively high. There is a strong coupling coordination among the three dimensions, with the richness of the path design acting as the primary driver of policy effectiveness. To optimize future governance, policymakers should establish a dynamic calibration mechanism for policy instruments and construct a hierarchical, differentiated policy path. These findings not only clarify China’s institutional reform trajectory but also provide transferable empirical insights for rural land governance globally.