Do Freedom of Information Laws Decrease Corruption?
Journal
The Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization
ISSN
8756-6222
ISSN-Digital
1465-7341
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2014-12
Author(s)
Abstract
International organizations have encouraged countries to adopt Freedom of Information (FOI) laws as a means to increase transparency and thus combat corruption. This paper uses the recent introduction of FOI laws in several countries as a natural experiment to determine their effect on corruption perceptions and the quality of governance. Using different corruption perception indices, both at the macro- and micro-level, I find that countries that adopted FOI laws saw an increase in perceived corruption and a decrease in the quality of governance, rather than the expected improvement. This increase in corruption perception seems to take place in the initial years of the reform, with no significant decrease in the long term. Countries with a free press appear to be the ones experiencing the increase. Results are robust throughout different samples and specifications.
Language
English
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
HSG Profile Area
SEPS - Global Democratic Governance
Refereed
Yes
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Publisher place
Oxford
Volume
29
Number
6
Start page
1317
End page
1343
Pages
27
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
175380