The uncertain relationship between transparency and accountability

The concepts of transparency and accountability are closely linked: transparency is supposed to generate accountability. This article questions this widely held assumption. Transparency mobilises the power of shame, yet the shameless may not be vulnerable to public exposure. Truth often fails to lead to justice. After exploring different definitions and dimensions of the two ideas, the more relevant question turns out tobe: what kinds of transparency lead to what kinds of accountability, and under what conditions? The article concludes by proposing that the concept can be unpacked in terms of two distinct variants. Transparency can be either ‘clear’or‘opaque’, while accountability can be either‘soft’or‘hard’

Transparency Pays? Evaluating the Effects of the Freedom of Information Laws on Perceived Government Corruption

<p>About 90 countries have adopted Freedom of Information (FOI) laws with the objective of facilitating citizens’ right to access information on government activities expeditiously. It is argued that FOI laws increase transparency and fix accountability of the government. We provide quantitative evidence on the impact of FOI laws on perceived government corruption. Using panel data for 132 countries over the 1990–2011 period, we find that adopting FOI laws after controlling for self-section bias, is associated with an increase in perceived government corruption driven by an increase in detection of corrupt acts. In fact, FOI laws appear to increase the perception of government corruption if combined with a higher degree of media freedom, presence of NGO activism and political competition. However, the perception of government corruption tends to decline with the duration of FOI law adoption. These findings are robust to controlling for endogeneity using instrumental variables, alternative samples and estimation methods.</p

Internet Security from Diverse Viewpoints

The paper adress security needs and concerns, which are related to the use of the Internet in E-Commerce applications. It reviews recent developments in information technology and analyzes impacts on information providers as well as their intrinsic request for copyright protection. Form a diverse viewpoint these technologies are analyzed from and endusers position and impacts on fundamental privacy principles are identified. Thus crucial issues in latest trends of major vendors in the e-commerce area are observed. Form these statement principle guidelines are formulated, which might provide a helpful base for assessment of future technological developments