Introduction
Governments are under increasing pressure to open up to public scrutiny, to be more accessible to the people who elected them
and more responsive to their demands and needs. Indeed, an open government that meets all these requirements is increasingly
recognised as an essential ingredient for democratic governance, social stability and economic development.
From the public’s point of view, an open government is one where businesses, civil society organisations (CSOs) and citizens can “know things” – obtain relevant and understandable information; “get things” – obtain services from and undertake transactions with the government; and “create things” – take part in decision-making processes.
The principles of good governance – transparency and accountability; fairness and equity; efficiency and effectiveness; respect for the rule of law; and high standards of ethical behaviour – represent the basis upon which to build open government.
This Policy Brief looks at how OECD countries have responded to growing demands for greater openness, reviews concrete
measures for achieving open government, examines the limits to openness and identifies future challenges.
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- 113Kb ~ 1 min (8 pages)
