Assessing The Effects of Transparency Laws on Different Political Actors
Transparency is a cornerstone of democratic governance because it allows the public to monitor governmental activity and see which private interests influence the state. Governments worldwide take strides in developing regulations to ensure transparency in governance, as have intergovernmental organisations such as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the European Union (EU), the World Bank, and the Council of Europe. Having more transparency policies developed means that citizens are more likely to have increased knowledge and trust in governments claiming to be ‘transparent'.
Transparency is a cornerstone of democratic governance because it allows the public to monitor governmental activity and see which private interests influence the state. Governments worldwide take strides in developing regulations to ensure transparency in governance, as have intergovernmental organisations such as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the European Union (EU), the World Bank, and the Council of Europe. Having more transparency policies developed means that citizens are more likely to have increased knowledge and trust in governments claiming to be ‘transparent'.
The aim that guides this project includes the development of a public policy-oriented approach to the study of transparency through the policy evaluation of the effects of different transparency laws on the behaviour and attitudes of different political actors.
The aim that guides this project includes the development of a public policy-oriented approach to the study of transparency through the policy evaluation of the effects of different transparency laws on the behaviour and attitudes of different political actors.
To this end, we first surveyed 300 politically active interest groups in Ireland to explore the effects of transparency on the lobbying profession.
To this end, we first surveyed 300 politically active interest groups in Ireland to explore the effects of transparency on the lobbying profession.
Secondly, we collected data on the way journalists use transparency portals thus acting as mediators of transparency.
Secondly, we collected data on the way journalists use transparency portals thus acting as mediators of transparency.
Finally, we conducted a survey experiment on a nationally-representative sample of 1,800 participants (Republic of Ireland) to explore the effects of transparency on political trust and perceived corruption.
Finally, we conducted a survey experiment on a nationally-representative sample of 1,800 participants (Republic of Ireland) to explore the effects of transparency on political trust and perceived corruption.
Our outputs so far (more to come soon):
Our outputs so far (more to come soon):
The Effects of Political Transparency on Political Trust and Perceived Corruption: Evidence from a Survey Experiment.
The Effects of Political Transparency on Political Trust and Perceived Corruption: Evidence from a Survey Experiment.
Information disclosure and political trust during the Covid-19 crisis: experimental evidence from Ireland (find supplementary material here)
Information disclosure and political trust during the Covid-19 crisis: experimental evidence from Ireland (find supplementary material here)
The project is supported by the Irish Research Council (GOIPD/2018/52)
The project is supported by the Irish Research Council (GOIPD/2018/52)
Project team:
Project team:
Michele Crepaz, VC's Illuminate Fellow, Queen's University Belfast
Michele Crepaz, VC's Illuminate Fellow, Queen's University Belfast
Other Collaborators:
Other Collaborators:
Raj Chari, Professor, Trinity College Dublin
Raj Chari, Professor, Trinity College Dublin
Liam Kneafsey, Assistant Professor, Trinity College Dublin
Liam Kneafsey, Assistant Professor, Trinity College Dublin