International Social Science Journal (Chinese Edition)

No.4, 2019

 

What enhances the right to information? A cross-national examination of legal, technological, and administrative influences (Abstract)

 

Taewoo Nam

 

This study examines the influence of legal arrangements (freedom of information legislation), technological advancements (e-government), and administrative capacity (government effectiveness) on the right to information with a cross-country view. To that end, it uses various global indicators. A regression-based analysis reveals that legal guarantees and e-government do not significantly influence the extent to which the right to information is realised. Freedom of information legislation can offer legal guarantees for the right to information; however, the outcomes in terms of the right to information have not yet been reached for many new adopters of the legislation. While the contribution of e-government to the right to information is also insignificant, a government’s administrative capacity is pivotal to achieving the right to information.