Governance

Background

Today, more than ever, citizens demand greater transparency from their governments. Information on the who, why and how of decision making is essential to hold government to account, maintain confidence in public institutions and support a level playing field for business. Greater transparency is not only key to upholding integrity in the public sector, it also contributes to better governance. Indeed, openness and transparency can ultimately improve public services by minimising the risk of fraud, corruption and mismanagement of public funds.

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. Across OECD countries, 56% of citizens say they trust their political institutions.

Voter Turnout

High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. Voter turnout is defined as the percentage of the registered population that voted during an election. High voter turnout is desirable in a democracy because it increases the chance that the political system reflects the will of a large number of individuals, and that the government enjoys a high degree of legitimacy.

In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout averaged 72% in OECD countries. Voter turnout has generally declined in the last generation, especially in the Czech and Slovak Republics, Korea and the United States. Only four countries have experienced higher voter turnout with the younger generation: Australia, Luxembourg, Mexico and Spain. Research has also shown that more educated people are more likely to vote than less educated ones, and that older people are more likely to vote than younger ones.

Voter participation is currently the best existing means to measuring civic and political engagement for several reasons (high quality data, cross-country comparability). However, this measure is far from ideal, in particular because of institutional differences in electoral systems.

While voter turnout is indeed compulsory (and strongly enforced) in several countries, it is nevertheless a useful measure of citizen engagement. In the context of the Better Life Index, voter turn-out measures how civic engagement contributes to the well-being of people and the society. From this perspective, high voter turnout reflects the will of a very large number of individuals (irrespective of what actually drives high participation).

Consultation on Rule-Making

Transparency in communication and open access to regulations promotes government accountability,  a business-friendly environment and public trust in government institutions. Indeed, a country's regulations contain much information about how a society is organised, the rules of the game and the political decisions taken. If citizens can readily access and understand regulations, it is more likely that they will participate in the legislative process and comply with the rules.

The Consultation on Rule-making indicator describes the extent to which formal consultation processes are built-into the regulatory law-making process.  The indicator is based on a composite index comprised of various information on the openness and transparency of the consultation process.  It refers to the existence of institutional practices but does not, however, gauge whether these procedures are in fact effective.

Top Ranking

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Indicators

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Governance in Detail by Country

Australia

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 71% of people in Australia say they trust their political institutions, higher than the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Australia was 95% of those registered; this figure is the highest in the OECD area.

While voter turnout is indeed compulsory (and strongly enforced) in Australia, it is nevertheless a useful measure of citizen engagement. In the context of the Better Life Index, voter turn-out measures how civic engagement contributes to the well-being of people and the society. From this perspective, the Australian political system performs well in the sense that it reflects the will of a very large number of individuals (irrespective of what drives high participation).

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in Australia can file a request for information either in writing, online, or in person – thus greatly facilitating the FOI process. However, there are no provisions for anonymity or protection from retaliation.

Indicators

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Austria

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 61% of people in Austria say they trust their political institutions, higher than the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Austria was 82% of those registered. This figure is higher than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in Austria can file a request for information either in writing, online, by telephone or in person – thus greatly facilitating the FOI process. However, there are no provisions for anonymity or protection from retaliation.

Indicators

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Belgium

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 46% of people in Belgium say they trust their political institutions, lower than the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Belgium was 91% of those registered. This figure is one of the highest in the OECD area.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in Belgium can file a request for information either in writing, online, or in person – thus greatly facilitating the FOI process. However, there are no provisions for anonymity or protection from retaliation.

Indicators

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Canada

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 67% of people in Canada say they trust their political institutions, higher than the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Canada was 60% of those registered. This figure is lower than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in Canada can file a request for information either in writing or in person, but not yet online or by telephone. In addition, there are no provisions for anonymity or protection from retaliation.

Indicators

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Chile

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 51% of people in Chile say they trust their political institutions, slightly lower than the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Chile was 88% of those registered. This figure is higher than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in Chile can file a request for information either in writing, in person or online, but not yet by telephone. In addition, there are no provisions for anonymity or protection from retaliation.

Indicators

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Czech Republic

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 44% of people in the Czech Republic say they trust their political institutions, lower than the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in the Czech Republic was 64% of those registered. This figure is lower than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in the Czech Republic can file a request for information either in writing or online, but not yet by telephone or in person. In addition, there are no provisions for anonymity or protection from retaliation.

Indicators

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Denmark

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 75% of people in Denmark say they trust their political institutions, higher than the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Denmark was 87% of those registered. This figure is much higher than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in Denmark can file a request for information either in writing, in person or by telephone – thus greatly facilitating the FOI process. However, there are no provisions for anonymity or protection from retaliation.

Indicators

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Estonia

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 42% of people in Estonia say they trust their political institutions, lower than the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Estonia was 62% of those registered. This figure is lower than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in Estonia can file a request for information either in writing, online, by telephone or in person – thus greatly facilitating the FOI process. There are even provisions for anonymity – an important protection that few OECD countries have adopted. There is not yet, however, built-in protection from retaliation.

Indicators

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Finland

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 82% of people in Finland say they trust their political institutions, the highest rate in the OECD area. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Finland was 74% of those registered. This figure is slightly higher than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in Finland can file a request for information either in writing, online, by telephone or in person – thus greatly facilitating the FOI process. There are also provisions for anonymity and built-in protection from retaliation –important protections that few OECD countries have adopted. As a result, Finland has one of the most accessible freedom of information policies in the OECD area.

Indicators

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France

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 59% of French citizens say they trust their political institutions, slightly higher than the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in France was 84% of those registered. This figure is higher than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. French citizens can file a request for information either in writing, online, by telephone or in person – thus greatly facilitating the FOI process. However, there are no provisions for anonymity or protection from retaliation.

Indicators

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Germany

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 53% of people in Germany say they trust their political institutions, close to the OECD average of 56%.

High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Germany was 78% of those registered. This figure is higher than the OECD average of 72%.

Indicators

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Greece

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 44% of people in Greece say they trust their political institutions, lower than the OECD average of 56%.

High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Greece was 74% of those registered. This figure is slightly higher than the OECD average of 72%.

Indicators

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Hungary

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. Only 40% of people in Hungary say they trust their political institutions, one of the lowest rates in the OECD area. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Hungary was 64% of those registered. This figure is also lower than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in Hungary can file a request for information either in writing, online, by telephone or in person – thus greatly facilitating the FOI process. There are even provisions for anonymity – an important protection that few OECD countries have adopted. There is not yet, however, built-in protection from retaliation.

Indicators

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Iceland

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 50% of people in Iceland say they trust their political institutions, slightly less than the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Iceland was 84% of those registered. This figure is much higher than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in Iceland can file a request for information either in writing, online, by telephone or in person – thus greatly facilitating the FOI process. However, there are no provisions for anonymity or protection from retaliation.

Indicators

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Ireland

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 59% of Irish citizens say they trust their political institutions, slightly higher than the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Ireland was 67% of those registered. This figure is lower than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. Irish citizens can file a request for information either in writing or in person, but not yet online or by telephone. In addition, there are no provisions for anonymity or protection from retaliation.

Indicators

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Israel

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 53% of people in Israel say they trust their political institutions, slightly lower than the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Israel was 65% of those registered. This figure is lower than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in Israel can file a request for information either in writing or online, but not yet by telephone or in person. In addition, there are no provisions for anonymity or protection from retaliation.

Indicators

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Italy

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 49% of people in Italy say they trust their political institutions, lower than the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Italy was 81% of those registered. This figure is higher than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in Italy can file a request for information either in writing, online, by telephone or in person – thus greatly facilitating the FOI process. However, there are no provisions for anonymity or protection from retaliation.

Indicators

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Japan

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 53% of people in Japan say they trust their political institutions, close to the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Japan was 67% of those registered. This figure is lower than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in Japan can only file a request for information in writing – not yet online, in person or by telephone. In addition, there are no provisions for anonymity or protection from retaliation.

Indicators

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Korea

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. Only 41% of people in Korea say they trust their political institutions, one of the lowest rates in the OECD area. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Korea was 63% of those registered. This figure is lower than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in Korea can file a request for information either in writing, online, by telephone or in person – thus greatly facilitating the FOI process. However, there are no provisions for anonymity or protection from retaliation.

Indicators

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Luxembourg

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 73% of people in Luxembourg say they trust their political institutions, higher than the OECD average of 56% and one of the highest rates in the OECD area. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Luxembourg was 57% of those registered. This figure is much lower than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) - also referred to as access to information laws - are one of these fundamental pillars of open government. Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. Luxembourg is currently drafting a law on access to information.

Indicators

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Mexico

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. Only 38% of people in Mexico say they trust their political institutions, much lower than the OECD average of 56% and the lowest rate in the OECD area. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Mexico was 59% of those registered. This figure is lower than the OECD average of 72%. However, Mexico is one of only four OECD countries to have seen increases in voter turnout in the last generation.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in Mexico can file a request for information either in writing, online, or in person – thus greatly facilitating the FOI process. Mexico is one of six OECD countries to protect individuals from any possible retaliation, but does not allow for anonymous requests.

Despite substantial progress, problems with the rule of law remain Mexico’s greatest obstacle to growth. Using a comparison of Mexico with the ten fastest growing countries shows the rule of law weakening between 1996 and 2007 in both absolute and relative terms. The enforceability of contracts, in particular, is weak.

Indicators

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Netherlands

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 72% of people in Netherlands say they trust their political institutions, higher than the OECD average of 56% and one of the highest rates in the OECD area. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in the Netherlands was 80% of those registered. This figure is higher than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in the Netherlands can file a request for information either in writing, online, by telephone or in person – thus greatly facilitating the FOI process. The Netherlands is one of six OECD countries to protect individuals from any possible retaliation, but does not allow for anonymous requests.

Indicators

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New Zealand

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 67% of people in New Zealand say they trust their political institutions, higher than the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in New Zealand was 79% of those registered. This figure is higher than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in New Zealand can file a request for information either in writing, online, by telephone or in person – thus greatly facilitating the FOI process. However, there are no provisions for anonymity or protection from retaliation.

Indicators

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Norway

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 68% of people in Norway say they trust their political institutions, higher than the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Norway was 77% of those registered. This figure is higher than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in Norway can file a request for information either in writing, online, by telephone or in person – thus greatly facilitating the FOI process. There are even provisions for anonymity – an important protection that few OECD countries have adopted. There is not yet, however, built-in protection from retaliation.

Indicators

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Poland

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 56% of people in Poland say they trust their political institutions, meeting the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Poland was 54% of those registered. This figure is lower than the OECD average of 72% and one of the lowest rates in the OECD area.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in Poland can file a request for information either in writing or in person, but not yet online or by telephone. In addition, there are no provisions for anonymity or protection from retaliation.

Indicators

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Portugal

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 43% of people in Portugal say they trust their political institutions, lower than the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Portugal was 64% of those registered. This figure is lower than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in Portugal can file a request for information either in writing, online, or in person – thus greatly facilitating the FOI process. However, there are no provisions for anonymity or protection from retaliation.

Indicators

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Slovak Republic

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 43% of people in the Slovak Republic say they trust their political institutions, lower than the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in the Slovak Republic was 55% of those registered. This figure is much lower than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in the Slovak Republic can file a request for information either in writing, online, by telephone or in person – thus greatly facilitating the FOI process. The Slovak Republic is one of six OECD countries to protect individuals from any possible retaliation, but does not allow for anonymous requests.

Indicators

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Slovenia

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 51% of people in Slovenia say they trust their political institutions, lower than the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Slovenia was 63% of those registered. This figure is lower than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in Slovenia can file a request for information either in writing, online, by telephone or in person – thus greatly facilitating the FOI process. Slovenia is one of seven OECD countries to allow anonymous requests, but does not have built-in protections to shield individuals from possible retaliation.

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Spain

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 50% of people in Spain say they trust their political institutions, slightly lower than the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Spain was 75% of those registered. This figure is slightly higher than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in Spain can file a request for information either in writing or online – thus greatly facilitating the FOI process. However, there are no provisions for anonymity or protection from retaliation.

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Sweden

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 65% of people in Sweden say they trust their political institutions, higher than the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Sweden was 82% of those registered. This figure is much higher than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in Sweden can file a request for information either in writing, online, by telephone or in person – thus greatly facilitating the FOI process. There are also provisions for anonymity and built-in protection from retaliation –important protections that few OECD countries have adopted. As a result, Sweden has one of the most accessible freedom of information policies in the OECD area.

Indicators

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Switzerland

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 71% of people in Switzerland say they trust their political institutions, higher than the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Switzerland was 48% of those registered. This figure is much lower than the OECD average of 72% and the lowest rate in the OECD area.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in Switzerland can file a request for information either in writing, online, by telephone or in person – thus greatly facilitating the FOI process. There are even provisions for anonymity – an important protection that few OECD countries have adopted. There is not yet, however, built-in protection from retaliation.

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Turkey

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 57% of people in Turkey say they trust their political institutions, close to the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Turkey was 84% of those registered. This figure is much higher than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in Turkey can file a request for information either in writing, online, or in person – thus greatly facilitating the FOI process. However, there are no provisions for anonymity or protection from retaliation.

Indicators

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United Kingdom

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 65% of people in the United Kingdom say they trust their political institutions, higher than the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in the United Kingdom was 61% of those registered. This figure is lower than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account, maintain confidence in public institutions and support a level playing field for business.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in the United Kingdom can file a request for information either in writing or online, but not yet by telephone or in person. In addition, there are no provisions for anonymity or protection from retaliation.

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United States

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 58% of people in the United States say they trust their political institutions, close to the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in the United States was 90% of those registered. This figure is much higher than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in the United States can file a request for information either in writing or online – thus greatly facilitating the FOI process. There is even built-in protection from retaliation – an important protection that few OECD countries have adopted. There is not yet, however, a provision for anonymity.

Indicators

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