The discourse around open government often revolves around policy frameworks and theoretical benefits. But what does the empirical evidence reveal? This chapter, serving as a practical “Skeptics Guide,” delves into the growing body of research that substantiates the profound impact of open government, extending beyond specific policy implementations. We explore compelling data that reinforces the crucial role of transparency, participation, and accountability in achieving tangible development outcomes.
The Undeniable Link: Public Oversight and Societal Progress
For those approaching open government with a degree of skepticism, the connection to real-world improvements might seem tenuous. However, rigorous research increasingly demonstrates a strong correlation between open governance and positive societal changes. In 2018, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) collaborated with the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute to investigate “diagonal accountability.”[156] This concept, measured by V-Dem through indicators like media freedom, freedom of expression, independent public discourse, and robust civil society organizations, reveals a powerful narrative. The findings are clear: stronger diagonal accountability is a predictor of significant developmental advancements.
- Reduced Infant Mortality: As nations embrace openness and accountability over time, a tangible decrease in infant mortality rates is observed. Remarkably, maximizing diagonal accountability is associated with a reduction of 10 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. This data point alone offers a compelling argument for the life-saving potential of open government.
- Enhanced Adult Education: The impact extends to education as well. For every decade a country maintains a high level of diagonal accountability, average adult education levels rise by a full year. This suggests that open societies foster an environment conducive to learning and human capital development.
- Fairer Income Distribution and Economic Growth: Skeptics often question if open government can drive economic prosperity. The evidence indicates a positive link. Higher diagonal accountability is correlated with a more equitable distribution of wealth (lower Gini coefficient) and accelerated economic growth. This challenges the notion that openness hinders economic progress, suggesting instead that it can be a catalyst for inclusive and sustainable development.
COVID-19 and Public Health: Transparency as a Vital Defense
The COVID-19 pandemic provided a stark real-world test for different governance models. Counter to some skeptical viewpoints, a growing body of evidence[157] indicates that democracies, and by extension, open governments, tend to fare better in managing pandemics and safeguarding public health more broadly. Leading publications like The Lancet[158] and The British Medical Journal[159], alongside respected think tanks such as Chatham House[160] and Our World in Data[161], anticipated that democratic nations would exhibit greater resilience in confronting the COVID-19 crisis. But what specific role does transparency play in this enhanced performance? Open government principles, with their emphasis on information sharing, public participation, and accountability, likely contributed to more effective pandemic responses. Transparent data, open communication, and collaborative approaches empowered citizens and facilitated more agile and responsive public health strategies.
The Democratic Dividend: Openness as a Cornerstone of Progress
Beyond the immediate context of public health crises, a robust field of academic inquiry is exploring the broader relationship between democracy and diverse development outcomes. Much of this research leverages the extensive data sets compiled by the V-Dem Institute. Key insights from this body of work are summarized in the Case for Democracy Conference Report, highlighting findings particularly relevant to the core open government values of transparency, participation, and accountability. For skeptics questioning the wider benefits of open government, these findings offer compelling counterarguments.
Openness Fuels Economic Expansion: The notion that transparency and participation might impede economic efficiency is challenged by evidence suggesting the opposite. Research indicates that open government practices are positively associated with economic growth. This could be attributed to factors such as reduced corruption, improved resource allocation, and a more conducive environment for innovation and investment fostered by transparency and accountability.
Civic Space: A Guardian of Environmental Sustainability: Environmental protection is increasingly recognized as a critical development challenge. Interestingly, protecting civic space, a key tenet of open government, appears to enhance environmental safeguards. When citizens have the freedom to organize, express concerns, and hold authorities accountable, environmental issues are more likely to be addressed effectively. This suggests that open government is not just about political processes; it’s intrinsically linked to environmental sustainability.
Democracy Itself Thrives on Openness: Perhaps the most fundamental argument for open government is its symbiotic relationship with democracy. Democracy, at its core, requires informed and engaged citizenry. Open government, with its commitment to transparency and participation, provides the very oxygen that democracy needs to flourish. By ensuring access to information, fostering public dialogue, and promoting accountability, open government strengthens democratic institutions and empowers citizens to actively shape their societies.
OGP: Turning Skepticism into Action and Results
For those still harboring skepticism about the practical implementation of open government ideals, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) offers a concrete pathway. Participating in OGP provides a unique and proven framework for translating open government principles into tangible action. It’s a space where governments and civil society collaborate to devise solutions for pressing challenges, making governance more open, inclusive, participatory, and ultimately, accountable to the people they serve.
OGP: A Proven Platform for Government-Civil Society Collaboration: OGP is not merely aspirational; it’s a working model. OGP member countries engage in a co-creation process, developing action plans and maintaining ongoing dialogue with civil society through platforms like multistakeholder forums. The recent OGP Vital Signs report, analyzing a decade of OGP data, provides statistical evidence that robust civil society engagement is a predictor of positive outcomes.[170] When civil society actively participates in shaping the open government agenda, commitments tend to be more ambitious and impactful. OGP fosters a diverse ecosystem of stakeholders. Over the past decade, OGP has not only expanded its membership but also broadened the involvement of different government branches and levels, ensuring more inclusive and equitable participation.[171]
OGP: Advancing Concrete Policy Areas: OGP’s impact extends to specific policy domains. Member countries have demonstrated “real-world” improvements in areas like fiscal transparency and open contracting. OGP countries with ambitious and sustained commitments to disclosing budgetary information have demonstrably become more open in these areas compared to other OGP nations, as validated by independent third-party data.[172] Similarly, commitments focused on anti-corruption, such as open contracting, frequently yield early and tangible results.[173] Justice-related commitments, particularly concerning access to justice, have also seen a significant surge in recent years. OGP members are increasingly adopting people-centered justice commitments to address systemic barriers and challenges.[174] These examples underscore the power of OGP’s global platform and nationally-driven action plans to improve citizens’ lives.
OGP: Fostering Learning and Delivering Results: OGP is not simply a forum for discussion; it’s a mechanism for accountability and progress. OGP’s Independent Reporting Mechanism (IRM) plays a crucial role in holding governments accountable by evaluating member action plans and enabling stakeholders to track progress. The IRM also provides valuable recommendations for improvement and learning. Implementing these recommendations is demonstrably linked to higher quality action plans and processes.[175] Over the past decade, OGP has witnessed hundreds of completed commitments, and the rate of early results – concrete changes in government practices related to access to information, civic participation, and public accountability – remains consistently strong.
“Governments that engage are here to stay. The call for democracy is not going away.”
Lysa John, Secretary General, CIVICUS at the OGP Virtual Leaders Summit, 2020.
Lysa John, Secretary General, CIVICUS, speaking at the OGP Virtual Leaders Summit in 2020, emphasizing the enduring relevance of democracy and open government.
