The OECD Budgetary Transparency: An Examination of Online Budgetary Information Across European Union Countries

Abstract

Public administrations have adopted new ICTs with a view to improving access to government services and information, thus improving accountability. OECD Member countries recognize ICTs to be powerful tools for enhancing citizen engagement in public policy-making. Providing information, consultation and active participation makes government more transparent and more accountable. The particular approach adopted in implementing New Public Management models affects the policies adopted by an Administration in opening itself up to competition, and may lead to a greater emphasis on the concepts of information quality and transparency. This chapter seeks to analyse whether the central governments of EU countries, operating under different administrative cultures, use the World Wide Web as a means of making financial budgetary disclosures. Selected European countries are at the same time OECD members. To achieve this aim the OECD project of best practices for budget transparency (OBPBT) has been used as our reference point. The results of the study confirm that differences do exist among countries organized under different administrative cultures. It indicates the need for European countries to make a great effort in online budget transparency in terms of OBPBT compliance in order to foster citizens’ participation in public management and to improve e-democracy in these countries.