E-government-enabled transparency: The effect of electoral aspects and citizen’s access to Internet on information disclosure

Francisca Tejedo-Romero & Joaquim Filipe Ferraz Esteves Araujo (2020) Egovernment-enabled transparency: The effect of electoral aspects and citizen’s access to Internet on information disclosure, Journal of Information Technology & Politics, 17:3, 268-290, DOI:10.1080/19331681.2020.1713958 This podcast explores the factors influencing municipal transparency in Portuguese municipalities, focusing on political and social conditions. Using a panel data analysis of all 308 municipalities, the study highlights key determinants such as political ideology, voter turnout, election proximity, citizens' Internet access, and geographic location. The findings reveal significant progress in municipal transparency through online platforms, supported by a 76-indicator transparency index measuring the availability of information on municipal websites. The study underscores the critical role of Internet access in driving higher transparency levels, reflecting growing political awareness of citizens' demands for openness. It argues that enhanced transparency through e-government stems from proactive governance, political attributes, and contextual factors. Institutional changes, particularly ICT-driven modernization and e-government initiatives, have expanded citizens' access to online information, positively impacting municipal transparency. This episode delves into these insights, offering a nuanced understanding of how technological and political dynamics shape government accountability.