Citizens’ Free Access to Information. The Case of Local Institutions from Rural Areas of the North-Western Region from Romania

Abstract

This study examines the extent to which local au­thorities in rural North-West Romania adhere to the requirements set forth in Law no. 544 of 2001, which mandates the ex officio public information disclo­sure online. The findings suggest a relatively low level of transparency, with notable discrepancies ob­served across communes. While larger communes exhibited slightly elevated levels of compliance, pop­ulation size exerted a limited influence on transpar­ency. Additionally, the study revealed no statistically significant correlation between the gender of mayors and transparency. This may be attributed to the lim­ited representation of female mayors in the sample. Similarly, while the presence of businesses demon­strated some influence on transparency, it was not a robust predictor. These findings underscore the ne­cessity for more robust enforcement mechanisms, including penalties for non-compliance, to guarantee compliance with transparency laws. Furthermore, the study highlights the necessity of considering a broader array of factors, including local governance practices, institutional capacity, and citizen engage­ment, when evaluating transparency outcomes. It would be beneficial for future research to expand to other regions and consider a longitudinal approach to monitor changes over time. The study under­scores the pivotal role of transparency in cultivating public trust, curbing corruption, and strengthening democratic governance.

Keywords

• free access to information
• rural public authorities
• law no. 544/2001
• ex officio
• access to information
• transparency.