Government secrecy: public attitudes toward information provided by the authorities

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Gunnlaugsdottir
Keyword(s):  
Public Interest ◽  
General Public ◽  
National Registry ◽  
Western World ◽  
Public Expenditures ◽  
Freedom Of Information ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Government Provision

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present findings of a survey conducted during 2012 in Iceland with the intent of examining public opinion on government provision of information, i.e. whether the public felt that the authorities withheld information, either about subjects of general public interest or about public expenditures, if the authorities felt there was a reason to do so. Design/methodology/approach – A survey questionnaire was sent in March 2012 to almost two thousand Icelanders. This was a random sample selected from the National Registry. The response rate was almost 67 per cent. The survey was modelled on other research and resources that had examined trust toward public authorities and the influence of Freedom of Information Acts on government information practices. Findings – The survey discovered that the greater part of the citizenry felt that the authorities did keep important information of general public interest secret often or sometimes. Only 2-3 per cent of them believed that this never happened. Most of those surveyed felt as well that important information about public expenditures was often or sometimes withheld. Only 3-5 per cent of the respondents were of the opinion that this never happened. Practical implications – The results could be of value to public authorities that want to improve the provision of information and practice according to freedom of information act. They could also bring varied and valuable opportunities to the profession of records managers as well as others who practice information management. Originality/value – The survey adds valuable information and fulfils a need for a better understanding of what the public believes regarding government provision of information in Iceland. Although the survey is limited to Iceland, these findings may also be of value to public authorities and researchers in the Western World, Australia and New Zealand, to give a few examples where the culture and the practice of government may not be that different, as well as in other countries. The survey can lay the foundation for further research into the field.

Reasons for the poor provision of information by the government: public opinion

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Gunnlaugsdottir
Keyword(s):  
Public Interest ◽  
General Public ◽  
National Registry ◽  
Western World ◽  
Public Expenditures ◽  
Freedom Of Information ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Government

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present, on the one hand, the findings of a survey conducted during 2012 in Iceland and, on the other hand, the results of interviews held in 2015 concerning why it was felt that the authorities withheld information either about subjects of general public interest or about public expenditures. Design/methodology/approach A survey questionnaire was sent in March 2012 to almost 2,000 Icelanders randomly selected from the National Registry. The response rate was almost 67 per cent. As to the interviews held in 2015, these were with individuals who were known to understand well the government’s actions, both as to provision of information to the public and the opposite, suppression of information. The interviewees were chosen purposively. The survey was modelled on other research and resources concerning open public information and other research that had examined trust towards public authorities and the influence of freedom of information acts on government information practices. Findings The research revealed that both participants in the questionnaire survey and the six interviewees in the later study felt that information was kept secret for a variety of reasons. Most felt that information was kept under wraps by the government, both about subjects of general public interest or about public expenditures, and that both transparency and traceability were less than sufficient in the public administration of Iceland. Practical implications The results could be of value to public authorities who want to improve the provision of information and practices according to the freedom of information act. They could also bring diverse and valuable opportunities to the profession of records managers as to documentation and registration, as well as others who practice information management. Originality/value The survey adds valuable information and fulfils a need for a better understanding of why public authorities suppress the provision of information in Iceland. Although the research cited was limited to Iceland, the findings may be of value also to public authorities and researchers in the Western World, Australia and New Zealand to give a few examples where the culture and the practice of government may not be that different, as well as in other countries. The two studies can, therefore, lay the foundation for further research into the field.

An Overview

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Interest ◽  
Public Authority ◽  
Freedom Of Information ◽  
Freedom Of Information Act ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
The Public ◽  
Codes Of Practice ◽  
Right To Information ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Relationship

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 is an unnecessarily complicated piece of legislation. Chapter 2 gives a simple overview of the Act: the framework for the new statutory right to information; the exemptions; the public interest test; the way in which the right is regulated through the Information Commissioner and codes of practice; enforcement through the tribunal system; and the relationship between freedom of information and data protection. The chapter considers the questions public authorities have to ask when someone seeks information and identifies the provisions concerning practice, procedure, and implementation, including the offence of altering records and the provision in section 78 that nothing in the Act is to be taken to limit the powers of a public authority to disclose information held by it.

scholarly journals Atuação das organizações sociais na administração dos serviços de saúde: eficiência e seu instrumento de concretização do direito fundamental a saúde - Action of social organizations in the administration of health services

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Garbini Both ◽  
André Rodrigues Meneses
Keyword(s):  
Social Services ◽  
Public Interest ◽  
Economic Sector ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Private Partnership ◽  
The Public ◽  
Social Organizations ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Article 5 ◽  
Percentage Data

<p>O presente trabalho objetiva analisar a atuação, legalidade e eficiência das organizações sociais. Uma vez que, esta tem sido motivo de intensos questionamentos, por parte daqueles que não enxergam benefícios na criação de um terceiro setor econômico. Há quem defenda que, é dever exclusivo do poder público, executar e fiscalizar os serviços sociais. A contrário senso há quem defenda uma publicização dos serviços que não são executados apenas pelo poder estatal, mas também pelo setor privado. Sendo assim, porque contrariar uma parceria publico-privada que só objetiva trazer benefícios para a população brasileira?</p><p>No decorrer deste estudo, será respondido tal questionamento, por meio de reflexões acerca das discussões e alegações de inconstitucionalidade da lei 9.637/98, de parte da lei de licitações ─ 8.666/93. Bem como, da suposta violação dos seguintes preceitos constitucionais: artigo 5ª, XVII e XVIII; artigo 22, XXVII; artigo 23; artigo 37, II, X e XXI; artigo 40, caput e § 4º; artigos 70, 71 e 74; artigo 129; artigo 169; artigo 175; artigo 196; artigo 197; artigo 199, § 1º; artigo 205; artigo 206; artigo 208; artigo 209; artigo 215; artigo 216, § 1º; artigo 218 e artigo 225. Onde será comprovado por meio de dados percentuais a eficiência e os benefícios advindos da sua criação.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>This paper aims to analyze the performance, legality and efficiency of social organizations. Since this has been the subject of intense questions from those who do not see benefits in the creation of a third economic sector. There are those who argue that it is the exclusive responsibility of the public authorities to execute and supervise social services. On the contrary, there are those who advocate an advertisement of services that are not only carried out by state power, but also by the private sector. So, why oppose a public-private partnership that only aims to bring benefits to the Brazilian population?</p><p>In the course of this study, this question will be answered, through reflections on the discussions and allegations of unconstitutionality of Law 9.637 / 98, part of the law of bidding - 8.666 / 93. As well as the alleged violation of the following constitutional precepts: Article 5, XVII and XVIII; article 22, XXVII; Article 23; Article 37, II, X and XXI; article 40, caput and paragraph 4; Articles 70, 71 and 74; article 129; Article 169; article 175; Article 196; article 197; article 199, paragraph 1; Article 205; Article 206; article 208; Article 209; Article 215; article 216, paragraph 1; article 218 and article 225. Where will be proven by means of percentage data the efficiency and the benefits coming from its creation.mptions that justify the use of them with greater efficiency in the achievement of the public interest.</p>

scholarly journals Do Publicly Traded Corporations Act in the Public Interest?

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger H. Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Public Interest ◽  
Second Order ◽  
Tax Revenue ◽  
Public Expenditures ◽  
Publicly Traded ◽  
Corporate Behavior ◽  
The Public

Abstract Models of corporate behavior normally assume that a firm acts in the interest of shareholders, and that shareholders care only about the returns they receive on the shares they own in that firm. But shareholders should also care about the effects of a manager's decisions on the value of shares they own in other firms, on the price they pay as consumers for the firm's output, on the costs they bear from pollutants emitted by the firm, on the value of the firm's bonds they own, on government tax revenue that finances public expenditures benefiting shareholders, etc. These effects are normally presumed to be of second order. This paper reexamines this presumption, argues that many of these effects are likely to be important, and explores the resulting implications for forecasted corporate behavior.

Die Privilegierung der Landwirtschaft

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nils Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Public Interest ◽  
General Public ◽  
Special Treatment ◽  
The Public ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Debate

Even in an industrialised and service-based economy, agriculture is and remains a sector that is particularly worthy of protection and that operates not only in its own interest, but also in the interest of the general public. However, the social debate shows that the advantages and disadvantages of agriculture are not balanced on every farm. The study deals with the public interest in the privileged treatment of agriculture, i.e. the question of what justifies the special treatment of agriculture and what is "agriculture" in this sense.

Eisenhower’s executive privilege and the public interest

2019 ◽  
pp. 54-84
Author(s):  
Kevin M. Baron
Keyword(s):  
Public Interest ◽  
Attorney General ◽  
Executive Branch ◽  
Executive Power ◽  
Freedom Of Information ◽  
Government Information ◽  
Executive Orders ◽  
White House ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Creation

This chapter delves into the depths of one of the most important developments within modern American politics, the creation and institutionalization of executive privilege. In facing a fervent Congress in the grips of McCarthyism, Eisenhower issued a letter denying testimony to the Senate for the Army-McCarthy hearings. His letter included a memo from Attorney General Brownell that claimed the president had an inherent constitutional privilege to deny information to Congress or the public if it was in the public interest and for national security. This action institutionalized the Cold War Paradigm in the executive branch and created an extra-constitutional power for the president. Eisenhower issued several executive orders concerning classification and public dissemination of government information, along with the creation of the Office of Strategic Information (OSI) within the Commerce Department to oversee these policies. Eisenhower claimed historic precedent to justify his inherent constitutional power, regardless, it showed a learned response that changed executive power. Congress would respond in 1955 by creating the Special Subcommittee on Government Information chaired by Rep. John Moss, given jurisdiction for oversight on all executive branch information policies and practices. With the issue of freedom of information institutionalized in Congress, a 12-year legislative power struggle would unfold between Congress and the White House ending with the passage of the Freedom of Information Act in 1966.

Public Procurement and Transparency in the Private Sector

2021 ◽  
pp. 176-194
Author(s):  
Tom Brown
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
General Public ◽  
Public Procurement ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Procurement Process ◽  
The Public ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Pay Differences ◽  
United Kingdom Government

This chapter begins by considering public procurement in the context of equality duties. The United Kingdom government has not used the Equality Act 2010’s regulation-making powers to impose specific statutory public procurement equality duties in England, but the Welsh and Scottish Ministers have made such regulations. Equality considerations are nonetheless relevant considerations in a public authority’s public procurement decisions as part of the general public sector equality duty in section 149 of the Act. The extent to which equality can (and should) be taken into account in the public procurement process is also, therefore, relevant to private undertakings which might wish to tender for the provision of goods or services to public authorities. The chapter then addresses the provisions in the Act intended to improve transparency in the private sector by prohibiting clauses which prevent employees discussing their pay. The Act introduced, in section 78, a power to make regulations which would impose a requirement on businesses to report on gender pay differences.

Whose Game? FIFA, Corruption and the Challenge of Global Governance

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 1041-1066
Author(s):  
Sahiba Gill ◽  
Edouard Adelus ◽  
Francisco de Abreu Duarte
Keyword(s):  
Global Governance ◽  
Public Interest ◽  
Review Essay ◽  
General Public ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Present Review ◽  
General Audience ◽  
Coordination Problems ◽  
The Public

Abstract The present review essay provides an analysis of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) from the point of view of global governance. Through a review of five books on corruption in FIFA, written for a general audience, the essay describes FIFA as an institution of global governance in which several forms of corruption are widespread among its member organizations and confederations and within the FIFA leadership. This review essay uses the accounts of corruption in FIFA that these books provide to argue that corruption helps solve coordination problems in FIFA by coordinating divergent interests, allocating or distributing funds and allowing for a network of diverse and diffuse actors to fundamentally shape global football. The systemic use of bribing and the exchange of political favours and other means of informal allocation of power are more than mere spontaneous illegalities; they represent an informal, but systematic, means of governance in FIFA. We argue that the February 2016 FIFA reforms fell short of addressing this activity. The reviewed books all call for governing FIFA in the public interest, and the essay presents some pathways to reform and potential replacements for the use of corruption with the aim of returning the game to the general public.

scholarly journals Guardians of public interest: the expectation and experience of non-executive directors in National Health Service commissioning boards in England

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joy Tweed ◽  
Louise M. Wallace
Keyword(s):  
National Health Service ◽  
Health Service ◽  
National Health ◽  
Public Interest ◽  
Open Systems ◽  
Executive Directors ◽  
Goal Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Systems Model

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to examine how Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) in the English National Health Service (NHS) commissioning bodies experienced their role and contribution to governance.Design/methodology/approachSemi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 31 NEDs of Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and 8 Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) NEDs. Framework analysis was applied using a conceptualisation of governance developed by Newman, which has four models of governance: the hierarchy, self-governance, open systems and rational goal model.FindingsNEDs saw themselves as guardians of the public interest. NEDs’ power is a product of the explicit levers set out in the constitution of the board, but also how they choose to use their knowledge and expertise to influence decisions for, as they see it, the public good. They contribute to governance by holding to account executive and professional colleagues, acting largely within the rational goal model. CCG NEDs felt less powerful than in those in PCTs, operating largely in conformance and representational roles, even though government policy appears to be moving towards a more networked, open systems model.Originality/valueThis is the first in-depth study of NEDs in English NHS local commissioning bodies. It is of value in helping to inform how the NED role could be enhanced to make a wider contribution to healthcare leadership as new systems are established in the UK and beyond.

A reflective analysis of the “new audit” and the public interest

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 300-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy J. Fogarty ◽  
John T. Rigsby
Keyword(s):  
Public Interest ◽  
Motivating Factors ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Social Good ◽  
The Public ◽  
New Business ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Audit Approach

PurposePrior to the sudden collapse of large companies following the turn of the century and the implication that the auditing of these enterprises had failed, the large public accounting firms sought to re‐engineer the audit. A comprehension attempt to convert that which had been designed as a social good into one more aligned with a commercial logic was halted by the legislative response to this departure from classic professionalism. Recent developments suggest that change in this direction is regrouping. The purpose of this paper is to provide a reflective analysis of the thoughts of the authors on the early development of the new audit approach.Design/methodology/approachMost of the information in the piece was garnered from conversations with public accounting partners during the era in question. Logical argumentation derived from the academic and theoretical literature is the primary method.FindingsAttributes of the firms' strategies during this period are outlined. Features of the new audit are developed, especially as they vary from the traditional audit. These techniques and approaches are analyzed in terms of their ability to serve the public interest. This paper argues that motivating factors of the new audit will continue to be a force even in the more hostile regulatory environment of today.Practical implicationsAn appreciation of the findings of the study is useful in maintaining a level of skepticism about changes to the audit that are advocated by audit firms. Users of audit services, regulators, and legislators would benefit from an appreciation of the recent past. The motivating factors underlying these changes to audit environment continue to operate over time as the social purposes of the audit are less likely to be converted by the firms to ones that can be commercially exploited.Originality/valueThe study contributes insights into the origins of the new business audit approach and related strengths and limitations. These factors should be considered as the approach is developed and moves forward into the future in order for the audit approach to be effective in performing its social functions.

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