When petroleum revenue transparency policy meets citizen engagement reality: Survey evidence from Indonesia

Abstract

Transparency in natural resource revenue (NRR) management is crucial in theory to avoid misuse and corruption, but there is little evidence that information reaches citizens and engages them in revenue governance. We collect survey data from Bojonegoro in Indonesia, which has a strong transparency and accountability policy in petroleum revenue governance. We investigate the links with information reception and attitudes and behavior regarding NRR management. We find that respondents are poorly informed about NRR management, concerned about environmental consequences of resource extraction, but have rarely made their voice heard. Their preferred way of being informed about the issue is through fellow citizens or the internet. Our empirical analysis shows that interest in environmental issues and politics are linked with attitudes. Greater interest in politics and belief in individual citizens' ability to influence policy is also associated with the likelihood of self-declared past and future action for better NRR management. Finally, self-declared past – though not intended future – action is linked to receiving information on petroleum management. Our results suggest that engaging intrinsically motivated people in more active resource governance through clear information and pathways for action could eventually make NRR management relevant to a wider share of the population.