Determinants of Financial E-Transparency in Honduran Municipalities

Abstract

This paper contributes to the scarce literature on e-government transparency in Central America by analyzing the impact of political, financial and socio-economic factors on municipal financial e-transparency in Honduras. The sample covers 86 Honduran municipalities in 2016-17. The data show a weak impact of ideology and mayor's gender on e-transparency, with progressive governments and men achieving more e-transparency. Municipalities receiving more transfers are more transparent. Taking all financial variables together, the data are in line with the Theory of Fiscal Illusion and the Theory of Agency, since municipalities are not reporting greater levels of taxes, deficit, and debt to their taxpayers. Honduran municipalities are only concerned about meeting central government legal requirements about transfers received. The fact that municipalities do not increase e-transparency to be held accountable by their citizens is against the assumptions of the Theory of Legitimacy. Finally, larger municipalities and with greater income are more fiscally transparent.