Does freedom of information contribute to more open administrations? An empirical analysis of the link between active and passive forms of transparency

ABSTRACT Government transparency has been widely commented through the adoption of freedom of information laws. Several studies have shown a positive effect of access to information on government transparency. This contribution, based on a quantitative analysis of 2,222 Swiss municipalities, adds to the literature by combining disclosure of information on municipalities’ websites and constrained release of information. The findings indicate that more proactive transparency practices are not observed in regional entities that have enacted transparency laws. Nevertheless, they also indicate that levels of proactive transparency are slightly higher in municipalities where freedom of information has been implemented for a long time.