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Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

Public sector modernisation: Open Government

OECD Policy brief

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

February 2005

SARPN acknowledges the OECD as a source of this document: www.oecd.org
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Introduction

Governments are under increasing pressure to open up to public scrutiny, to be more accessible to the people who elected them and more responsive to their demands and needs. Indeed, an open government that meets all these requirements is increasingly recognised as an essential ingredient for democratic governance, social stability and economic development.

From the public’s point of view, an open government is one where businesses, civil society organisations (CSOs) and citizens can “know things” – obtain relevant and understandable information; “get things” – obtain services from and undertake transactions with the government; and “create things” – take part in decision-making processes.

The principles of good governance – transparency and accountability; fairness and equity; efficiency and effectiveness; respect for the rule of law; and high standards of ethical behaviour – represent the basis upon which to build open government.

This Policy Brief looks at how OECD countries have responded to growing demands for greater openness, reviews concrete measures for achieving open government, examines the limits to openness and identifies future challenges.



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