Benefits of FOI

According to James’ observation, there are ten potential benefits which can bring about by FOI legislation, including greater transparency, encouraging public participation in government, enhancing the quality of decision-making by the government, allowing citizens and organizations to assert their rights, raising public confidence in the processes of government, increasing the effectiveness of administration, increasing the accountability of government, safeguarding probity, increasing the effectiveness of the media, and altering the culture of the public service.[1] Other benefits, for example developing economy, also are very important to promote FOI.

[1] Simon James, ‘The Potential Benefits of Freedom of Information’ in Michael Hunt and Richard Chapman (eds.), Open Government in a Theoretical and Practical Context (2006) 17, 19-29.

"> " title="permanent link">#