The role of media pressure in promoting transparency of local governments

Abstract

This paper analyses the role of media pressure on the level of public transparency of local governments. Making use of a sample composed by 110 Spanish cities for the 2008-2010 period, the results show that local governments tend to be more transparent under media pressure, especially in relation to information about economic, financial, urbanism and public works issues. Additionally, we take into account the electoral moment, since the analysis of the ways in which public affairs are conducted is still superior when elections are approaching. Empirical results indicate that media plays a fundamental role in that moment because governments are willing to decrease the level of information transparency.