Dynamic Transparency: An Audit of Mexico's Freedom of Information Act

March 23, 2016

Investigators: CDEP Affiliate Paul Lagunes with Oscar Poscasangre.

A particular anti-corruption strategy that has gained popularity worldwide is freedom of information or right to know legislation. These laws, however, should only be celebrated if they actually guarantee efficient access to quality information. To examine this issue, Oscar Pocasangre and Paul Lagunes executed an 8-year-long audit study of Mexico’s freedom of information act. The study involved submitting hundreds of information requests, and the results reveal the extent to which the country’s government transparency system actually works. The results also reveal the sorts of reforms needed to improve the provision of government information.

Published in Public Administration, Vol. 97, Issue 1, March 2019.