Course Detail
What it is:
Public accountability is the idea that public officials and institutions are responsible for their actions and inaction, and should be held accountable for how they use public resources:
Demonstrating trustworthiness
The public sector should exhibi competent, reliability, and honest so that the public can trust it with their money and resources.
Being answerable Public officials and politicians should be answerable for their fiscal and social responsibilities.
Justifying actions
Public officials should be able to justify their actions and accept responsibility for failures.
Responding to criticism
Public officials should respond to criticism and requirements.
Involving citizens
Governments should seek to involve citizens in public Debate, Dialogue and Decision-making (DDD).
Public accountability is a key aspect of good governance in a democratic society. It can be internal or external, direct or indirect, and vertical or horizontal.
Part 2: What do we mean by public accountability?
It is about the public sector demonstrating its competence, reliability, and honesty in a way that allows the public to judge its trustworthiness in using publi...
Office of the Auditor-General New Zealand
Public Accountability
Open Government Partnership
Centre for Public Accountability | UPSA
UPSA
Part 3: Why public accountability is important
51. Van Ryzin found "growing evidence from various fields that trust in people and institutions of authority often depends more on process (such as fairness and...
Office of the Auditor-General New Zealand
Public Accountability
ResearchGate
Generative AI is experimental. Learn more
Public accountability involves the obligation to: provide information about performance; to explain decision making; and to justify conduct. It implies the possibility of debate, of public questions and governmental answers and eventually of judgment by citizens.
