The Transparency Policy Project conducts in-depth research on the political economy of U.S. and international transparency systems. The Project analyzes government-mandated systems designed to provide the public with critical information to improve public health and safety, reduce risks to investors, minimize corruption, and improve public services. Examples of U.S. systems include financial reporting by public companies, nutritional labeling, school report cards, campaign finance disclosure, auto safety rankings, and toxic pollution reporting. Examples of international systems include international financial reporting, infectious disease surveillance, and labeling of genetically modified foods.
The Project builds case studies and conducts cross-cutting analyses to learn from transparency systems with different policy goals. The Project has constructed a framework for assessing the sustainability and effectiveness of transparency systems. Project directors are currently at work on a book based on their research.
Several themes emerge from the research. One is that transparency systems with different goals prove remarkably similar in their architectural components, dynamics, and determinants of effectiveness. Another is that transparency systems, like other forms of regulation, can be extremely difficult to design and maintain. They may be captured by narrow interests, become outdated as markets and priorities change, be misunderstood by information users, or simply be ignored.
The Transparency Policy Project is directed by Archon Fung, Mary Graham and David Weil. Elena Fagotto is the Project’s Senior Research Associate.