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Public Administration vocabulary · Transparency, Audit and Ethics

Transparency

Meaning in public administration, with examples

/trænsˈpærənsi/nounCore term

In public administration, transparency means: The principle that public bodies should act openly, so that citizens can see how decisions are made, how money is spent and who is responsible.

In Turkish: şeffaflık, saydamlık

How it is used

A key word in good governance, anti-corruption and open data texts. Governments promise, improve or increase transparency, and critics call for greater transparency. The adjective transparent is common: a transparent process.

Example sentences

  1. Publishing all contracts online has improved transparency in public procurement.

  2. The selection process must be fair and transparent.

Common collocations

  • increase transparency
  • lack of transparency
  • transparency and accountability
  • fiscal transparency
  • accountabilityThe duty of public bodies and officials to explain and justify their decisions and use of resources, and to accept responsibility, including sanctions, when things go wrong.
  • freedom of informationThe legal right of the public to ask for and receive information held by public bodies, with limited exceptions such as national security or personal data.
  • corruptionThe dishonest use of public power or position for private gain, such as taking bribes, favouring relatives or stealing public funds.
  • auditAn official, independent examination of an organization's accounts, systems or performance to check that money was used properly and rules were followed.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Transparency, Audit and Ethics

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