Transparency and Leverage Points for Sustainable Resource Management

Johanna Gisladottir (), Sigurbjörg Sigurgeirsdottir, Ingrid Stjernquist and Kristin Vala Ragnarsdottir
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Johanna Gisladottir: Faculty of Political Science, University of Iceland, 102 Reykjavik, Iceland
Sigurbjörg Sigurgeirsdottir: Faculty of Political Science, University of Iceland, 102 Reykjavik, Iceland
Ingrid Stjernquist: Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
Kristin Vala Ragnarsdottir: Institute of Earth Science, University of Iceland, 102 Reykjavik, Iceland

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 24, 1-17

Abstract: The phrase ‘sunshine is the best disinfectant’ is commonly used to suggest that transparency can counter corruption and ensure accountability. In the policy world, several analytical tools have been developed to obtain information on what policy decision would bring about the biggest positive effect for the least amount of effort. There is a tendency to view transparency as the silver bullet in that respect. This paper aimed to shed light on how measures of transparency can serve as a leverage point for sustainable resource management. We begin by analysing the concept of transparency and then draw from Donella Meadows’ work on leverage points to analyse the transformative potential of increasing transparency towards sustainable resource management. We then demonstrate the use of this analytical approach by applying it to three case studies on resource management systems in Ukraine, Romania, and Iceland. The results suggested that transparency in resource management needs to be accompanied by widely accepted standards and accountability mechanisms for it to serve as an effective leverage point. If these factors are neglected, the credibility of transparency can be undermined. Prioritising transparency as a policy intervention to alleviate corruption risks, in the absence of accountability mechanisms and clear rules, might be misplaced, and require deeper leverage points.

Keywords: transparency; sustainable resource management; corruption; leverage points (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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