Transparency Quest Determinants Unveiled: Evidence from Italian Local FOI Requests

Despite the growing emphasis on government transparency, there is a noticeable scarcity of studies investigating citizens’ actual demand for information, especially at the local level. This paper addresses this gap by empirically exploring the contextual factors that influence FOI requests within Italian local administrations. The research leverages a unique dataset comprising FOI logs extracted from 305 Italian municipalities, spanning the period from 2018 to 2021. By combining FOI data with pertinent contextual variables, this study seeks to elucidate the correlates of information demand. This study not only enhances our understanding of FOI demand dynamics but also serves as the first comprehensive exploration of information demand within Italy, a country that adopted FOI norms relatively late.