The Principle of Substantial Transparency of Public Finance and the Creation of the Active Citizenship

Abstract

This article endeavours to analyse what impact of substantial transparency of public finance (i.e. a reliable means of providing information on state sector finances) has on shaping active citizenship in society. The aim is based on critical question on how the public authority should inform citizens on the process of collecting and spending public sector income; moreover, the complicated nature of public finances and varying educational backgrounds of recipients who form the society need to be considered. The authors claim that principle of substantial transparency of public finance (i.e. informing citizens on public funding) has been inadequately implemented and it might be incomprehensible from the social addressee’s perspective. Currently in Poland this principle is primarily focused on a rather professional level, although its social aspect is not ignored by the doctrine either. The authors believe that reporting on the state finances should be adjusted to the educational level of the audience as they are the principals of public authority. This paper constitutes a part of the extensive research initiated by the authors, which examines the role of moral values in distributing public resources by the authorities. Non-reactive (non-empirical) research methods have been utilised in the paper, which encompass a literature review, including legal acts currently in force in Poland.