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Table 2.4.6<br />
Availability of national government information in Estonia and the reference countries<br />
Budget<br />
Ministerial annual reports<br />
Audit results<br />
Introductions of politicians<br />
Commercial contracts<br />
of state agencies<br />
Names and salaries of employees<br />
Databases<br />
Content and rules for the use<br />
of data collected by the state<br />
Internal procedures and instructions<br />
of the administrative agencies<br />
Descriptions of the structure and<br />
functions of government agencies<br />
Annual report on the<br />
freedom of information<br />
Introduction of the procedures for<br />
ensuring freedom of information<br />
Disclosure index*: Max 24<br />
Estonia 24<br />
Hungary 22<br />
South Korea 22<br />
Slovenia 20<br />
Finland 18<br />
USA 16<br />
Russia 16<br />
Chile 13<br />
Czech Republic 12<br />
Great Britain 12<br />
New Zealand 11<br />
Slovakia 11<br />
Netherlands 10<br />
Denmark 8<br />
Ireland 8<br />
Poland 8<br />
Sweden 8<br />
Switzerland 7<br />
Austria 6<br />
Source: OECD Factbook 2011<br />
* Author’s calculations: required by law – 2 points; usually disclosed – 1 point<br />
In conclusion, it can be said that Estonian society stands<br />
out for its great freedom of media and its very active<br />
information consumption. The general level of media use<br />
in Estonia is significantly higher than the EU average. The<br />
media use in all the other European reference states being<br />
compared to Estonia is also higher, except for Hungary.<br />
Estonia is characterised by a very liberal media<br />
environment, good availability of public information and<br />
a high level of IT. In addition to the broader availability<br />
of information technology, the maximum level of freedom<br />
is guaranteed to the consumer, the most illustrative<br />
expression of which is Estonia’s first place in the world in<br />
Internet freedom.<br />
The high level of media freedom, and the high<br />
level of information use by the population, along with<br />
the availability of public information, which is ensured<br />
by legislation, forms a good basis for the transparency in<br />
governance, and for fighting corruption.<br />
References<br />
1. BNS press release 18.12.2012. “Eesti on veebiuudiste tarbimiselt<br />
Euroopas teisel kohal,” www.postimees.ee/1079074/print/eesti-on-veebiuudiste-tarbimisel-Euroopas-teisel-kohal.<br />
2. Kadastik, Mart. (2012). “Enesepeksu raske töö,” Postimees,<br />
28.05.2012.<br />
3. Lauk, Epp (2012). “What is Happening to (Foreign) Ownership<br />
in the Baltic Media Markets?” Baltic Rim Economies, Quarterly<br />
Review, 2 (31.5.2012). www.tse.si/pei<br />
4. Media use in the European Union. Standard Eurobarometer 76,<br />
Autumn 2011. http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/index_en.htm<br />
5. OECD Factbook 2011. www.oecd-library.com<br />
6. Raudsaar, Mart (2012). “Heldur Tõnisson ja tema sajand,” Eesti<br />
Päevaleht, 26.06.2012.<br />
7. World Press Trends 2010. Paris: World Association of Newspapers/ZenithOptimedia.<br />
82<br />
Estonian Human Development Report 2012/2013