Freedom of information legislation and its impact on press freedom: A cross-national study

This empirical study examines the effect of the Freedom of Information legislation on press freedom by analyzing cross-sectional data at the national level of aggregate indicators across 191 countries in 2010. The prediction by two-stage least square regression found that the impact of the legislation on press freedom is determined by control of corruption, the type of political regime (democratic or authoritarian regime), and the level of national economy. For recent adopters of the legislation, it could be no more than a legislative luxury. As the legislative effect on press freedom is mostly limited to less corrupt, advanced industrial democracies, the workings of the legislation require political and economic prerequisites.

► This study examines a simultaneous causal relationship between press freedom and the Freedom of Information legislation.
► The impact of the Freedom of Information legislation on press freedom is limited to advanced industrial democracies.
► The workings of the Freedom of Information legislation require political and economic prerequisites.