In countries that attain higher WJP Open Government Index 2015 scores, people generally perceive that officials are more likely to be punished for official misconduct; in developing countries this relationship disappears.
Open government is a central mechanism to promote accountability, but open government alone may not be enough to combat impunity. As seen in the chart below, in countries attaining higher WJP Open Government Index 2015 scores, people perceive that officials are more likely to be punished for official misconduct. However, in developing countries, this relationship disappears. Effective oversight agencies and the judicial system are also necessary to hold government officials accountable, as they constitute the conventional mechanisms to bring action against individuals for violating the law.
Sources: WJP Open Government Index 2015 and WJP Rule of Law Index (www.worldjusticeproject.org)