Good governance

epa03644178 A businessman uses a tablet computer at a park in Tokyo, Japan, 29 March 2013. Japan's unemployment rate edged up by 0.1 percentage points to 4.3 per cent in February 2013, the government said 29 March 2013. The number of unemployed people dropped by 120,000 from a year earlier to 2.77 million, falling year-on-year for the 33rd consecutive month, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said. EPA/KIYOSHI OTA

Honesty, accountability and openness to the public are guarantees for governance without abuse and corruption, with full respect for the rule of law.

Although a single definition of good governance does not exist, the principles on which good governance rests are identical to the public, business and nonprofit sectors.

What is good governance?

Good governance can be defined as a fair and competent performance of public work, as citizens, regardless of whether their preferred political option won in free and fair elections, still expect honesty and competence from their government.

Honesty is reflected in the government’s commitment to the rule of law, their openness and transparency which leads to accountability and allows citizens’ meaningful participation in political processes. Their competence is expressed through the effective, efficient and economically viable provision of public services.

What is the importance of good governance?

The importance of good governance within the Croatian public sector is associated with two vital goals for the Croatian society: the creation of conditions for sustainable socio-economic development and deep democratization. Application of the principles of good governance, which are related to the transparency and accountability of public administration towards citizens, is a key leverage to overcome the “crisis of democracy” and “democracy deficit.”

Good governance within civil society organizations is crucial for the credibility of civic initiatives, who demand transparency, honesty and accountability from public institutions and corporations. By applying principles of good governance, organizations gain legitimacy for their continued work, both within the donor community and among the general public.

Good governance within the business sector makes it easier to achieve their primary goal – making profit – by increasing efficiency and economic feasibility of business activities, whilst increased transparency and socially responsible businesses contribute to increased living standard of Croatian citizens.