Information Content of the Amalgamated Hromadas’ Websites and its Impact on Center-Periphery Interactions

• Main Author: Maksymenko Anna O.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Research Centre of Industrial Problems of Development of NAS of Ukraine 2020-10-01
• Series: Bìznes Inform
• Subjects: amalgamated hromada (ah); transparency of management; website; content analysis; lviv region
• Online Access: https://www.business-inform.net/export_pdf/business-inform-2020-10_0-pages-233_240.pdf

The article analyzes the information content of the websites of amalgamated hromadas (AHs). On the example of AHs of Lviv region, a content analysis of the information on websites was carried out. Of the 41 formed during 2015-2019 amalgamated hromadas of Lviv region, 38 hromadas have created their official website. Mostly, the AHs’ websites cover: information about the activities of the management apparatus; information about the governance apparatus and the deputy composition of the AH council; budget and use of budget funds; participation of citizens in governance; regulatory activity/policy; strategic documents; passport of AH; detailed description of infrastructure, labor, agricultural, natural, tourism resources, enterprises operating on the territory of AH; there is a tab with information about ASC; investment passport and the land plots, which are intended for the implementation of investment projects, as well as information about the activities of various departments and communal utilities. It is noted that during the coverage of information on official websites, executive authorities should be guided by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine «On the procedure for publishing information on the activities of executive authorities on the Internet», as well as Art. 15 of the Law of Ukraine «On Access to Public Information». It is determined that the most common is information about the composition and activities of the AH governance apparatus, information about the deputy composition, budget and use of budget funds, regulatory activities. The index of the amount of information covered is proposed and computed. It is concluded that AHs with general fund income (without transfers) per capita of more than 3000 UAH have more informatively filled websites. However, the type of hromada (urban or rural) does not influence the amount of information covered on the website. In general, the carried out analysis showed the lack of asymmetry in the disclosure and dissemination of information through the official websites of AHs of the Lviv region.