PREFACE

HUGUETTE LABELLE, CHAIR, Transparency Interna onal

lobalisa on has the poten al to raise living standards for ci zens around the world, as well as bearing the risk of excluding people from those benets. Ensuring that globalisa on contributes to a more equitable and sustainable form of economic growth requires the par cipa on of ci zens in monitoring how the global economy is changing and how it impacts the life of people. The Arab Spring has shown the power of people in their poten al to change poli cal systems. Transparency Interna onal, the global civil society organisa on leading the ght against corrup on, aspires to support the emergence of a broad-based social movement standing up to corrup on, especially where it violates human rights and threatens the most vulnerable. In Transparency Interna onals Strategy 2015, we underline that sustainable change requires broad public support. A widespread public engagement will reinforce the demand for solid ins tu ons and provide a strong mandate for poli cal leadership to succeed in their commitments. In many countries, ci zens monitoring of governments has been fundamental to increase transparency and integrity in the last two decades. Today we know that it is not only governments that inuence ci zens lives, but also mul na onal companies. In an interconnected global market they also have the power to shape the life of people, playing a key role for the well being of socie es. This is why the func oning of markets and their inuence for the development of socie es needs to be accompanied by a stronger involvement of ci zens, going beyond the monitoring of governments.

This is why we address the impact of global economic forces in Ci zens and Markets, part of a series of analysis and research lead by Transparencia Mexicana, our Na onal Chapter in Mexico. It is no coincidence that this e ort started in Mexico. Countries like Mexico, Brazil or India are facing new challenges in terms of regula on, compe on and consumer rights. Their recent role in the global economy makes them marketplaces where new trends are being experienced and the consequent rules being cra ed. In order to elaborate future instruments that can help in the monitoring of markets, it is important to gain a sound understanding of its dynamics. Finding ways to watch the private sector more closely, the spheres where the private and public sectors meet, and the func oning of markets in a broader sense requires a sound analysis of the emerging trends for ci zens par cipa on as well as of the role that open data and its management can play for future monitoring instruments. To encourage more ci zens to get involved in the global discussion, Transparencia Mexicana has gathered examples and prac ces from all over the globe, proving that our movement depends on appropriate informa on ows and knowledge hubs. We have also made a conscious e ort to make this book available as an e-book to facilitate its global distribu on. Transparency Interna onal will con nue to work relessly in making our quest for transparency that serves the cause of social jus ce and human dignity around the world.

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