Increasing citizen involvement in participatory budgeting
Increasing citizen involvement in participatory budgeting

Summary/Abstract: The purpose of this study is to present findings from a research project whichinvestigates the possibilities of how to improve citizen involvement in participatory budgeting.We collaborated with the town of Hlohovec, Slovak Republic. We used behaviouralinterventions to increase the number of both projects submitted and voter participation. Adatabase of existing interventions and an overview of suitable interventions were prepared. Weused a design specifically developed for the town of Hlohovec. Our intervention was focusedon flyer design and aimed at all citizens. We modified flyers using the knowledge of behaviouralscience. Two redesigned flyers were created and two different slogans are used for eachredesigned flyer. The intervention we implemented in the town of Hlohovec appears to havebeen highly effective in increasing the number of voters. However, a big challenge for the futureis to find a way how to filter effects of support activities to increase citizen involvement preparedby the town. The behavioural intervention we developed can be used in any other municipalityin which there would be an effort to solve the lack of interest in participatory budgeting.

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