The Impact of Government Budget Data Visualization on Public Financial Literacy and Civic Engagement

Abstract

This study explores the transformative power of data visualization technologies for public understanding and civic engagement in government budget processes. This material is based on a broad-based empirical study using a sample of 1,200 subjects from a variety of demographic groups in which we investigate how interactive visualization tools foster greater financial literacy and civic engagement relative to traditional budget presentation approaches. Our results show that visualization-enhanced budget information improves comprehension by 47% and willingness to be involved in civic activities by 32%. The methodology used in this study is a mixed-method that includes controlled experiments, cognitive evaluation instruments, and longitudinal surveys, and it focuses on the analysis of the relationship between visualization design elements and user engagement outcomes. Analysis shows that visual complexity is significantly related to user attributes and participatory actions. The current study is a part of emerging literature on digital governance and has implications for policymakers interested in promoting greater transparency and democratic participation in financial communication through technology.