Participatory Budgeting as Example of Behavioural Impact of Public Policies

Abstract

Particular importance in the public sector takes on framing theory, indicating that ‘the way in which the problem is shown to the decision-makers will have an impact on its performance’. The purpose of this study is to present the application of behavioural methods (the framing theory in particular) in shaping local communities’ public funding decisions with the use of participatory budgeting. The following problems are discussed in the chapter: (1) Theoretical assumptions of the application of behavioural theories in shaping the decisions of local communities; (2) The participatory budget theory as the subject of behavioural economics influence (theoretical approach); (3) A practical example of using a behavioural approach in public policies of local communities—an example of the City of Szczecin and the Police commune. To realise the purpose, the authors have analysed of competitions announced as part of the procedure of preparing the budget of the local government unit for the selection of projects covered by the participatory budget, projects submitted to participatory budgets in the form of civic projects, types of behaviour of local communities as part of the adopted procedure for selecting projects for inclusion in the participatory budget.