Participatory budgeting as a new form of co-decision in local financing

Abstract

Participatory budgeting is one of the ideas for broader inclusion of local communities’ citizens (residents) in political life. This solution is a bottom-up process of budget prioritization and identification by citizens of which investments and projects should be implemented in their area. Participatory budgeting was first introduced in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in 1989. Thus, it is a fairly new idea that has ąuickly become popular in other local communities, particularly in Latin America and Europę. Participatory budgeting presents specific possibilities of creating a decisional space for ordinary citizens who tum out to be able to manage public resources. It is also worth noting that the discussed solution prompts joint responsibility for society, as it is not limited to determining one’s individual needs, but forces participants to consider their demands in the context of other people’s proposals.