Citizen Participation in Budgeting: A Trade‐Off between Knowledge and Inclusiveness?

Abstract

Prior research on citizen participation has noted a tension between fostering an inclusive policymaking process and simultaneously maintaining a competent pool of participating citizens. This study investigates the implications of this trade-off by testing the impact of measured levels of inclusiveness and participating citizens' knowledgeability on two performance metrics: citizen engagement and process efficiency. Results indicate that although inclusiveness may be negatively associated with the level of engagement, both knowledgeability and inclusiveness are positively associated with process efficiency. Overall, the findings suggest that policymakers can pursue the democratic ideal of opening policymaking to the citizenry while still maintaining an efficient process.

Governance of Citizen Participation and its Related Concepts: A Review of Literature

“…As we have discussed, citizen participation makes the policy-making process effective since the government can make well-informed decisions drawn from the citizens (Hong 2015a). The citizens, on the other hand, pass their preferences and needs to the policy-makers ensuring that the policies are better placed to achieve the necessary development and growth in a country.…”

“…Before we conclude, it is important to note once again the growing importance of citizen participatory governance in many countries (Wampler 2007;Hong 2015a). This increasing emphasis on this new mode of governance may show the significant democratic deficits experienced in many countries, but it may also have to do with the rapidly developing new information technologies such as social media that has a great potential for empowering normal citizens (Hong 2013;Hong and Nadler 2013;Gainous and Wagner 2014).…”

“…Citizen participation is important to both the citizens and the government (Wampler 2007;Hong 2015a). The government can come up with informed development initiatives since the public contributes their opinion for important considerations during policy-making process.…”

“…The arguments for citizen participation vouch for the vice for its numerous merits and the belief that citizen participation engages the citizens. Arguably and engaged citizenry are preferable to a passive citizenry (Hong 2015a). Citizen participation in formulating policies ensures that the policies are grounded on citizens preferences and that citizens understand the tough decisions that the government has to make for the public good (Fagence, 2014).…”

“…For instance, citizen budgeting is a major component of the citizen participation, which involves factoring in citizens ideas and preferences on governments' financial resource allocation and their use for increased government effectiveness (Hong 2015a). Other forms of citizen participation include citizen co-production of public service, public-private partnership, and collaborative governance.…”