Participatory Budgeting in the Classroom: Pairing Civic Engagement with Public Budgeting

Participatory Budgeting in the Classroom: Pairing Civic Engagement with Public Budgeting

Published: Jun 2, 2025
Contributor: Patricia Jaramillo
Co-Contributors: Gina Amatangelo
License: CC BY NC SA 4.0 license – Allows revisions and additions but forbids commercial use.

This participatory budgeting simulation was developed for an undergraduate introduction to public administration class. It has been adopted by faculty in both face-to-face and online courses. This simple activity fosters a sense of belonging in the classroom, gets students energized about problem-solving in teams, provides insight about participatory governance, and offers a hands-on experience in budgeting and advocacy as students work to persuade others to adopt their ideas.

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