The purpose of this study is to present findings from a research project which investigates the possibilities of how to improve citizen involvement in participatory budgeting. We collaborated with the town of Hlohovec, Slovak Republic. We used behavioural interventions to increase the number of both projects submitted and voter participation. A database of existing interventions and an overview of suitable interventions were prepared. We used a design specifically developed for the town of Hlohovec. Our intervention was focused on flyer design and aimed at all citizens. We modified flyers using the knowledge of behavioural science. Two redesigned flyers were created and two different slogans are used for each redesigned flyer. The intervention we implemented in the town of Hlohovec appears to have been highly effective in increasing the number of voters. However, a big challenge for the future is to find a way how to filter effects of support activities to increase citizen involvement prepared by the town. The behavioural intervention we developed can be used in any other municipality in which there would be an effort to solve the lack of interest in participatory budgeting.

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In the paper, we discuss the possibilities of alternative provision of public goods using the individual voluntary contributions. We use the data from the behavioral public goods game based on the model of voluntary contribution mechanism. We examine how people’s decisions about voluntary contributions to public goods change when the environment changes. The participants of the game were divided into small (5 persons) and large (10 persons) groups. During the game participants were asked to invest experimental money to different types of accounts, i.e. private account, Group account 1 and Group account 2. Using the game, we also examine the impact of a provision point on voluntary contributions. Based on the analysis of the data from this behavioral game, we found that the provision point is effective only if the participants are members of a small group. When the participants were members of both a small group and of a large group the provision point was not effective. When the income of participants was considered, we found that participants with higher experimental income were less willing to voluntarily contribute to financing of a public good.