The evolution of participatory budgets in Polish local governments: The case of the Lodz Participatory Budget

Mateusz Marek Piasecki; Mariusz E. Sokołowicz

doi:10.31648/aspal.11496

Published: 2026-06-24

Vol. 25 No. 2 (2026)

The evolution of participatory budgets in Polish local governments: The case of the Lodz Participatory Budget

Mateusz Marek Piasecki

, Mariusz E. Sokołowicz

Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Administratio Locorum

Section: Articles

https://doi.org/10.31648/aspal.11496

Abstract

Motives: The article examines the evolution of participatory budgeting (PB) in Poland over more than a decade, using the Lodz Participatory Budget (LPB) as an example. It explores the origins of PB, tracing it back to Brazilian Porto Alegre and how it has been adapted within the Polish local government system. It analyses the changing logics and drivers of PB, showing how, under specific formal and informal institutional conditions, PB has evolved into a tool balancing administrative efficiency, citizen participation, and local democracy.

Aim: The study is based on the example of Lodz, which has continuously implemented PB since 2012. It aims to highlight key transformations in local governments and to demonstrate how PB influences democratic participation.

Results: The article reveals that the most significant changes are driven by institutional factors, particularly amendments to local legal regulations. These modifications shape the scope and effectiveness of PB, determining how it functions as a mechanism for involving residents in decision-making and fostering engaged local democracy.

Keywords:

Participatory budget, social participation, local democracy, Local Self-Governments, Poland, Lodz

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Piasecki, M. M., & Sokołowicz, M. E. (2026). The evolution of participatory budgets in Polish local governments: The case of the Lodz Participatory Budget. Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Administratio Locorum, 25(2), 339–360. https://doi.org/10.31648/aspal.11496

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Mateusz Marek Piasecki

mateusz.piasecki2@edu.uni.lodz.pl
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5442-7630

Affiliation:

University of Lodz, Lodz Poland

Bio Statement (e.g., department and rank)

Mateusz Piasecki is a PhD student at the University of Lodz. He is also an architect and urban planner, focusing on research in citizen engagement and participation, spatial planning, and urban development. On a daily basis, he works on implementing participatory processes at the municipal level. He is also a member of the Society of Polish Town Planners.

Mariusz E. Sokołowicz

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0716-4345

Affiliation:

University of Lodz, Lodz Poland

Bio Statement (e.g., department and rank)

Mariusz E. Sokolowicz is an urbanist-economist, exploring urban and regional economies and communities. He research focuses on urban and regional economics, emphasizing spatial disparities, migration, local government efficiency and urban resilience. Specifically, he is interested in revitalization processes, place marketing, the impact of globalization on regional dynamics and the role of heritage in territorial development. He analyses all these issues through the lens of institutionalism, looking for the practical applications in local and regional governments. Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Sociology of the University of Lodz. His academic work treats local and regional government as the common good of all citizens.