Governments are accountable to citizens. Citizens play the dual role of taxpayers and consumers of public services. The service responsibilities of governments and their ability to pay for and fulfill these responsibilities, thus, ultimately depend on citizens’ preferences and ability and willingness to pay. Given the vital role of citizens, promoting their participation in budgetary policymaking has been a fundamental goal in democratic governance.

For voters, in particular, does it matter if they participate through institutions of direct democracy as opposed to representative democracy, that is, lawmaking by citizens in contrast to lawmaking by elected representatives? Beyond formal institutions of democracy, are there administrative mechanisms that can facilitate the participation of different external actors? More importantly, how do these administrative mechanisms and local democratic institutions influence public budgeting decisions and outcomes?

Jimenez, Benedict S., Laiyang Ke and Minji Hong (2024) Mayors, competitive elections, and the fiscal health of cities.Public Choice Published online as doi.org/10.1007/s11127-024-01190-0

Jimenez, Benedict S. (2020) Municipal government form and budget outcomes: Political responsiveness, bureaucratic insulation, and the budgetary solvency of cities. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory. 30(1): 161–177

Jimenez, Benedict S. (2019) Power to the people?: The initiative process and fiscal discipline in city governments. Urban Affairs Review. 55(5): 1280-1311.

Jimenez, Benedict S. (2014) Raise taxes, cut services, or lay off staff: Citizens in the fiscal retrenchment process. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory. 24(4): 923-53.