Youth empowered or just involved? Exploring youth participatory budgeting in Finland and Poland

Abstract

This article contributes to research on youth democratic engagement by examining Youth Participatory Budgeting (YPB) as a process shaped by institutional, political, and cultural contexts. Based on a comparative case study of Espoo, Finland, and Lublin, Poland, it analyzes the motivations for adopting YPB, its implementation, and perceived outcomes from the perspectives of youth, teachers, civil society actors, and city officials. The analysis utilizes 29 individual and group interviews alongside documentary data and engages with theoretical frameworks concerning youth participation and participatory budgeting. While both cities aim to empower youth and foster civic engagement, Espoo's centralized, city-led model aligns with the Nordic welfare state, whereas Lublin's school-based approach reflects decentralization and NGO involvement. In both cases, YPB promotes youth agency and civic learning but is constrained by limited deliberation, symbolic inclusion, and uneven institutional support. Without long-term commitment to inclusivity and co-ownership, YPB risks remaining symbolic.