# Decoding budget awareness: A multivariate analysis of generation Z undergraduates

## TL;DR

This study explores what influences Generation Z undergraduates' understanding of public budgets and suggests ways to improve their awareness.

## Contribution

The study identifies key factors influencing budget awareness among Generation Z and fills a gap in public finance literature.

## Key findings

- Being informed about public revenues and budgeting processes most influences budget awareness.
- Knowledge about taxes and public services had the least impact on students' awareness.
- The study recommends digital education and transparency to improve budget understanding.

## Abstract

Understanding public finance and budget processes has become increasingly important for the younger generation in recent years. This knowledge enables Generation Z to participate more effectively in democratic life as informed citizens. However, there is limited research on Generation Z’s awareness of public budgets in the existing literature. Therefore, the study addressed a significant gap in the public finance literature. We aimed to examine the determinants influencing the state budget awareness of Generation Z undergraduates by using the survey: “Citizens’ Budget Awareness and Effective Factors”. Data was collected from 3,972 undergraduates across all disciplines enrolled in four Turkish state universities between December 2023 and April 2024. We conducted a multiple linear regression analysis to examine the data. The main results showed that being informed about allocated public revenues for which public services, the constitutional power of the purse, budgeting processes and budget-related transactions were the determinants that most influenced the budget awareness of the students. On the contrary, being informed about the connection between taxes and public services, the Public Financial Management and Control Law No. 5018, and the amounts of public revenues within the state budget were determined as the lowest determinants influencing their awareness. Based on our results, we mainly suggested that (i) comprehensive education programmes and interactive learning should be organised in universities by using digital tools, (ii) the link between public revenues and expenditures should be explained through awareness campaigns, and (iii) budget processes should be made more transparent and accessible.