Potential applications of crowdsourcing in legislative decision-making processes
Crowdsourcing can be treated as one of the new methods of citizen participation in public decisions, including the creation of legal regulations. The author, using the interdisciplinary approach and decision analysis, describes the process of changing the traditional paradigm of exercising public authority and points to the potential applications of the so-called ‘wisdom of the crowd’ at particular stages of the legislative decision-making process. One can distinguish here: diagnostic crowdsourcing (ex ante) and evaluation (ex post). The author also analyzes potential applications of crowdsourcing techniques in relation to selected dimensions included in the Legislator Decision-making Model (instrumental, axiological, social normative system, social conflict and discursive). Crowdsourcing implemented in an appropriate manner by law-making institutions can play a complementary role in moderating social dialogue and seeking innovative applications of legal means to solve social problems, strengthening the authority of law and contributing to the improvement of the quality of regulations.
