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Is hierarchy the only answer? The accountability preferences of Chinese public employees in public service delivery

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  • Yanwei Li

Abstract

This contribution applies the Q methodology to investigate Chinese public employees' accountability preferences under different accountability relationships in delivering public services. We identify four accountability preferences: a vertically oriented accountability, a network‐style accountability, a style of accountability between market and participatory accountability, and a vertically oriented style of market accountability. Our data show that Chinese public employees hold varied accountability preferences in public service delivery, and hierarchy is a relatively popular one. It is suggested that governors should effectively align different accountability relationships with the aim of better steering the behavior of public employees in public service delivery. Esta contribución aplica la metodología Q para investigar las preferencias de responsabilidad percibidas de los empleados públicos chinos bajo diferentes relaciones de responsabilidad en la prestación de servicios públicos. Identificamos cuatro preferencias de rendición de cuentas: una rendición de cuentas orientada verticalmente, una rendición de cuentas de estilo de red, un estilo de rendición de cuentas entre el mercado y la rendición de cuentas social, y un estilo de rendición de cuentas de mercado orientado verticalmente. Nuestros datos muestran que los empleados públicos chinos tienen diversas preferencias de rendición de cuentas en la prestación de servicios públicos, y la jerarquía es relativamente popular. Se sugiere que los gobernadores alineen de manera efectiva las diferentes relaciones de rendición de cuentas con el objetivo de dirigir mejor el comportamiento de los empleados públicos en la prestación de servicios públicos. 本文运用Q方法(Q methodology)分析不同问责关系下中国公职人员在公共服务提供过程中的感知问责偏好。我们识别了四种问责偏好:垂直导向的问责、网络式问责、介于市场问责和参与式问责之间的问责方式、以及垂直导向的市场问责方式。我们的数据显示，中国公职人员在公共服务提供方面持有不同的问责偏好，等级制是一种相对普遍的偏好。本文暗示，治理者应有效调整不同的问责关系，以更好地引导公职人员在公共服务提供过程中的行为。

Suggested Citation

  • Yanwei Li, 2024. "Is hierarchy the only answer? The accountability preferences of Chinese public employees in public service delivery," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 41(3), pages 531-549, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:revpol:v:41:y:2024:i:3:p:531-549
    DOI: 10.1111/ropr.12531
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Petra Persson & Ekaterina Zhuravskaya, 2016. "The Limits Of Career Concerns In Federalism: Evidence From China," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 14(2), pages 338-374, April.
    2. Marija Aleksovska & Thomas Schillemans & Stephan Grimmelikhuijsen, 2019. "Lessons from five decades of experimental and behavioral research on accountability: A systematic literature review," Journal of Behavioral Public Administration, Center for Experimental and Behavioral Public Administration, vol. 2(2).
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    1. Nils C. Bandelow & Johanna Hornung & Ilana Schröder, 2024. "Cultural biases, agenda setting, and the regulation of policy processes," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 41(3), pages 410-414, May.

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