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Streamlining Local Behaviour Through Communication, Incentives and Control: A Case Study of Local Environmental Policies in China

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  • Thomas Heberer
  • Anja Senz

Abstract

This article describes how China uses evaluation ratings and monitoring as incentives in order to foster the implementation of environmental policies at the local level. It is argued that decentralisation in China leaves room for actors at the local levels to manoeuver and bargain with those on higher levels for flexible adjustment of implementation policies according to local conditions. However, decentralisation is accompanied by significant institutional changes in the structure of intergovernmental communication, incentives and control. Accordingly, decentralisation in China exhibits a specific design which leaves space for divergent local environmental policies while also engendering “grass-roots mechanisms”. On the whole, this new institutional setting benefits the implementation of environmental policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Heberer & Anja Senz, 2011. "Streamlining Local Behaviour Through Communication, Incentives and Control: A Case Study of Local Environmental Policies in China," Journal of Current Chinese Affairs - China aktuell, Institute of Asian Studies, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies, Hamburg, vol. 40(3), pages 77-112.
    • Handle: RePEc:gig:chaktu:v:40:y:2011:i:3:p:77-112
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    1. Xun Cao & Qing Deng & Xiaojun Li & Zijie Shao, 2022. "Fine me if you can: Fixed asset intensity and enforcement of environmental regulations in China," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(4), pages 983-1004, October.
    2. Ting Guan & Dieter Grunow & Jianxing Yu, 2014. "Improving China’s Environmental Performance through Adaptive Implementation—A Comparative Case Study of Cleaner Production in Hangzhou and Guiyang," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(12), pages 1-20, December.
    3. Kostka, Genia, 2014. "Barriers to the implementation of environmental policies at the local level in China," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7016, The World Bank.
    4. Li, Houjian & Tang, Mengqian & Cao, Andi & Guo, Lili, 2024. "How to reduce firm pollution discharges: Does political leaders' gender matter?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    5. Zhao, Feifei & Hu, Zheng & Yi, Ping & Zhao, Xu, 2024. "Does environmental decentralization improve industrial ecology? Evidence from China's Yangtze River Economic Belt," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 1250-1270.
    6. Kong Fanjing, 2024. "The Influences of Multi-Level Environmental Regulations on Firm Performance in China," Economics - The Open-Access, Open-Assessment Journal, De Gruyter, vol. 18(1), pages 1-13.
    7. Kostka, Genia, 2013. "China's evolving green planning system: Are targets the answer?," Frankfurt School - Working Paper Series 201, Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.
    8. Xijia Huang & Yiting Guo & Yuming Lin & Liping Liu & Kai Yan, 2022. "Green Loans and Green Innovations: Evidence from China’s Equator Principles Banks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-20, October.
    9. Victor Kaiyuan Lin & Jenn‐Hwan Wang, 2023. "The Green Energy Transition and Peripheral City Development in China: Towards a Local Eco‐developmental State," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 54(3), pages 514-542, May.
    10. Stefan Brehm & Jesper Svensson, 2017. "A fragmented environmental state? Analysing spatial compliance patterns for the case of transparency legislation in China," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 1(2), pages 471-493, October.
    11. Tan, Jing & Liu, Tianyi & Xu, Hao, 2024. "The environmental and economic consequences of environmental centralization: Evidence from China's environmental vertical management reform," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    12. Xingshuai Wang & Ehsan Elahi & Zainab Khalid & Mohammad Ilyas Abro, 2023. "Environmental Governance Goals of Local Governments and Technological Innovation of Enterprises under Green Performance Assessment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-19, January.
    13. Ahlers, Anna L. & Heberer, Thomas & Schubert, Gunter, 2015. "'Authoritarian Resilience' and effective policy implementation in contemporary China: A local state perspective," Working Papers on East Asian Studies 99/2015, University of Duisburg-Essen, Institute of East Asian Studies IN-EAST.
    14. Wu, Mingqin & Cao, Xun, 2021. "Greening the career incentive structure for local officials in China: Does less pollution increase the chances of promotion for Chinese local leaders?," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    15. Zhou, Di & Yin, Xiaoshuo & Xie, Dongchun, 2023. "Local governments’ environmental targets and green total factor productivity in Chinese cities," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    16. Huang, Yanfen & Zhang, Chao & Liu, Wei, 2019. "Who drives the formation and adoption of the "increasing versus decreasing balance policy"?—Evidence from a policy process analysis," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 175-184.

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