IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/palcom/v12y2025i1d10.1057_s41599-024-04049-3.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Influencing factors and mechanisms on self-governed rural public open space quality: a conceptual social-ecological system (SES) framework

Author

Listed:
  • Xuerui Shi

    (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia)

  • Gabriel Hoh Teck Ling

    (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia)

Abstract

Self-governed public open spaces (POSs) face challenges related to collective action dilemmas, specifically the Hardinian tragedy of the commons and underinvestment. Despite extensive research on social-ecological systems (SES) addressing human-environment issues, there has been no quantitative empirical investigation into the determinants of governance in rural POSs. This study, operationalizing McGinnis and Ostrom’s SES framework and incorporating collective action theories, identifies institutional-social-ecological factors affecting the quality of self-governed POSs in rural China. Questionnaires were distributed to 594 households in 198 villages in Taigu via random sampling. The study employed PLS-SEM and mediation models to identify 15 key SES factors, including 4 institutional factors, 7 social factors, and 4 ecological factors. These variables impact the perceived quality of POSs either directly or through mediation by incentive activities, collective investment, and self-organizing activities. Based on the research findings, the study proposes five policy implications for the self-governance of rural POSs in China. The study not only contributes to the development of an SES-based POS governance framework, but it also offers policy insights into the significance of SES factors and ways to incentivize collective action for effective self-governance of rural public open spaces in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Xuerui Shi & Gabriel Hoh Teck Ling, 2025. "Influencing factors and mechanisms on self-governed rural public open space quality: a conceptual social-ecological system (SES) framework," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-20, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-024-04049-3
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-024-04049-3
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41599-024-04049-3
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41599-024-04049-3?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Agrawal, Arun, 2001. "Common Property Institutions and Sustainable Governance of Resources," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 29(10), pages 1649-1672, October.
    2. Agrawal, Arun & Gibson, Clark C., 1999. "Enchantment and Disenchantment: The Role of Community in Natural Resource Conservation," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 27(4), pages 629-649, April.
    3. Zhang, Jian & Giles, John & Rozelle, Scott, 2012. "Does it pay to be a cadre? Estimating the returns to being a local official in rural China," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 40(3), pages 337-356.
    4. Marko Sarstedt & Christian M. Ringle & Joseph F. Hair, 2022. "Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling," Springer Books, in: Christian Homburg & Martin Klarmann & Arnd Vomberg (ed.), Handbook of Market Research, pages 587-632, Springer.
    5. Ya Ping Wang & Yanglin Wang & Jiansheng Wu, 2009. "Urbanization and Informal Development in China: Urban Villages in Shenzhen," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 957-973, December.
    6. Zhang, Yurong & Zhao, Xueya & Wu, Jiaxuan & Zeng, Ting, 2024. "Human capital of grassroots leaders and vulnerability to poverty: Evidence from rural China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    7. Xu, Yiqing & Yao, Yang, 2015. "Informal Institutions, Collective Action, and Public Investment in Rural China," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 109(2), pages 371-391, May.
    8. Xinshu Zhao & John G. Lynch & Qimei Chen, 2010. "Reconsidering Baron and Kenny: Myths and Truths about Mediation Analysis," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 37(2), pages 197-206, August.
    9. Samuel Bowles & Sandra Polania-Reyes, 2012. "Economic Incentives and Social Preferences: Substitutes or Complements?," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 50(2), pages 368-425, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Purnamita Dasgupta, 2007. "Common Property Resources as Development Drivers: A Study of Fruit Cooperative in Himachal Pradesh: India," Working Papers id:917, eSocialSciences.
    2. Chervier, Colas & Le Velly, Gwenolé & Ezzine-de-Blas, Driss, 2019. "When the Implementation of Payments for Biodiversity Conservation Leads to Motivation Crowding-out: A Case Study From the Cardamoms Forests, Cambodia," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 499-510.
    3. Sirisha C. Naidu, 2005. "Heterogeneity and Common Pool Resources: Collective Management of Forests in Himachal Pradesh, India," Working Papers 2005-8, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Resource Economics.
    4. Okumu, Boscow & Muchapondwa, Edwin, 2020. "Determinants of successful collective management of forest resources: Evidence from Kenyan Community Forest Associations," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    5. Chunyan Chen & Anmol Rasheed & Arslan Ayub, 2023. "Does Green Mindfulness Promote Green Organizational Citizenship Behavior: A Moderated Mediation Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-16, March.
    6. Beitl, Christine M., 2014. "Adding Environment to the Collective Action Problem: Individuals, Civil Society, and the Mangrove-Fishery Commons in Ecuador," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 93-107.
    7. H. Carolyn Peach Brown & James P. Lassoie & Steven A. Wolf, 2007. "An analytic approach to structuring co–management of community forests in Cameroon," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 7(2), pages 135-154, April.
    8. Behnke, Roy, 2018. "Open access and the sovereign commons: A political ecology of pastoral land tenure," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 708-718.
    9. Erwin, Anna & Ma, Zhao & Popovici, Ruxandra & Salas O'Brien, Emma Patricia & Zanotti, Laura & Zeballos Zeballos, Eliseo & Bauchet, Jonathan & Ramirez Calderón, Nelly & Arce Larrea, Glenn Roberto, 2021. "Intersectionality shapes adaptation to social-ecological change," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    10. Adhikari, Bhim & Williams, Frances & Lovett, Jon C., 2007. "Local benefits from community forests in the middle hills of Nepal," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 9(5), pages 464-478, January.
    11. Jagger, Pamela & Pender, John & Gebremedhin, Berhanu, 2005. "Trading Off Environmental Sustainability for Empowerment and Income: Woodlot Devolution in Northern Ethiopia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 33(9), pages 1491-1510, September.
    12. Takasaki, Yoshito, 2016. "Learning from disaster: community-based marine protected areas in Fiji," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 21(1), pages 53-77, February.
    13. Sokoli, Olta & Xhoxhi, Orjon & Skreli, Engjell & Imami, Drini & Doluschitz, Reiner, 2021. "Willingness to cooperate in the context of post-communist economy – Why do local rules matter?," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 22(C).
    14. Kahsay, Goytom Abraha & Bulte, Erwin, 2019. "Trust, regulation and participatory forest management: Micro-level evidence on forest governance from Ethiopia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 118-132.
    15. Adhikari, Bhim & Di Falco, Salvatore & Lovett, Jon C., 2004. "Household characteristics and forest dependency: evidence from common property forest management in Nepal," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(2), pages 245-257, February.
    16. Nunan, Fiona, 2006. "Empowerment and institutions: Managing fisheries in Uganda," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 34(7), pages 1316-1332, July.
    17. Kenrick W. Williams & Hsing-Sheng Tai, 2016. "A Multi-Tier Social-Ecological System Analysis of Protected Areas Co-Management in Belize," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-23, January.
    18. Yeboah-Assiamah, Emmanuel & Muller, Kobus & Domfeh, Kwame Ameyaw, 2017. "Institutional assessment in natural resource governance: A conceptual overview," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 1-12.
    19. Nunan, Fiona & Hara, Mafaniso & Onyango, Paul, 2015. "Institutions and Co-Management in East African Inland and Malawi Fisheries: A Critical Perspective," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 203-214.
    20. Emma Tompkins & W Neil Adger & Katrina Brown, 2002. "Institutional Networks for Inclusive Coastal Management in Trinidad and Tobago," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 34(6), pages 1095-1111, June.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-024-04049-3. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.nature.com/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.