检验认证的经济学性质及其行业监管——基于对中国检验认证机构的考察

The Nature of Economics of Inspection and Certification and Its Industrial Regulation——Based on the Survey over China's Inspection and Certification Bodies

检验认证活动起源于信息不对称的经济现实,是为了使交易活动顺利进行而积极提供信息的活动,是经济有效运行所必需的"润滑剂"。检验认证活动本质上是对市场缺陷(信息不对称)的一种弥补,而且是通过检验认证活动本身的市场化,在社会和政府的一定监管制度下,对市场体制的完善。监管与检验认证行业的发展、与检验认证活动所要反映的经济社会活动形成天然的不可分割的联系。目前中国政府在检验认证行业中处于主导地位,对检验认证机构的监督管理处于"强"监管状态。面对这样一个快速走向市场化、机构众多而又业务范围极广的信息服务行业,政府角色应当随行业的发展进程而不断调整,逐步建立起市场经济条件下的基于第三方检验认证机构的检验认证监督管理体制。

Originated from information asymmetry, inspection and certification is an activity that facilitates smooth transaction, and a necessary ＂lubricant＂ for effective economic operation. In essence, inspection and certi- fication activity act as a remedy for market defects （information asymmetry） , and also improving market system through its marketization under social and governmental regulation. With higher degree of complexity in economical and social activities, industrial chain further differentiated, during which, inspection and certification activities separated from manufacturing sector and become a more specialized industry of producer services; on the other hand, it become more independent, therefore the third party inspection and certification activities exceeds the first and the second party to become the principal part of inspection and certification activity. On this basis, regulation over inspection and certification industry came into being. Therefore, the development of regulation and inspection ＆ certification industry is inextricably linked with economic and social activities they reflected. After reform and opening up, China＇s inspection and certification body has grown into the world＇s third largest market only next to European Union and the United States. Dominated with three pillars of state-owned, foreign- funded and private institutions, there are more than 20,000 organizations of different size and various market posi- tion. Faced with such a market-oriented and myriad information service industry with wide range of businesses, it became a big challenge to define government＇s role. The Chinese government varies significantly with European and the U. S. Government in the regulatory system of inspection and certification. Chinese government is in a dominant position in inspection and certification indus- try, a state of ＂strong＂ regulation. This difference stems from the ＂path dependence＂ during the reform process and also is the pragmatic choice under realistic conditions. At present, China has abandoned the system of planned economy in which government directly involved in the inspection and certification activities, instead, it transformed into the system of third party inspection and certification. According to the market economic system, regulation based on open and fair will be the fundamental principal of building up the regulation system; In addition, we need to learn from international experience while give more play to the inspection and certification bodies and associations, constantly improve China＇s regulation system, turn- ing it into a multidimensional system that is based on market process and are able to mobilize the power of different aspects.