国家信息能力构建与乡镇统计转型——对经济普查制度的历史社会学分析

Information Capacity Building——A Historical Sociology Analysis on China’s Economic Census Project

深化统计管理体制改革,尤其是夯实乡镇统计基础,是推进国家信息能力与治理现代化的重要前提。考察经济普查项目的制度演进,可以发现,其在不同的历史时期依次呈现出群众动员(1950-1982年)、中央发包(1983-2012年)、技术治理(2013年至今)的普查模式;乡镇统计机构的角色也为不同普查模式所形塑,相应呈现出角色缺位、角色冲突、角色失调的困境。随着国家治理对统计数据的需求日益增加,以及普查技术化进程的不断推进,如何让乡镇统计转型跟上国家技术治理的步伐,避免数据治理沦为“技术空转”,显得尤为重要。对此,增强基层统计机构的调查能力与执行灵活性,建设统计基层基础与国家技术化普查相适配的现代化国家统计调查制度,是构建国家信息能力的重要路径。

National information capacity is the foundation of various national capabilities,and the mod-ernization of statistics,particularly the fundamental aspects of statistics,is an important dimension for as-sessing national information capacity.This paper examines the historical evolution of the national econom-ic census project in China as a case study to investigate the operation mechanism and role dilemma of grassroots statistical institutions across different historical stages.The findings indicate that the mode of the economic census has undergone three major changes:the type of mass mobilization(1950-1982),the type of central contracting(1983-2012)and the type of technical governance(2013-present).Un-der different statistical census modes,the roles of grassroots statistical agencies are constantly shaped,which correspondingly presents the dilemma of role absence,conflict and imbalance.To sum up,this pa-per points out that the modernization of statistical reform,hinges on ensuring that grassroots statistical construction keep space with national technological evolution,and avoiding a scenario where the national digital governance result in“technology idling”.Therefore,it is urgent to strengthen the inter-disciplinary perspective and put the issue of grassroots statistical reform under the multiple considerations of national governance,grassroots governance and historical institutionalism.