Can We Manage Coastal Area? Will We?——The Institutional Change of the Coastal Area Management of Taiwan

The Coastal Zone Management Act was finally promulgated in 2015,while Ministry of the Interior was asked to draft a coastal management act in 1991 by Executive Yuan.It was until the government’s lifting of martial law in 1987,vigorous activities started prevailing on coastal areas.And relevant legal documents were on sea reclamation for development in the 1980’s by Council of Agriculture.The approval of“Taiwan Coastal Area Natural Environment Protection Plan”showed an era of environmental protection in 1980s.However,it was surely not market driven,similar to land development,but some efforts by the administration systems.Through all the years,the efforts were put on drafting plans and these efforts were not quite sounding.The coastal disasters and further climate change caught the attention of relevant NGOs,scholars,politicians,and the society.At the critical juncture the government was made to react to outside demands.And then the Coastal Zone Management Act was passed by Legislative Yuan,establishing an integrated coastal management system in Taiwan.As such,it is proposed to look into this long process of the attempt with the concept of institutional change in order to understand this coastal environmental preservation and protection issue in a broader scope.

Development, Institutional Changes, and the Power of Science in Baiyinxil Rangeland, IMAR

Field research in this paper was carried out in Baiyinxil State-owned Rangeland （SOR）, which is 55 kms southeast of Xilingol City in Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region （IMAR）. The area established the first grassland nature reserve in China as well as the first SOR in IMAR. By reviewing its 60 years of development, the paper analyzes local herders＇ ecological ideology （the cycle made of human-grassland-livestock and none of which could be neglected） and the modern nation-state＇s policy implementation in ecological resettlement, institutional changes, and livestock cross-breeding. The purpose of the research is to discuss three pairs of socio-ecological relationships in Inner Mongolia grassland： between population flow and regional development, traditional ideology and grassland management ideology, as well as the competition between local knowledge and modern science and technology. The author argues that grassland management is a cyclical process and the deterioration of grassland ecology in IMAR is simply a reflection of the imbalance of three key elements （human-institution-cattle） in maintaining grassland ecology.

The Impact of Changes of Property Rights on Farmland Use:An Empirical Study of China during Transition

In China, farmland property rights characterized by the household-responsibility system (HRS) have been improved since the reform and opening-up. The rights of use, transfer and gain become more stable, authorized and complete. This paper firstly analyzes the impact on farmland productivity, which comes from the improvement of farmland property rights. Then, an economet- ric model is built to test the above analysis. It concludes that changes of property rights will affect farmland performance in China. In the end, some policy implications are explored for fur- ther reforms.

Relationship Between National Income, Institutional Change and Outbound Tourism Based on Panel Data of the G20 from 1995 to 2014

Based on panel data of 17 economies in the G20 from 1995 to 2014,this paper,in terms of the total samples,developed countries and developing countries,explored the impact of national income on outbound tourism and the moderating effect of institutional change on the relationship between national income and outbound tourism.The results showed that:(1)for the total samples,developed countries and developing countries,national income had a positive impact on outbound tourism;(2)for the total samples and developing countries,institutional change had a positive moderating effect on national income and outbound tourism,indicating that with the deepening of marketization,the facilitating role of national income on outbound tourism strengthened;(3)for developed countries,institutional change had a negative moderating effect on national income and outbound tourism,indicating that with the deepening of marketization,the facilitating role of national income on outbound tourism weakened.

The Impact of Temporal and Political Context on Institutional Change

In order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of institutional change, researchers need to go beyond a snapshot view of significant events but consider events in their temporal setting. Pierson （2004） advocated that the events that lead to institutional change should be placed in a moving temporal context, as this will not only add to our comprehension of the dynamics of change, but also enrich the existing research and enhance the theories we employ to give meaning to these events. Pierson （2004） laid the foundation for the research that was later developed by Thelen （2009） that considered incremental endogenous shifts in institutional thinking that can often result in fundamental transformations. The central issues of Pierson＇s （2004） thesis lay in his interpretation of history and its relationship with path dependence. He claimed that once an institution has chosen a particular path to follow, it can become locked into that pathway and so the options of choice are restricted. This then presumed that an institutions first choice of action is crucial to whether they become locked into a successful course of action or not. The result of the first choice being successful or not would be dependent on the presence of increasing returns. The explication Pierson proffers of increasing returns is different to an economic one in that it is based on positive feedback processes and politics in time. The implications of Pierson＇s work and those that followed have a very serious place in our understanding of institutional change.

Beyond Transformational Change： Incremental Transformational Change in Institutions

Much has been written and researched about transformational change and the exogenous events that result in radical institutional transformation （Di Maggio ＆ Powell, 1983; Hannan＆ Freeman, 1989; Fligstein, 1996; Zorn, Dobbin, ＆ Kwok, 2006）. Accounts are provided of external agents disturbing the existing stasis of the institution and transforming the institution into something else that reflect a new paradigm or set of interests. Often, what is neglected in these accounts is what fractures exist in the original institution that would make them vulnerable and allow penetration by exogenous influences. Mahoney and Thelen （20 l 0） went beyond a general model of change that described the collapse of one set of institutional norms to be replaced by another. The model of change they propose takes into account both exogenous as well as endogenous factors as being the source of institutional change. They went on to state a view that transformation change as being a result of abrupt, wholesale breakdown needs to be rethought to include incremental, endogenous shifts in thinking that can often result in fundamental transformations.

Institutional changes of China's drug regulation and improvement solutions

Drug regulation is the most important policy to ensure drug safety.In this article,we analyzed institutional changes and problems in China＇s drug regulation.In addition,suggestions were provided to enhance the capacity of drug regulation,including a clearer functional positioning for drug regulation,increased resource inputs in drug regulation at central level,a more rational allocation of vertical drug regulatory functions,and an improved supervision mechanism for regulatory departments.

Adjustment costs of institutional tax changes from the audit pricing perspective: Empirical evidence from the VAT reform

Institutional changes inevitably impose adjustment costs on firms while also generating benefits.However,empirical evidence regarding the adjustment costs of institutional changes is limited,with much of the focus centered on benefits.Using data on China’s A-share listed companies from 2010 to 2018 and the nation’s staggered adoption of the"business tax to value-added tax reform"(hereafter,"VAT reform")as a natural experiment,we examine the impact of this reform on a particular corporate cost:audit fees.We find audit fees to be 8.11%higher for VAT reform firms than for non-VAT reform firms.This difference does not exist before or after the reform year.That is,it is only observed in the year of VAT reform implementation.This indicates the existence of an adjustment cost specifically related to the VAT reform.Furthermore,we observe larger fee increases among firms audited by Big 4 international audit firms,firms that require more audit work,firms that are more complex,and firms with weak internal controls.From the audit pricing perspective,we provide evidence of the economic consequences of tax reform.The corporate adjustment costs that arise from institutional changes deserve more attention from decision-makers.

Legal status changes in Chinese higher education institutions in the education system reform

During the past twenty years,higher education institutions in China have gained enormous rights due to both the streamlining of administration and the decentralization of the government.Their legal status has hence changed dramatically.However,the expansion of their rights has also brought about the possibility of higher education institutions profiting by pursuing development.The influence of the market has begun to permeate higher education institutions,and this change has shown some characteristics of induced institutional changes.Accordingly,higher education institutions should be regulated from the perspective of public law,so as to ensure their public nature.

From Poverty to Overall Weft-off： Reviewing China＇s Agricultural and Rural Development during the 20th Century

By applying theories on development economics and institutional economics, and following the path of institutional change in rural development and evolution of the industrial-agricultural, rural-urban relationship, this paper systematically reviews China＇s agricultural and rural development over the 20th century. The authors specifically analyze the challenges and problems China has encountered in developing modern agriculture, the new countryside, and the urban-rural coordinated development, and stress the importance of promoting the synchronous development from these four aspects.

Financial Market of Montenegro： Evidence of Crisis and Beyond

The financial sector has played a small role in the restructuring of the manufacturing sector in transition economies, and in some cases, financial liberalization may have undermined real sector development. However, stable and stimulating business environment is crucial for economic development. The aim of this paper is to show the main changes that have been implemented in Montenegro so far, and guidelines for changes in the financial market in Montenegro, for further harmonization in accordance with the requirements of European Union （EU） accession. Also, the ability of governments of transition economies to enforce contracts and to achieve fiscal and monetary responsibility is of great importance for economic and financial development. By adopting the new Constitution of Montenegro, in the field of regulation of the financial system, there have been significant changes, recognizing the Central Bank as an institution responsible for financial stability. The authors will give a review of the actual state of the financial market in Montenegro, as well as recommendations for further changes in order to create a favorable climate for entrepreneurship and to strengthen the overall financial system.

Institution and Change of the Public Economy:A New Interpretation of Early Modern Civilization Evolution

The causes of the evolution of human civilization have drawn much attention among social scientists. The new institutional economics （NIE） and its model of property rights explain the rise of the West Europe, but not the Industrial Revolution itself; nor have they addressed the causes for the rise and fall of civilizations in the East. By defining human civilization within the context of the public economic institution, we interpret this change in the public economic institution using swings in the demand structure of public goods. We see these swings as a contributing cause of the evolution of human civilization from traditional to modern. Our conclusions show that the shifts of public economic institutions between the mass democratic one and the elite constitutional one contributes to the current modem economic crisis and the stagnancy of modem civilization.

Institutional Change and Urban Redevelopment Process:A Case Study of Changshoujie,Shanghai

Through investigating the institutional change and urban development in Shanghai since 1978,this research identifi es that the gradual economic reforms have generated dynamic forces for urban development. As an example,this paper examines Changshoujie in detail to uncover its physical changes and to explore how the actors' roles and interests interplay as well as how the transitional institutions of property rights and urban planning have impacted the shaping of urban space. 117 projects constructed since 1978 are classifi ed into six development modes according to the characteristics of land users and developers. Although there is a time lag,the path depending on institutional change has a direct impact on urban development and the consequent spatial structure.

The Fall and Rise of Tuberculosis： How Institutional Change Affected Health Outcomes in Shanghai, 1927--2013

This paper examines the decline of tuberculosis and the faltering of TB in China. Specifically, I examine how institutional change--the construction and dismantling of the work-unit system--has affected TB control. The work-unit system was an employment system under which the vast majority of the population, in both urban and rural areas, had guaranteed employment and a host of benefits, including health insurance and access to the public health and health care systems. This system was created in the 1950s, which coincided with the decline of TB mortality and morbidity. The 1990s dismantling of the work-unit system has coincided with resurgent TB. This comparative historical sociological work examines TB control in Shanghai at three critical junctures： before the work-unit system was constructed, while it was in place, and since it has been dismantled. I examine both Shanghai＇s urban districts and rural counties, based on data gathered from archival sources and in-depth interviews during 17 months of field research. I argue that the work-unit system provided an effective basic-level infrastructure for the provision of public health and health care services that reached the entire population. This infrastructure was critical to the success of TB control efforts during the work-unit era, and its dismantling has been a key cause of the faltering of TB control in recent years.

The Future of Multilateralism in the Post-pandemic World

This paper applies an endogenous institutionalist framewwork to understand the evolution of the rules-based international trading system since the end of World WarⅡ.We argue that the initial success of the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs and re-enforcement that led to the formation of the WTO can be explained by three major factors:the hegemonic position of the US,the belief that international trade would foster prosperity and peace,and Cold War politics.However,declining US hegemony along with a shift in global comparative advantage in labor-intensive manufacturing led to a shift from multilateral towards preferential trade agreements since the 1990s.Today,the WTO faces several new challenges,including increasing geo-political competition between the US and China,increasing digitization of commerce,and disrupted supply chains following CO VID-19.A functioning WTO that facilitates global economic re-integration remains crucial to ensure a strong recovery from the pandemic and continued long-term prosperity and stability of the global economy.

Youth voting and institutional change in the post-Arab Spring MENA region

Using a unique and novel dataset on the youth,the SAHWA Youth Survey(2016),we apply probit and ordered probit models to study the determinants of voting behaviour change among the youth in the Middle East and North Africa(MENA)region in the post-Arab Spring era.We find that drivers of voting vary depending on whether we consider the voting behaviour in the last elections or the likelihood of voting in the next elections.Specifically,socioeconomic variables and some Arab Spring factors are significant for both types of elections.However,institutional variables and personal beliefs only affect the likelihood of voting in the next elections.We also document heterogeneous effects for the last and next votes by gender.

Impact of Ownership Types on R＆D Intensity and Innovation Performance--Evidence from Transitional China

This paper examines the effects of ownership types on firms＇ R＆D intensity and innovation performance, using a sample of 357,857 Chinese firms from 2005-2007. This study finds considerable divergence among Chinese domestic enterprises in terms of R＆D intensity and innovation performance. Firms owned by the central government are the key drivers for firms＇ R＆D activities, while local government, private and foreign ownerships are negatively related to both R＆D intensity and innovation performance. Significant divergence within government ownership category and argues that China＇s institutional changes generate varied government ownership groups with different levels of resource endowment, which in turn influence firms＇ R＆D activities.

State Fragmentation and Rights Contestation:Rural Land Development Rights in China

The functionalist reasoning of institutional changes builds on individual rationality and explains institutional changes from the demand side. While insightful, a comprehensive understanding also needs to take into account the supply side, The state, as the ultimate supplier of institutional changes, plays the pivotal role of agency; therefore, its willingness and ability decide how such regime change occurs and what partieular form the new regime takes. Since the mid-1990s, the Chinese economy has embarked on a path of rapid industrialization and urbanization. The contestation over rural land development rights in China offers an excellent case to illuminate the importance of state agency in institutional changes. Drawing on case studies in China＇s three major urbanizing regions, this article analyzes how villages brought their own land directly to the land market and reaped handsome profits. We argue that the three successful cases, Nanhai in Guangdong, Kunshan in Jiangsu and Zhenggezhuang in Beijing, all represent a product of active agency on the supply side. The Chinese state＇s fragmented authority provides a favorable institutional environment for such changes.

Persistence and Change in the Rural Land System of Contemporary China

Contemporary China’s rural land institutions have gone through land reform,the cooperative movement,the People’s Commune movement and the household responsibility system.Their persistence and change can be explained through a“stickiness generation-stickiness dilution”analytical framework:institutional environment and path dependence constitute the generative inducement of institutional stickiness,and have an important role in the continuity of the rural land system;the penetration of informal institutions is a crucial variable in diluting institutional stickiness,with the interaction between informal and formal institutions running throughout the entire course of institutional change.Changes in mental concepts and ideology are important influences that strengthen,break down or build formal institutions.