Research on Policy Diffusion Path and Reproduction of River Chief System

The River Chief System (RCS) has evolved from local innovative practices to a national water governance strategy to address the current challenges in China’s water environmental management. In contrast to existing research that focuses on the strengths, weaknesses, and improvements of RCS, this study uses literature study to reveal the dynamic evolution of RCS through three phases, with RCS spreading from developed coastal areas to central and western inland regions. RCS’s diffusion path involves vertical diffusion between central and local levels and horizontal diffusion among local governments. Moreover, RCS has also achieved conceptual spillover, gradually expanding into other governance domains, such as the Lake Chief System, the Field Chief System, the Forestry Chief System, and the integration of multiple chief roles. However, it is essential to scrutinize the phenomenon of applying similar governance mechanisms to different areas, as it may result in challenges such as overburdening local governments, insufficient public participation, oversimplification of differences in natural resource endowments, and limited applicability. This study also provides suggestions on how to address these challenges. The study contributes theoretical insights and policy implications, providing a foundation for practical policy innovation.

Social Policy Diffusion from the Perspective of Intergovernmental Relations： An Empirical Study of the Urban Subsistence Allowance System in China （1993-1999）

Universal access to China＇s social welfare system involves a process of diffusion from localities to the whole country on the basis of social policy innovations in which intergovernmental relations play a key role as a facilitator. The rapid establishment of the urban subsistence allowance system in more than 200 cities throughout the country in seven years （1993-1999） serves as a case for our empirical analysis of the diffusion mechanism of social policy innovations at different levels of government. Our findings show, firstly, that in adopting a new social policy, city governments have to respond to the social desire of local citizens while keeping fiscal constraints in mind; at the same time, they are affected by administrative orders from higher-level governments and the vertical fiscal relations between governments at different levels, and are also subject to competitive pressures from other cities at the same level. Secondly, city governments＇ policy innovations offer an opportunity for higher levels of government to learn from their experience. Thirdly, central government orders exert both a direct and indirect influence upon city governments, with provincial orders acting as intermediaries. And lastly, there is a clear difference in the time lag effect of orders from the central government and those at provincial level upon city governments＇ policy adoption.

Policy Innovation Diffusion and PPP Spatial Distribution

Since 2014,PPP policy has been promoted rapidly in China.Based on the theory of policy innovation diffusion,this paper explores the formation mechanism of PPP spatial disequilibrium at the micro level using Chinese municipal-level panel data from 2014 to 2019.According to the research,the innovation diffusion of China’s PPP policy at the local-government level exhibits R-shaped non-progressive characteristics and is influenced by both internal and external factors.On the internal side,the debt pressure of local governments is an important determinant with an inverted U-shaped influence on PPP policy.On the external side,imitation and competition among neighboring local governments are the main external determinants.This spatial strategic interaction occurs not only in same-province regions with close proximity and similar economic development but also in different-province regions with close proximity.The above studies offer certain insights into optimizing the spatial distribution pattern of PPP and guarding against fiscal risks.

Policy Diffusion in Leadership Transfer Networks

Although some emerging research has recognized the significance of the network perspective in policy diffusion, our understanding of how the policy network structure affects policy diffusion’s process and performance is limited. This article uses the method of social network analysis, focusing on network structure indicators, to investigate the impact of centrality and structural holes in the municipal leadership transfer networks on policy diffusion’s performance. Furthermore, from the cross-layer network perspective, we assume that provincial leadership transfer networks’ centrality and structural holes moderate the above relationship. Employing the panel data from an environmental field of 292cities in China from 2003 to 2018, we find the relationship in the form of an inverted U-shape between centrality, structural holes in the municipal leadership transfer networks and the diffusion performance of environmental policies. High levels of centrality and structural holes in the provincial leadership transfer networks steepen the double inverted U-shaped relationship.