How do political features influence the co-production of government projects? A case study of a medium-sized chinese city

How do political features influence the co-production of government projects? A case study of a medium-sized chinese city

Ma, W. (TU Delft Multi Actor Systems; Harbin Institute of Technology)
Mu, Rui (Dalian University of Technology)
de Jong, Martin (Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam; Fudan University)

Multi Actor Systems

2021

Co-production is a solution by which the government provides public services. Coproduction theory is built upon Western experience and currently focuses on the types of coproduction in different policy stages, the barriers and governance strategies for co-production. However, little attention is paid to how political background will influence the co-production process. To fill the gap, we analyzed a case of co-production that occurred in China, and we characterized the political background as consisting of three main political features: political mobility, central–local relations, and performance measurement. Based on an in-depth case study of a government project in a medium-sized Chinese city, the impact and the changes of political features affecting governmental projects in different co-production stages are analyzed and assessed. We find that political features play a critical role in the co-production of China’s large government projects and may separately and jointly affect co-production. Government performance measurement affects the co-design and co-implementation of projects. Political mobility and changes in local government and performance measurement also affect the co-implementation continuity of the project. Political focus affects the co-design of projects. Central-local relations influence the support from higher government and the actual practices of lower government in the co-implementation stage.

China
Co-design
Co-implementation
Co-production
Political features
Project management

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:89405cfc-ed92-4b6c-b78b-2d4d5be9ad41

https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147600

2071-1050

Sustainability, 13 (14)

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2021 W. Ma, Rui Mu, Martin de Jong