China's 1998 Administrative Reform and New Public Management: Applying a Comparative Framework

Abstract

Does New Public Management (NPM) represent a global paradigm shift? Is China's 1998 administrative reform really a variation of NPM? This paper argues that resemblance does not equal convergence, and institutional background has to be considered. It proposes that comparing administrative reforms should address the institutional context around the relationships among democracy, politics, administration, society, business, and citizen. Utilizing this framework, it analyzes the technical, strategic, and consequential dimension of China's 1998 reform. The analysis suggests that the NPM agenda is different from, and inappropriate for, the Chinese reform. The lesson from China's experience can be applied to other authoritarian or developing countries.