Implementation responsiveness: linking public opinion to policy implementation

Abstract

There has been considerable research progress in understanding how governments adapt public policies in response to public opinion. We propose a new concept, ‘implementation responsiveness’, which refers to the extent to which policy implementation is adapted in response to public opinion. By examining documented texts about the actions of Chinese city executive bureaus in response to online public opinions on environmental protection issues, we provide insight into implementation responsiveness. The coding results reveal that implementation responsiveness is widespread in the responses of Chinese city administrations and is manifested as an increase in intensity or expanded scope of implementation. Based on the sandwich model, we also compare the impact of top-down and bottom-up pressure on implementation responsiveness by testing variables such as written directives, repeated complaints, and intensity of public sentiment. The results show that only written directives have a significant and stable positive effect on implementation responsiveness, which implies that leadership authority affects implementation responsiveness more significantly than social pressure. The findings offer novel perspectives on responsiveness theory and have practical implications for grassroots governments facing the challenge of balancing scarce policy resources with the need to make changes in response to public opinion.