Policy Implementation in the Decentralization Welfare Regime

Abstract

In China, welfare policies are locally specified, implemented, and funded. Local fiscal conditions and central-local fiscal system matter for the benefit and coverage policy of social programs. Further, local varied welfare policies can be useful in accommodating local economic and social conditions. For example, different local governments may have different packages for migrant workers, depending on local conditions. In principle, a welfare package portable across regions will protect enrolees when they migrate to other provinces. For policymakers, how to address the regional variations of welfare provision is a serious issue. Interestingly, in this chapter, I show that central/local policymakers have taken into account the responses from their counterparts at the local/central level under the performance evaluation system for local cadres. This chapter also discusses regional integration and local policy experimentation in China’s social policy reform.