Policy responsiveness and its administrative organisation in China

Abstract

Scholarly literature on effective policy responsiveness and its administrative organisation in China remains scant. To address this gap, this article explores the administrative elements that impact policy responsiveness, with particular emphasis on the role of response agencies. The authors propose a theoretical framework that underscores two essential dimensions: political authority and interest homogeneity of response agencies. Using online petition data and fiscal expenditure records, the article demonstrates that local governments effectively address public demands, especially concerning environmental issues. Specifically, policy responsiveness significantly improves when government response agencies demonstrate a high level of political authority and share homogeneous interests with citizens. These conclusions emphasise the need to incorporate administrative perspectives when examining policy responsiveness.