Abstract
This study investigates what conditions, in combination, drive varying levels of intensity of inter-organizational activities regarding cooperation on environmental governance in nine urban agglomerations in China. This article distinguishes strong and weak inter-organizational activities; and through a literature review, the article distills five conditions influencing inter-organizational activity, including vertical meta-governance, horizontal meta-governance, leadership, autonomous capacity disparity and environmental status disparity. While these conditions are clearly unique, it is unclear if any of these conditions are necessary or sufficient and how they work collectively, for varying degrees of inter-organization activities. Through the method of Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), the article examines this question. The findings suggest that strong horizontal meta-governance and strong leadership are both necessary conditions for strong inter-organizational involvement in joint environmental governance. Small disparities in autonomous capacity and environmental status are sufficient conditions for strong inter-organizational activities. Strong vertical meta-governance is neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition. The QCA results reveal that local authorities should put energy in developing their formal structures favorable for cooperation and that local leaders should develop skills to facilitate joint actions between member cities in an agglomeration.
Highlights
Urban entrepreneurialism and intensive inter-city competition have featured prominently in post-reform China [1]
Based on the National Plan for Main Functional Areas published in 2011 and the National Plan for New Urbanization launched in 2013, China has established 20 urban agglomerations (Figure 1), among which 5 Urban Agglomerations (UAs) are classified as national key agglomerations, 9 developing agglomerations and 6 pending construction agglomerations
If we look at the first path for weak inter-organizational activity, we may further confirm this point
Summary
Urban entrepreneurialism and intensive inter-city competition have featured prominently in post-reform China [1]. Municipal governments were responsible for making comprehensive local economic plans, setting local taxation rates and leasing and granting urban land [2,3]. The purpose of these local strategies was to attract domestic and foreign investments, compete for global production materials and become places of growth engines [4]. Based on the National Plan for Main Functional Areas published in 2011 and the National Plan for New Urbanization launched in 2013, China has established 20 urban agglomerations (Figure 1), among which 5 UAs are classified as national key agglomerations (including Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Middle Yangtze River and Chengdu-Chongqing), 9 developing agglomerations (including Harbin-Changchun, South Central Liaoning, Shandong Peninsula, Yangtze and Huai Rivers, Central Plains, West Bank of Straits, Central Shaanxi, North Gulf of Guangxi and North Slope of Tianshan) and 6 pending construction agglomerations (including Central Shanxi, Lanzhou-Xi’an, Inter-Mongolia-Shaanxi, Central Yunnan, Central Guizhou, Ningxia).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
