Chinese Context Research Articles

Regulating surrogacy intermediaries: a comparative analysis of regulatory approaches and implications in the Chinese context

Abstract This article addresses the significant research gap concerning the regulation of surrogacy intermediaries in China’s rapidly growing surrogacy market. Employing a ‘law in context’ perspective, it explores the question of how to effectively regulate surrogacy intermediaries in the Chinese context. Situated within China’s unique socio-cultural landscape, where procreation carries profound significance, the study navigates the complexities of surrogacy regulation, including ethical dilemmas, rights infringements and regulatory ambiguities. The article advocates for the regulation of surrogacy in China to prevent possible exploitation, referencing three international models: prohibiting commercial surrogacy, governing non-profit surrogacy organisations and imposing duties on for-profit surrogacy agents. The aim is to construct a robust, context-sensitive regulatory framework for surrogacy in China, focusing on identifying suitable intermediaries and defining the scope of effective regulatory oversight.

Validation of the Chinese version of the coping strategies for victims of cyberbullying scale

BackgroundAlthough abundant evidence has confirmed cyberbullying as a global online risk, little is known about the coping strategies employed by victims and those who experiencing bullying. A validated scale for coping with cyberbullying could inform evidence-based social services and enable comparative studies of this phenomenon among victims from different backgrounds. This study aims to validate the Coping Strategies for Victims of Cyberbullying (CSVC) scale among Chinese adolescents and to compare its effectiveness between victims and bully-victims (individuals with dual roles).MethodsA 25-item CSVC scale was translated and adapted for cultural relevance in the Chinese context. A sample of 1,716 adolescents, aged 13–18 years, from two middle schools and one high school in China, was recruited. Both exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted.ResultsThe EFA revealed that the Chinese version of the CSVC scale had satisfactory validity. The CFA demonstrated a good fit for the eight-factor model in assessing different coping strategies for cyberbullying. Differences in the selection of coping strategies were observed between the general adolescent population and sexual and gender minorities.ConclusionsFuture intervention studies may use this validated scale to educate adolescents, both those affected by cyberbullying and those who are not, to learn a broader range of coping strategies and to choose more effective ones.

Students are not Customers of the University – The Analysis of Marketization and the Metaphor of Students in Higher Education

In this article, it discusses the marketization of higher education, during which a metaphor of students appears. When students are viewed as customers of universities, the teaching of teachers will be influenced and students themselves will be deprived opportunities of being critical learners. The marketization in Chinese context is specifically analyzed to further demonstrate it is unnecessary to treat students as university customers. Although it will be hard and impossible for higher education to become complete public goods, there is no need to offer students some identities in advance which may cause the deprivation of students’ own choices and pure learning motivations. This article argues the unnecessity of viewing students as customers of university and urges more research to focus on students’ and teachers’ voices about their identities in higher education.

Politicizing, policizing and beyond neoliberalism: Understanding Chinese city branding from the case of Chongqing

This study seeks to explain the Chinese conception of city branding. Given the intricate and multidisciplinary nature of city branding, the article aims to address a gap in the literature and provide a direction to a deeper understanding of city branding from the Chinese socialism context. Taking a case study approach, the article analyses a significant body of discussion resulting from in-depth interviews with branding experts and government officials in Chongqing, the case study city. The analysis focuses on the role of the government and reveals that city branding in China is influenced, and largely controlled, by the national government. The discussion of the agents of Chinese city branding, city branding as a government tool, and the tendency towards policization, which means that city branding is implemented as part of urban policy, contributes to the theoretical growth of current city branding beyond a neoliberal perspective.

Exploring Writing Anxiety during Writing Process: An Analysis of Perceptions in Chinese English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Learners

Writing anxiety has been identified as a significant obstacle for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners in China, with previous studies indicating that it can negatively affect writing performance. Despite this, most research on writing anxiety in the Chinese EFL context has focused on the relationship between writing anxiety and writing performance, with limited attention paid to exploring writing anxiety during the writing process and its sources in depth. This study applied a qualitative method to explore Chinese EFL learners’ writing anxiety in the writing process. Thematic analysis was used for analyzing data collected through semi-structured interviews with 18 Chinese EFL learners. The results revealed seven primary themes, including lack of knowledge about the writing topic, inexperience with the genre, challenges with brainstorming or coming up with ideas, trouble with structuring or arranging information, difficulty with integrating sources, linguistic difficulty, and negative or no feedback from instructors. The findings indicated that writing anxiety accompanies throughout the writing process. EFL learners need strategies to alleviate writing anxiety, including clear instructions on how to approach writing tasks, provision of appropriate resources, individualized feedback, and a supportive learning environment.

Infertility psychological distress in women undergoing assisted reproductive treatment: A grounded theory study.

While there exists an ample body of research in international contexts focused on the characterization and quantification of infertility psychological distress, the level of scholarly scrutiny directed towards this phenomenon within the context of China remains scant. To investigate the formation and developmental processes of psychological distress associated with infertility and infertility treatment among women within the Chinese cultural context and to construct a theoretical framework that elucidates this phenomenon. Qualitative approach with grounded theory methodology. This study was conducted within the reproductive medicine department of a tertiary-level hospital located in central China from May to August 2023. Twenty-seven women who experienced infertility and underwent assisted reproductive treatment (ART) were interviewed. The interview sessions spanned durations ranging from 20 min to 1 h and 35 min. Data analysis included open coding, axial coding and selective coding. The study is reported using the COREQ checklist. The infertility psychological distress experienced by women undergoing ART is a socially constructed phenomenon influenced by a dynamic interplay of forces that construct and conciliate it. The formation and progression of infertility psychological distress are rooted in the process of self-construction. A Middle-Ranged Theory titled 'self-reconstruction under the dome of infertility and infertility treatment' (SUDIT theory) was developed to explain this phenomenon. Within this framework, infertility psychological distress manifests across three distinct phases under the gambling ofthe constructive force and conciliative force: (1) distress of disrupting the former self; (2) distress linked to the struggling present self; and (3) the renewed-self harmonized with distress. It is imperative for healthcare professionals and policymakers to acknowledge the socially constructed nature of infertility psychological distress, and proactively implement measures aimed at ameliorating it. No patient or public contribution.

The Chinese version of the general benefit finding scale (GBFS): Psychometric properties in a sample of college students.

Benefit finding has become a central construct in the evolution of positive psychology and attracted attention in recent literature. This study aimed to translate and validate the General Benefit Finding Scale (GBFS) in Chinese college students. Forward- and back-translation of the GBFS was followed by the assessment of semantic equivalence and content validity. A sample of 589 college students was recruited in China to conduct reliability and validity analysis. The construct validity was assessed using exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Concurrent validity was assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficients of the GBFS with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and World Health Organization-Five Well-Being (WHO-5). Internal consistency and two-week test-retest reliability were also evaluated. The content validity index for each item ranged from 0.83 to 1.00. EFA revealed a six-factor model, which exhibited acceptable goodness of fit in CFA (standardized root mean square residual = 0.031, root mean square error of approximation = 0.059, goodness-of-fit index = 0.860, comparative fit index = 0.904, Tucker-Lewis index = 0.890, chi-squared/degree of freedom = 2.07). The concurrent validity of the GBFS was supported by its statistically significant correlations with PSS (r = -0.271, p<0.001) and WHO-5 (r = 0.354, p<0.001). Moreover, the internal consistency for the overall scale was satisfactory, with Cronbach's α coefficient of 0.93 and McDonald's omega reliability of 0.94. The test-retest reliability was 0.82. Although the Chinese version of GBFS was examined in a homogeneous convenience sample of college students, it provides a reliable and valid instrument for assessing benefit finding in the Chinese context.

What they want to say and what they say: Employee voice gap and associated outcomes in the Chinese context

What they want to say and what they say: Employee voice gap and associated outcomes in the Chinese context

A study on the double-edged sword effect of inclusive leadership on employees’ work behaviour—dual path perspective of cognition and affection

In order to cope with the volatile social environment and organisational change, more and more scholars call on leaders to stimulate subordinate effectiveness to a greater extent with inclusive behaviour. Existing studies focus on the positive impact of inclusive leadership, but ignore its potential negative impact. This study integrates Cognition-affection Personality System Theory to explore the double-edged sword mechanism of inclusive leadership on subordinates’ work behaviour. Through the data analysis of 518 paired questionnaires collected in three stages, the results are as follows: Inclusive leadership has a positive impact on subordinates’ psychological entitlement and state gratitude; Psychological entitlement and state gratitude play mediation roles not only between inclusive leadership and work withdrawal behaviour, but also between inclusive leadership and active behaviour; Subordinate narcissistic personality moderates the positive effect of inclusive leadership on psychological entitlement and state gratitude, and then moderates the indirect effect of inclusive leadership on subordinate work withdrawal behaviour and proactive behaviour through psychological entitlement and state gratitude. The above results expand the research on the action mechanism and boundary conditions of inclusive leadership in Chinese organisational context, and provide practical guidance for organisational managers to effectively conduct inclusive leadership.

Rethinking the author name ambiguity problem and beyond: The case of the Chinese context

ABSTRACT The perennial problem of author name ambiguity has attracted increasing attention in the academic community. Drawing on the literature, this article first highlights the pervasiveness of the problem and discusses its adverse consequences. It then analyzes the behavioral causes of the problem in the Chinese context and attributes them to personal, cultural, and institutional factors. Informed by this analysis and recognizing ORCID as a promising solution, we propose an ORCID-based “Prevention plus Cure” campaign against author name ambiguity. The prevention objective relies on researchers’ consistent use of ORCID, while the cure objective involves retrospectively integrating ORCIDs into backfile publications. We also outline the responsibilities of various stakeholders to ensure the success of the campaign. Furthermore, we argue that universal adoption of ORCID can help curb authorship-related misconduct, discern predatory journals and publishers, and track researchers’ undesirable records of academic publishing. We then analyze the current status of ORCID adoption in China, identify potential challenges, propose tentative solutions to address them, and highlight ORCID as a tool that can be utilized to empower China’s combat against research misconduct. In conclusion, we emphasize the importance of conducting empirical research to inform more effective promotion of ORCID adoption in China.

Applying the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to investigate factors of implementing alcohol screening and brief intervention among primary care physicians and nurses in Hong Kong, China: an exploratory sequential mixed-method study

BackgroundAlcohol screening and brief intervention (SBI) is an evidence-based intervention recommended by the World Health Organization. This study applied the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to understand facilitators and barriers of SBI implementation in primary care settings in Hong Kong, China.MethodsThis was a sequential mixed-method study. In-depth interviews of 21 physicians and 20 nurses working in the primary care settings from the public and private sectors were first conducted to identify CFIR constructs that were relevant to SBI implementation in the Chinese context and potential factors not covered by the CFIR. A questionnaire was then developed based on the qualitative findings to investigate factors associated with SBI implementation among 282 physicians and 295 nurses.ResultsThe in-depth interviews identified 22 CFIR constructs that were facilitators or barriers of SBI implementation in Hong Kong. In addition, the stigmatization of alcohol dependence was a barrier and the belief that it was important for people to control the amount of alcohol intake in any situation was mentioned as a facilitator to implement SBI. In the survey, 22% of the participants implemented SBI in the past year. Factors associated with the SBI implementation echoed most of the qualitative findings. Among physicians and nurses in both sectors, they were more likely to implement SBI when perceiving stronger evidence supporting SBI, better knowledge and self-efficacy to implement SBI, more available resources, and clearer planning for SBI implementation in the clinics but less likely to do so when perceiving SBI implementation to be complicated and of higher cost, and drinking approved by the Chinese culture. Participants were more likely to implement SBI when perceiving SBI fit better with the existing practice and better leadership engagement in the public sector, but not in the private sector. Perceiving a stronger need and greater importance to implement SBI were associated with higher likelihood of SBI implementation among physicians, but not among nurses. Perceiving better organizational culture supporting SBI was positively associated with SBI implementation among nurses, but not among physicians.ConclusionsThere was a significant gap between SBI evidence and its implementation. Some strategies to improve SBI implementation may be different between physicians and nurses and between those in the public and private sectors. The CFIR is a useful framework for understanding facilitators and barriers of SBI implementation in primary care settings.

The unity of body and mind: the integration of leisure and religious practices by rural older women in the Chaoshan area of China

Leisure activities are of great significance to the active aging processes of rural older individuals. This paper focuses on the leisure activities of rural older women in China. Interviews and observations were used to collect the experiences of older women who participated in the Nembutsu hand-clapping exercise (NHCE), a leisure activity with a religious component. We reached the following conclusions. The older individuals experienced three stages of the integration of leisure and religion, i.e., “religion as an additional function,” “religion embedded in leisure,” and “interdependence between religion and leisure.” The NHCE is suitable for older women and provides them with benefits such as gender empowerment, social capital, and identity. This paper expands the body of research on the relationship between religion and leisure and provides a study based on the Chinese context for the construction of leisure theory for rural older women.

Makeup as a postfeminist masquerade: understanding the impact of beauty tutorial engagement on young Chinese women’s appearance satisfaction

ABSTRACT Beauty tutorials, one of the most popular media genres among young Chinese women, promote makeup as a self-beautifying ‘masquerade’ for women to cope with societal lookism. This genre celebrates postfeminist self-empowerment by providing young women with role models (i.e. beauty influencers) who successfully transform themselves with makeup. Drawing upon the theoretical frameworks of social media engagement, social comparison, and postfeminism, this study investigates the psychological mechanism through which active beauty tutorial engagement influences young Chinese women’s appearance satisfaction. Results of an online cross-sectional survey (N = 473) indicated that (a) cognitive-affective, behavioural, and relational engagement with beauty tutorials positively predicted women’s appearance satisfaction. (b) Perceived similarity to beauty influencers mediated the relationship between beauty tutorial engagement and appearance satisfaction. (c) The moderating effect was more pronounced in predicting appearance satisfaction against perceived similarity when female audiences held stronger postfeminist beliefs. This study contributes to our understanding of the impact of active social media engagement on female well-being and broadens the applicability of postfeminism by quantitatively validating it in the understudied Chinese context.

Empathy Design Thinking: cultivating creative minds in primary education

This research explores the application of an Empathy Design Thinking (EDT) curriculum within primary education, guided by the principles of Experience, Empathy, Exploration, and Evaluation, to examine its effect on fostering student creativity in a Chinese context. The curriculum was redesigned into a streamlined, modular format for ease of integration into existing educational frameworks. Findings demonstrate a positive impact on students' creative thinking abilities, particularly in enhancing fluency and flexibility, with notable mentions of empathy's vital role in the educational process. This study aligns with global educational trends emphasizing the need for empathetic and comprehensive learning experiences, offering insights into the potential of EDT to enrich creative education for primary students, educators, curriculum developers, and policymakers.

Abstract PO3-11-09: Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of lymphedema patient-reported outcome measurements in Chinese breast cancer patients

Abstract Background: Lymphedema is one of the most common complains reported by breast cancer survivors, which negatively affects the quality of life (QoL). Various internationally recognized patient-reported outcome measurements (PROMs), such as the Upper Limb Lymphedema 27 (ULL-27), Lymphoedema Functioning, Disability and Health questionnaire (Lymph-ICF), Lymphedema Quality of Life Questionnaire for upper limbs (LYMQOL-ARM), and Lymphedema Life Impact Scale Version 2 (LLIS), have been translated into different languages and widely used to assess QoL in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). However, limited evidence has proved the efficiency of these tools in Chinese patients. In this study, we performed cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of these four PROMs within the Chinese context. Additionally, we also compared the accuracy in detecting BCRL for early diagnosis. Methods: A process of forward–backward translation and cultural adaptation was conducted based on international standards. Content validity was assessed through patient interviews. Internal consistency was evaluated by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. The correlation analysis of the MOS item short from health survey (SF-36) and each BCRL QoL questionnaires was utilized to indicate the convergent and divergent validity. Clinical validity was assessed by comparing scores among patients with different BCRL stages. Furthermore, questionnaires scores and the known group of lymphedema or not were compared to generate receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves of these instruments. Results: A total of 204 female breast cancer patients were recruited in this study. Among them, 104 patients (61 with lymphedema and 43 without lymphedema) finished LYMQOL-ARM and ULL-27 questionnaire, while 100 patients (59 with lymphedema and 41 without lymphedema) were assessed by Lymph-ICF and LLIS. The internal consistency was high, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients above 0.9 for all subscales and global scales. The content validity was generally good, except for a few issues reported by the patients. Convergent and divergent validity confirmed the hypotheses of correlation between the tested questionnaire and SF-36 to varying degrees: 100% for ULL-27, 80% for Lymph-ICF, nearly 70% for LLIS, and only 50% for LYMQOL-ARM. LLIS and Lymph-ICF demonstrated strong clinical validity, with significant differences found in total and subscale scores among participants in different BCRL stages (P&amp;lt; 0.05). There were no significant differences between stages for the mood dimension (P=0.132) of LYMQOL-ARM, psychological dimension (P=0.506), social dimension (P=0.083), and total score (P=0.057) of ULL-27. Only the physical concerns and global scale of LLIS and the symptom subscale of Lymph-ICF exhibited acceptable AUC values near 0.7 (AUC 0.725, 95% CI 0.625-0.825, p&amp;lt; 0.029; AUC 0.680, 95% CI 0.573-0.787, p&amp;lt; 0.002; AUC 0.734, 95% CI 0.633-0.834, p&amp;lt; 0.001, respectively). In contrast, other subscales and questionnaires displayed lower AUC values. Conclusion: Lymphedema is a chronic disease that has a relatively low mortality risk but significantly affects the quality of life. Therefore, it is crucial to prioritize patient-reported outcomes in the assessment of lymphedema. Among the four PROMs, LLIS not only showed high internal consistency and content validity more suitable for Chinese patients, but also exhibited better performance in reflecting the presence and severity of lymphedema patients. Consequently, the validated and reliable Chinese version of LLIS is recommended for clinical and scientific practices in the assessment of BCRL, which will help to provide better interventions with a patient-centered focus. Citation Format: Yue Zhou, Bingqiu Xiu, Qi Zhang, Jiong Wu. Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of lymphedema patient-reported outcome measurements in Chinese breast cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO3-11-09.

Development and Validation of the Coronary Heart Disease Scale Among the System of Quality of Life Instruments for Chronic Diseases QLICD-CHD (V2.0) Based on Classical Test Theory and Generalizability Theory.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a common and frequent disease with a long and incurable course, and the quality of life of patients is severely reduced. This study was to develop and validate a quality of life scale for patients with CHD based on the Chinese context. The scale QLICD-CHD (V2.0) was developed based on the QLICD-CHD (V1.0), using a programmed decision procedures. Based on the data measuring QoL 3 times before and after treatments from 189 patients with CHD, the psychometric properties of the scale were evaluated with respect to validity, reliability and responsiveness employing correlation analysis, multi-trait scaling analysis, structural equation modeling, t-test and also G-study and D-study of generalizability theory analysis. The SF-36 scale was used as the criterion to evaluate the criterion-related validity. Paired t tests were conducted to evaluate the responsiveness on each domain/facet as well as the total of the scale, with Standardized Response Mean (SRM) being calculated. The QLICD-CHD (V2.0) has been developed with 42 items in 4 domains. The Cronbach's α of the general module, the specific module and the total scale were 0.91, 0.92 and 0.91 respectively. The overall score and the test-retest reliability coefficients in all domains are higher than 0.60, except for the specific module. Correlation and factor analysis confirmed good construct validity and criterion-related validity. After treatments, the overall score and score of all domains have statistically significant changes (P<0.01). The SRM of domain-level score ranges from 0.27 to 0.50. Generalizability Theory further confirm the reliability of the scale through more accurate variance component studies. The QLICD-CHD (V2.0) could be used as a useful instrument in assessing QoL for patients with CHD, with good psychometric properties.

Psychometric testing of the Chinese version of the Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy Scale among postpartum women.

Maternal parenting self-efficacy plays a critical role in facilitating positive parenting practices and successful adaption to motherhood. The Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy Scale (PMPS-E), as a task-specific measure, confirms its psychometric properties in cultural contexts. Compared with other tools, the advantages of the PMPS-E are as follows: (i) specific context or time period during the lifespan of a child, (ii) explicitly assess parenting self-efficacy across a diverse enough range of parenting tasks or activities during the perinatal/postnatal period and (iii) having robust psychometric properties. The aim of this study was to translate and determine the psychometric properties of the PMPS-E among Chinese postpartum women (C-PMPS-E). The cross-cultural adaptation process followed Beaton et al.'s intercultural debugging guidelines. A total of 471 women were included to establish the psychometric properties of the C-PMPS-E. Mothers were asked to complete the C-PMPS-E, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and several demographic questions. The psychometric testing of the C-PMPS-E was established through item analysis, construct validity and internal consistency reliability. Item analysis showed that the critical ratios of all items were greater than 3 between the low-score group and high-score group, and all item-total correlation coefficients were greater than 0.4. The fit indices showed that the original correlated four-factor model of C-PMPS-E was observed to be an excellent fit to the data. The PMPS-E was negatively correlated with the EPDS and GAD-7 demonstrating its discriminant validity. As expected, no significant correlation was found between PMPS-E total or subscale scores and mothers' age. In addition, statistically significant differences for parity were detected for C-PMPS-E total and subscale scores with multipara having higher scores. This was taken as further evidence of the scale known-groups discriminant validity. In terms of internal consistency, the Cronbach's alpha of the C-PMPS-E total scale was 0.950, and subscales ranged from 0.76 to 0.89. Furthermore, a ROC curve analysis was conducted to establish the ability of the C-PMPS-E to distinguish between symptoms of depression and symptoms of anxiety. A cut-off value of 55 was identified that resulted in good specificity and fair sensitivity. The C-PMPS-E is a reliable and valid tool to assess maternal parenting self-efficacy in a Chinese context.

Longitudinal and bidirectional relationships between parental rejection, peer attachment, and adolescent depression

This study investigated the longitudinal and bidirectional relationships between parental rejection, peer attachment, and adolescent depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample of 4,367 Chinese adolescents aged 10 to 18 (mean age at Time 1 = 13.92; 50.9 % girls) participated in the survey at two time points with a six-month interval. Through a cross-lagged analysis, it was observed that maternal rejection was positively correlated with adolescent depression, while peer attachment was negatively correlated with adolescent depression over time. In turn, adolescent depression was found to predict an increase in paternal/maternal rejection and a decrease in peer attachment over time. Maternal rejection was also associated with a decrease in adolescents’ peer attachment, whereas peer attachment was linked to reduced maternal and paternal rejection over time. Additionally, paternal and maternal rejection were interconnected across time. The outcomes underscore the distinct significance of mother-child, father-child and peer acceptance/rejection in relation to adolescent depression. They suggest that unique relational values stemming from various relationships play specific roles and are interrelated. The findings align with the sociometer theory and the continuum/cognitive model of attachment, furthering their application within the Chinese cultural context.

China’s nature-based solutions in the Global South: Evidence from Asia, Africa, and Latin America

China increasingly engages in environmental diplomacy through South-South cooperation across the developing world. Since 2019, the rise of the discourse of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) within this cooperation has been exponential. Coined just over ten years ago, NbS refers to the underexplored potential of leveraging the natural world to address socio-environmental challenges. The concept finds particular resonance in China, where it demonstrates strong parallels with the domestically-pioneered concept of Ecological Civilization – the ruling paradigm when it comes to all realms of Chinese environmental governance. Building on the global discourse, NbS has been adapted to the Chinese context, creating what some call “Chinese-style” NbS that prioritizes large-scale interventions and ecological engineering over grassroots preservation. China’s NbS are not only being pursued domestically, but also increasingly abroad through the country’s Belt and Road Initiative. From Southeast and Central Asia to Africa and Latin America, this article surveys Chinese-led or financed projects that fall under the broad umbrella of NbS. We provide a comparative analysis of these interventions – or the conspicuous lack of such interventions – to show the current status and future prospects for China’s growing sphere of influence when it comes to advancing NbS in the Global South. We find that China’s embrace of this concept in environmental diplomacy is directly related to the potential for NbS to serve as a tool for helping the country’s vision of an Ecological Civilization “go global.” The consonance between the rhetoric of NbS and Ecological Civilization, combined with the global reach of NbS, provides a powerful platform for taking Chinese environmental discourse to the global level.

The Benefits and Costs of Employee Stock Ownership Plans in China

ABSTRACTResearch IssueWe investigate the deliberations of controlling shareholders in assessing the trade‐offs between costs and benefits preceding the adoption of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Furthermore, we explore the market responses to ESOP announcements and their associations with the private benefits of control. Moreover, our study delves into the modifications in private benefits of control, changes in employment dynamics, and subsequent operating performance subsequent to the implementation of ESOPs.Research InsightsWe conduct our research employing a comprehensive dataset encompassing the adoptions of ESOPs within publicly listed Chinese companies during the period spanning from 2014 to 2020. Our empirical findings reveal that firms characterized by diminished private benefits of control, as indicated by a reduced wedge between control rights and cash flow rights, as well as a lower frequency of related party transactions, are more inclined to consider the adoption of ESOPs, especially when the potential for productivity gains is substantial. These firms also elicit more positive market reactions upon the announcement of their ESOP initiatives. While ESOPs do lead to heightened productivity, the overall enhancement in operating performance remains relatively modest due to the significant cost burden imposed on shareholders by the large unearned employee compensation. Our results suggest that controlling shareholders who partake in fewer private benefits of control are more inclined to forego these entitlements in favor of embracing ESOPs as a strategic mechanism for realizing productivity gains. However, it is imperative to acknowledge that such gains may be considerably offset by substantial increases in employee compensation expenses. Despite the prevalence of short‐lived features in Chinese practice, we lack substantial evidence supporting their inhibitory effects on the increased monitoring and productivity following ESOP adoption.Academic ImplicationsThis study provides a comprehensive examination of recent ESOPs in the Chinese context, offering insights into the regulatory complexities within the largest emerging market. The research contributes to the existing literature by unveiling the intricate relationship between private benefits of control and the decision to adopt ESOPs, as well as their subsequent implications. Notably, our findings, particularly the observed neutral impact on operating performance, augment the ongoing discourse surrounding the efficacy of ESOPs in augmenting shareholder value.Policy ImplicationsThis research introduces ESOPs as an innovative mechanism for mitigating private benefits of control, particularly in the context of emerging markets where controlling shareholders tend to accrue significant private benefits of control. The incorporation of performance‐related criteria within the ESOP framework serves as a means to effectively manage the additional compensation associated with these plans, thereby enhancing their overall efficacy.