Fair and Transparent -- The Path of China's Government System Reform

Author: Mao Yushi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features: This book is a compilation of research reports on government system reform from the Tianze Institute of Economics, featuring outstanding reports selected from five consecutive research projects. These reports emphasize investigation and research, striving to delve into every detail to identify the root causes of long-standing and challenging issues in government system reform. Based on these findings, they propose practical and feasible solutions. While China's economic reforms have achieved remarkable global recognition, the other side of this success is the intensification of social conflicts and the expansion of public dissatisfaction. Whether such a development trajectory can continue is a major concern for both the government and the public. The Tianze Institute of Economics, concerned with social development and progress, cannot remain indifferent to this trend. In 1997, we recognized the lag in political reform. However, initiating comprehensive political reform is a daunting task. Most people associate political reform with elements like a two-party system, elections, and the separation of powers. While these are indeed important, political reform encompasses far more. Moreover, the ultimate goal of political reform should first and foremost be the protection of citizens' rights, ensuring that people are not oppressed by the government and can enjoy quality public services. Based on this understanding, we concluded that political reform could bypass elements like a two-party system and elections, directly focusing on safeguarding citizens' rights and improving government efficiency. Therefore, the Tianze Institute of Economics established a research project on government system reform and sought funding. In 1998, we received a commitment of support from the U.S. "Center for International Private Enterprise" (CIPE). The project officially began the following January. In , we conducted an open bidding process, reviewed proposals by experts, and selected ten out of over twenty bids. Most of the winning teams consisted of university professors and researchers with extensive experience in research, capable of delivering high-quality work. After one year, the research reports were submitted. We again organized expert reviews, provided feedback, and the authors refined the reports based on the discussions, ensuring the research met high standards. Additionally, the labor subsidies for each report were determined by expert evaluations, with the highest and lowest differences reaching over one-third. Using this process, we conducted five consecutive sessions, completing a total of 46 projects, including 41 academic ones. During this period, the Ford Foundation supported the fifth government system reform research project, and the Shanghai Institute of Law and Economics provided research funding for all ten topics in the fifth session. In the first two sessions, no specific scope was set, relying entirely on the interests and expertise of the bidders. The third session, aligning with the then-current political reform trends, focused primarily on household registration and free movement issues but did not exclude other topics. The fourth session concentrated more on education. The recent fifth session targeted the judiciary and legislation. The number of bids increased in each session, from over twenty initially to nearly forty. The number of accepted projects varied due to funding constraints. In the second session, we also tried student projects to encourage university participation, but the results were not ideal, and research quality could not be guaranteed, so this was discontinued. Since the beginning, the names and leaders of the phased projects are as follows, as listed in the table.
Phase 1:
- Theoretical and Policy Approaches to the Reform of County-Level Fiscal Expenditure Management: Zhou Yeyan
- Criminal Witness Testimony System:
- Media Supervision System Research: Chen Xinxin
- Government Economic (Commercial) Contract Research: Shi Jichun
- Constitutional Review Research: Ye Chuanxing
- Feasibility Study of China's Civil and Professional Civil Servant Classification System: Huang Weiping
- Public Opinion: Government Supervision and Supervising the Government: Jing Yijin
- Tax Evasion and Deficiencies in Government Management Systems: Zhou Wei
- Proposed Draft of the "Election Law of the Villagers' Committees of the People's Republic of China": Wang Yu
Phase 2:
- Innovation Research on Township Heads' Election Methods: Huang Weiping
- Analysis of China's Cadre Selection and Promotion System Reform—An Analysis from the Perspective of the "Sale of Official Positions" Phenomenon: Xu Cheng'an
- County-Level Government Organization Structure: Zhang Xiaobing
- Research on Highway Operation Rights: Shi Jichun
- Institutional Arrangements, Institutional Change, and the Limits of Government Regulation—Taking the Water Pollutant Discharge Permit System as an Example: Xu Jialiang
- Current Status and Reform of the Management System for National Natural and Cultural Heritage Resources: Zhang Xiaofei
- Tax Reform and Township Democratic Construction: Zhou Yeyan
- The Necessity and Implementation Plan for Educating Rural Migrants into Civilized Citizens: Zhou Pichang
- Survey Report on the Financial Issues of Urban Community Services in China: Zhou Xuetao
- Starting with Civil Servants—Government Agencies' Image in Public Services: Li Di
- Pension Fund Funding and New Ideas for State-Owned Enterprise Reform: Chen Jianmin
- Voice—Public Opinion Expression and Government Handling Mechanisms: Liu Bin
- Recommendations for the Reform of Compulsory Education Systems: Peng Fangzhi
Phase 3:
- Case Studies on the Impact of Local Government Public Policies on the Motivations and Models of Enterprise Relocation: Cai Shutao
- Protection of Historical and Cultural Cities and Urban Development: Interests and Institutional Games: Xu Jialiang
- Research on Local Government Competition Models—Theoretical and Policy Analysis of Building a Healthy Competitive Order Among Local Governments: Zhou Yeyan
- China's Market Integration and Local Government Competition—Local Protectionism and Market Segmentation Issues and Countermeasures: Feng Xingyuan
- Social, Economic, and Political Impacts of Household Registration Restrictions on Population Mobility and Countermeasures: Chu Junhong
- Household Registration Reform in the Process of Urbanization: Wang Haiguang
- Research on the Family Property Declaration System for Provincial and Ministerial Leaders in China: Huang Weiping
Phase 4:
- Research on China's Compulsory Education Financial Assistance System for Poor Students: Yuan Liansheng
- Problems and Countermeasures in the Financial System Reform of China's Compulsory Education: Yu Guoliang
- Research Report on the Countermeasures for the Education of Children of Migrant Workers in the Process of Urbanization in China: Li Renqing
- Research Report on the Problem of School Choice in China's Basic Education: Cao Shujiang
- Government-Guaranteed Higher Education Student Loan Research: Yang Bingjian
- Research on the Quality Control and Improvement of Full-Time Exam Master's Degree Programs: Wang Jianmin
- Practical Problems and Responses of the Diversified Schooling System: Kang Yongjiu
- Policy for the Development of Distance Education: Liu Fanfeng
Phase 5:
- Constitutional Review of the Legislative Powers of Chinese Laws and Regulations: Mo Jihong
- Research on the National People's Congress Meeting System: Wan Qigang
- Empirical Research on the Reform of China's Representative System: Zou Pingxue
- Review and Improvement of China's Civil Trial Supervision System: Fan Mingzhi
- Reconstruction of the Power and Responsibility Relations in Judicial Institutions: Chen Guoqing
- Measures and Institutional Design to Prevent Judicial Corruption: Xu Daomin
- Current Status, Problems, and Countermeasures of Court Mediation: Ran Jingfu
- Problems and Countermeasures of Informal Court Sessions—An Idea for Civil Trial System Reform: Xu Xin
- Improvement Proposal for the Question-Paper Setting Model of the National Judicial Examination: Su Haopeng
- Civil Judicial Assistance System for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan: Xiao Jianhua
Note: denotes an unfinished project.
Government system reform is an extremely challenging task. Most of the issues it faces are long-standing and difficult, having been discussed numerous times. To make progress under such conditions requires tremendous effort. On the surface, governments are declared to serve the people and should have no problems. However, behind the scenes, countless subjective and objective reasons often lead to outcomes far from the ideal. To solve these problems, one must first identify their root causes, which can then lead to effective solutions. Yet, these causes are often hidden deep and are embedded in the smallest details. Without familiarity with the entire process, they cannot be found. Scholars excel at theoretical analysis, but understanding the details of the process is not their forte. Therefore, we required the research teams to focus on investigation and research, delving into every detail. Even so, the most hidden aspects may not be openly disclosed. Researchers must infer potential secrets from surface phenomena. There is no other way. Before the research began, we repeatedly emphasized to the team members the importance of examining details. This differs from general academic research and is also the key to the success of the project. Overall, the research quality is good. The researchers possess high academic credentials and capabilities, and their attitudes are serious. However, we do not expect to solve the grand challenge of government reform with a single effort. It is certain that through research, we have gained a much deeper understanding of the issues than before. Whether our research will contribute to government system reform is a difficult question. On one hand, we have no material to prove that any government has directly adopted our findings. On the other hand, some government departments have requested our research reports and participated in our discussion sessions, with about half of the reports published in various contexts. However, due to broader environmental constraints, our findings have not been widely disseminated. This time, the Legal Publishing House has agreed to publish some of the research reports. The selection criteria were either high research quality or significant social relevance. Due to space limitations, some excellent reports had to be omitted. Although this report collection does not include all our achievements, its publication will certainly contribute to advancing China's reform. This will undoubtedly play a positive role in promoting further reforms in China.