The Logic Of Business Associations’ Political Action And The Structure Of Resource-dependent

Abstract:Business Association is the bridge between the government and enterprises and the product of the government reform and market economy development.However, previous studies mainly focused on the theory of institutionalism, and thought that the reform of political system and economic system, the transfer of government function result the reform of business association. Those studies often use the method of top-down research path. However, this paper based on the empirical investigation of Shanghai City’s business Association with the resource dependence theory and the bottom-up path to analysis.found it:The resource-dependent structure of business Association has a crucial impact on political action of the business Association.This paper attempts to answer these questions:under the space of current system and framework of this power structure,why parts of business associations can get the chance of survival and influence government policy, and the other parts are isolated in the political choice? What kind of strategies will be took by these business associations in order to obtain the living space and living resources?What influence will be produced on the structure resource-dependence of business associations by these strategies? At the same time, what kinds of political behavior and the political process will be produced by the resource-dependence model of association?What political consequences will be produced by the different structure of resource dependence?The study found that:First, the change of the macro institutional environment is an important external variables causing business association behavior and action. Overall, the macro system environment business association has changed a lot, and state control of social organizations has gradually transferred from micro management to macro regulation.However, since the state leads the development of economic, industrial policy, the relationship between government and enterprises, firm size and business characteristics have a greater impact on the survival and development of business associations. Once again, from the micro level, the cognitive of the Secretary General of the association, the structure of associations income and professional power of business associations often directly determines the difference of association of existing resources and behavior and action ability.Second, Resource-dependence theory thinks that the primary purpose of organization is to survive. So business associations often take salon alliance strategy in order to obtain the survival resources, through political symbols and away from the media and other methods to obtain survive resources. According to business association’s resources subjects, associations are divided into four types:monopoly business Association, semi-government, semi-market and market oriented business association. Monopoly business association exists mainly in the total social structure, and has quited the stage of history. Semi-government business association mainly dependents on the government purchase service, thus becoming the assistant to the government. Some even become the Association offices under the government’s development.The political consequences is extending the functions of government, such as the textile business association. Semi-market oriented business associations depend mainly on providing various kinds of service, such as consultation, training and so on. This typology associations gradually become independent of the government and the market power of third party, such as the Shanghai pharmaceutical business association. While the market business association is the main business type of association, similar to the enterprise association, having their own products and business channels, such as non-ferrous metal business association. This type of business associations will produce two different results:Firstly, association rent seeking for their own interests, so they may harm the business or other business interests; secondly, be responsibilities for both their own interests. The same political environment business association because of different resource-dependence structure, and ultimately formed different types of business Association, it also brings different political consequences.Third, different resource-dependence structure lead to differences in business Association of political influence and behavior. First of all, through interviews with more than 20 Associations, to understand the way of political behavior association that is the incidental, indirect, passive, verbal methods of government behavior. And parts of associations used fierce resistance in writing, to try and change the way the government policy issues. Secondly, through questionnaires,44 valid questionnaires were collected, and analyzed by multiple linear regression method, finds business Association of political influence differences mainly significant by three factors:(1) Has a positive correlation with financial structure association diversified. Diversified income structure is beneficial to the influence of political power. (2) Be positively correlated with the ability of professional service. The ability of association provides economic service often decides the association of political influence,which is currently the important function of most transition countries. (3) shows negative correlation with the Secretary General of the association of age. The secretary general is responsible for the day-to-day work of the association of the Secretary General of the operation, be in the full vigor of life generally thought to be more active, be full of go, easier to exert political influence. But the Association executive director of political experience has no influence on political influence of association. The reason is the executive director of the hand is often empty duty, and is not directly responsible for the daily affairs of the Association; secondly, executive director of political experience often makes them more aware of the political system operation of the existing, but have a negative impact.Fourth, through the case study and comparison of different case to research association of political process, further proof that the professional power,financial structure and political leaders on the political process and the different political consequences. Two types of business association:semi-government associations and market leading associations will produce two different political consequences:power involution and power increase.Power involution often occurs in the semi-government association, which is the result of transfer of government functions and government dependence-resource. But power growth is the growth in the market business association, and it is mostly the result of power growth of market and diversified resources depends.Resource dependence theory as a new analysis frame has contributions to the reform of business associations and political system:Firstly, from the theoretical level.this paper points out the possibility of different structure of resource dependence on Business Association of different patterns of behavior consequences, and bring different political consequences, so as to provide a feasible scheme for corporatism operation in China; Secondly, in practice, the conclusion of this paper directly points out differences in factors affecting business association ability, and put forward many constructive suggestions; Thirdly, from the static level, analysis the main difference analysis of function and behavior of business association from the micro and meso level; Fourthly, from the dynamic perspective, analysis third forces of social and political power, strategy and the political process, to help understand today’s society power.