Research On The Influencing Factors Of The Effectiveness Of Policy Pilot

Policy pilot is a powerful means to promote innovation in institutions and an effective method to avoid the shock accompanied by reform caused by unknown circumstances.It is one of the basic governance mechanisms to shape the institutional strengths of China and therefore creates "Chinese miracle".Focusing on the "black box" of the process of pilot policy scheme,this paper deeply explores the operation mechanism of policy pilot,namely,what factors affect the operation,and what kind of combination of these factor or which path formed by factors influences the outcomes of a certain pilot.Through the literature research this thesis selects two key dimensions in the process of pilot policy,"pilot initiation method" and "clarity of pilot scheme",as classification criteria.The pilot policy scheme will be divided into four patterns,"Set method","Bidding","Apply for authorization" and "Self-exploration".Then based on these four patterns,this thesis selects four typical cases to carry on deep analysis about the operation process and mechanism of pilot policy.The key influence factors in the process of operation of the pilot mechanism was summarized from the practice level.At the same time,from the perspective of process theory,this thesis regards policy pilot as a compound process of policy innovation and diffusion and summarizes literature related to influence factors of policy innovation diffusion.Furthermore,based on the case study and literature summary,this thesis proposes a comprehensive analysis framework for the achievement of policy pilot operation based on actor-interaction-field.This thesis makes an in-depth analysis of the factors influencing the achievement of the policy pilot from three dimensions,the first one is the actors of the pilot approval authority and the local government,the second is the interaction of the pilot actors,and the last one is the field in which the pilot policy runs.On the basis of the proposed analysis framework,this thesis presents nine variables through the conceptualization and operationalization of three dimensions——actor,interaction,and field.The thesis further puts forward research hypothesis and builds the Choice-Based Conjoint analysis model.Four hundred and seventeen policy pilot schemes adopted in Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee Reform Office ledger management between December 2013 and April 2018 were used for quantitative coding and empirically analyzing the direction and intensity of influence factors to pilot achievement.Furthermore,in order to verify the impact of the combined form(configuration)of various elements in the analysis framework,the thesis adapts Qualitative Comparative Analysis(QCA)to summarize and analyze the influence factors and the paths they form to the various outcomes of the policy pilot.The study found that factors like "Level of Implementer","Set method",and "Complexity of interests" have significant influences on the execution and diffusion outcomes of the pilot.The variate "Complexity of interests" has the negative influence on the execution of pilot outcomes,but for experienced policy,it has a positive impact on the diffusion process.Factors in field dimension such as the "official term of officials" and the "financial resources" in pilot areas only have a significant impact on the execution outcome,but have little impact on the diffusion process.In addition,some influence factors show heterogeneity in the pilot projects in different fields.For example,the "fund" factor has no significant influence on the political and economic pilot field,but has significant influence on the socio-cultural and the ecological field.Finally,based on the analysis of QCA,we have a deeper understanding of the influence factors of the policy pilot and its path from the multi-concurrent perspective.The thesis finds that the influence factor does not work alone,but usually exists in a way of configuration,that is,multiple factors have an mixed impact on the execution and diffusion of the pilot.A meaningful finding shows,although lack some key factors,the pilot can still achieve good results with reasonable configuration while some of the pilot with more favorable conditions can not be smoothly implemented or spread due to the lack of some certain combination of the condition.For instance,regression analysis shows that the poor areas with weak local finance resources,and even some have officials issues such as low motivation,are likely to have bad pilot results.However,under the perspective of configuration,the study found that with the combination of factors like "supervision" and "fund",those pilots still can get great outcomes.Again,regression analysis results showed that the "set method obviously influence on the results of the pilot,and the top-down set method is better than bottom-up set method".But in the configuration perspective,the bottom-up set method combined with the powerful "supervision " and high "Level of Implementer",or other combinations,also promote the achievement of good outcomes.Based on the above empirical analysis,this thesis analyzes the problems existing in the policy pilot schemes.Besides,this thesis proposes some suggestions like reasonably defining the responsibilities of approval authority in the process of pilot,choosing appropriate pilot areas according to attribute and complexity on the basis of the pilot policy,building a sound benign communication mechanism between pilot local government and approval authorities,and creating a good environment for the pilot operation field.