The Study On Policy Diffusion, Implementation, And Evaluation Of Role Model City For Safe Development

The rapid worldwide growth of urbanization has brought about economic prosperity as well as a multitude of challenges.The construction of secure and resilient cities has arisen as a critical issue for nations across the globe.In the year 2010,China introduced the Role Model City for Safe Development(RMCSD)policy,presenting a localized interpretation of the global resilience concept.Despite more than a decade having passed since its inception,the adoption and implementation of the RMCSD policy at the local level remain unclear.Moreover,there is a necessity to examine the policy process undergone by the RMCSD policy in China and its influence on the enhancement of urban safety in the country.Addressing these inquiries requires comprehensive theoretical research.This paper provides a systematic analysis of the diffusion,implementation,and effects of China’s RMCSD policy,utilizing the theories related to policy process and policy innovation diffusion.The analysis follows a structured approach encompassing problem formulation,theoretical analysis,framework construction,and empirical research.Policy diffusion significantly influences the implementation of non-economic initiative policies,such as the RMCSD policy.The study employs a mixed-methods approach,integrating both qualitative and quantitative empirical analyses to address the research inquiries.First,a qualitative approach is used to establish a theoretical framework for analyzing the diffusion,implementation,and effects of the RMCSD policy.Next,a quantitative approach is employed to collect survival data on the breadth of RMCSD policy dissemination and panel data on its depth from 2010-2021.This empirical testing aims to examine the diffusion logic of the RMCSD policy in 281 prefecture-level cities(sub-provincial cities)throughout China.Additionally,the paper uses a qualitative approach to analyze the local implementation of the RMCSD policy,which encompasses pilot exploration,full-scale implementation,and subsequent streamlining and optimization.The paper develops an evaluation index system for assessing the effectiveness of the RMCSD policy and analyzes these effects by examining the spatial and temporal changes in the comprehensive resilience level and the categorical resilience level of cities from 2010 to 2019.Finally,drawing on the comprehensive findings,the paper puts forth policy implications for promoting the RMCSD policy and suggests directions for future research.This study uncovers several significant findings.Firstly,the local adoption and implementation of China’s RMCSD policy exhibit distinct patterns.In the adoption phase,a proactive inclination exists to adopt policies endorsed by the central government,frequently without fully considering the local context.Throughout the policy implementation phase,local governments recognize financial limitations and gradually reduce their emphasis on this policy type.Secondly,while implementing initiative policies,regions with differing conditions face diverse administrative costs and demand varying financial commitments to meet identical assessment indicators.In the case of the RMCSD policy,owing to its ongoing promotion,assessment indicators have undergone constant modifications,reductions,and even partial removals.A "chilling effect" is evident in the local implementation of the RMCSD policy,where the degree of publicity of the policy’s outcomes by the local government is intricately tied to the severity of disciplinary measures.This phenomenon partially clarifies the local government’s preference for a "high-profile entry,low-profile end" strategy in publicizing and mobilizing policies within particular domains.Furthermore,the study identifies the intricate interplay between internal and external factors that impact the implementation of the RMCSD policy by local governments.These dynamics encompass the "head effect" as a pioneering influence,constrained economic and political incentives,implicit counter-incentives,promotion of civic and departmental pride,alignment with local priorities,and reinforcement of departmental presence.External factors prioritize political considerations and economic incentives in the local implementation of initiative policy,while internal factors highlight governance intentions and rationality in local implementation.Moreover,the study reveals that although the average resilience index of Chinese cities has experienced significant improvement in the past decade,there is considerable variation in resilience levels among cities,highlighting significant regional disparities in development.The introduction of RMCSD policy in cities is positively correlated with higher resilience levels.The spatial and temporal divergence in the degree of resilience development in Chinese cities stems from the intricate interplay and cumulative impacts of urban economic and social progress,geographical positioning,and governmental organization and management.This paper makes significant contributions to existing literature.Firstly,it provides a comprehensive summary and analysis of the policy process of China’s RMCSD policy,considering the perspectives of policy diffusion,implementation,and evaluation.Secondly,through an exploration of the policy’s adoption in China,the paper reveals the fundamental motivations driving the introduction of subsequent policies,referred to as the "depth" of policy diffusion.This innovative perspective enhances our comprehension of policy diffusion dynamics.Additionally,this paper reveals the motivation of local governments to implement the initiative policy from the perspective of internal and external logic,and proposes a "chilling effect" in the local implementation of the RMCSD policy.Lastly,the paper institutes an index system for assessing the impacts of the RMCSD policy,furnishing a standardized instrument for researchers and local implementers to perform thorough urban evaluations.Drawing from the research findings,this paper offers policy implications to foster the local implementation of initiative policies.Firstly,emphasis should be placed on central-local interaction.The central government should focus not solely on policy adoption by local governments,but also on its local-level implementation.Secondly,it is important to set reasonable policy goals and content and quantitatively assess the difficulty of local implementation in a scientific manner.Thirdly,creating supportive policies for initiative policy implementation that integrate incentive mechanisms into the implementation process is necessary.Lastly,it is crucial to clarify the spatial and temporal differentiation patterns of resilient development,adapting measures to local conditions to enhance urban resilience and increase the potential for sustainable development.