Journal of Guangxi Teachers Education University (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition) ›› 2025, Vol. 61 ›› Issue (6): 44-56.doi: 10.16088/j.issn.1001-6597.2025.06.006

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Why Are Township Strengthening Reforms Effective?—A Multi-Case Qualitative Comparative Analysis from the Perspective of Government Authority and Functional Capacity

HAN Yi1, CAO Nan-yan2   

  1. 1. School of Public Policy and Administration & Research Center for Clean Governance, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China;
    2. School of Public Administration, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
  • Received:2024-04-12 Online:2025-11-05 Published:2025-12-09

Abstract: This study based on the Government Authority and Functional Capacity theory, with the 14 selected township cases as the subjects, constructs an evaluation framework for township strengthening reform performance and simultaneously employs the fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA). The study finds that “demand responsiveness” is a necessary condition for achieving high reform performance; “administrative service capacity” is a sufficient, but not necessary condition that promotes performance; while “public supervision and evaluation participation” bears a limited effect. Among the explanatory paths combining “authority” and “capacity” conditions, two typical paths are identified. Given the conditional variables and combination paths, delegating authority and empowering townships, along with multiple measures, are necessary choices for achieving reform performance: effectively “delegating” authority in terms of content, methods, and monitoring; and well-designing “empowerment” in fiscal capacity, personnel management, administrative service capacity, comprehensive law enforcement, and demand responsiveness. This can be achieved by improving fiscal transfer payments, developing industries, enhancing training, and optimizing resource allocation to boost townships’ capacity to undertake authority and manage daily affairs.

Key words: township government, township strengthening reform performance, Government Authority and Functional Capacity Theory, Fuzzy-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA)

CLC Number:  D630
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