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Bounded Rationality in the Developmental Trajectory of Environmental Target Policy in China, 1972–2016

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  • Rui Mu

    (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Dalian University of Technology, Linggong Road 2, Ganjingzi District, Dalian 116024, China)

Abstract

This article applies the theoretical notion of “bounded rationality” to understand and to explain the updates of the Environmental Target Policy (ETP) in China during 1972–2016. An analytical framework is built up by combining the phase model and the stream model in policy science in order to trace the longitudinal transformation of the ETP. In addition, the article adopts the “event sequence method” to discover the dynamics of the problem, politics, and policy streams of the target policy and to identify the evolving coupling between the different streams. It shows that China’s ETP has experienced five phases of development. For each phase the central government had its specific bounded rationality to make the crucial decision on the ETP. The decisions on the ETP in different phases were made when policy windows were open with the coupling of the problem, politics, and policy streams. As for the updates of the ETP, we find that the rationalities of the central governments in the five phases were limited by the emergent practices during the ETP implementation, which gave momentum to the central government to seek new solutions and to revise and adapt the ETP.

Suggested Citation

  • Rui Mu, 2018. "Bounded Rationality in the Developmental Trajectory of Environmental Target Policy in China, 1972–2016," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-18, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:1:p:199-:d:127026
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andrew Abbott & Angela Tsay, 2000. "Sequence Analysis and Optimal Matching Methods in Sociology," Sociological Methods & Research, , vol. 29(1), pages 3-33, August.
    2. Poole, Marshall Scott & Van de Ven, Andrew H. & Dooley, Kevin & Holmes, Michael E., 2000. "Organizational Change and Innovation Processes: Theory and Methods for Research," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780195131987.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Shahbaz, Muhammad & Destek, Mehmet Akif & Dong, Kangyin & Jiao, Zhilun, 2021. "Time-varying impact of financial development on carbon emissions in G-7 countries: Evidence from the long history," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    3. Maxwell Chukwudi Udeagha & Marthinus Christoffel Breitenbach, 2023. "Revisiting the nexus between fiscal decentralization and CO2 emissions in South Africa: fresh policy insights," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 9(1), pages 1-46, December.
    4. Khan, Zeeshan & Ali, Shahid & Dong, Kangyin & Li, Rita Yi Man, 2021. "How does fiscal decentralization affect CO2 emissions? The roles of institutions and human capital," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).

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