Recently, Distinguished Professor Zeng Jingjing (corresponding author), in collaboration with Assistant Professor Wang Qiao from Huazhong Agricultural University and PhD student Duan Fang from Sun Yat-sen University, published the research paper “When More Isn’t Better: The Diminishing Returns of Policy Pilots in Environmental Governance” in the top-tier international journal Review of Policy Research.
Review of Policy Research (RPR) is one of the most internationally influential academic journals in public policy, ranked in JCR Q1 of the SSCI index, focusing on cutting-edge topics in policy research, analysis, and evaluation. The journal, published bimonthly by the Policy Studies Organization since 1981, publishes approximately 30 papers annually, with a rigorous peer-review process and broad international academic impact.
The paper deeply analyzes the nonlinear relationship between the number of policy pilot projects and governance performance in Chinese urban environmental governance. The study notes that while policy pilot mechanisms are widely recognized for their flexibility and diversity, an excessive number of pilots may lead to resource redundancy and formalism, resulting in a clear diminishing returns effect. When the number of pilot projects exceeds a certain threshold, their actual governance effectiveness not only ceases to improve but may even have negative impacts, highlighting the importance of balance and optimal resource allocation in policy design and implementation.
The paper also reveals that the level of attention local governments give to environmental governance is a key factor influencing the success or failure of pilot policies. The more local governments prioritize environmental issues, the more pronounced the positive effects of pilot policies. This research provides theoretical innovation and practical reference for policy pilot design in global environmental governance, emphasizing the critical roles of controlling policy quantity, effective resource allocation, and government attention.
Author Introduction:
Zeng Jingjing, Distinguished Professor at the Shenzhen University School of Government, doctoral supervisor, and chief expert of a major National Social Science Fund project, specializes in public policy analysis and science and technology innovation policy research. She has published over 80 papers in authoritative domestic and international journals, including Policy Sciences, Review of Policy Research, Public Administration and Development, Journal of Risk Research, Energy Economics, Energy Policy, Environmental Education Research, The Journal of Technology Transfer, Chinese Public Administration, Public Administration Review, and Journal of Public Management.
Layout | Wang Fuxiang
Initial Review | Wang Yingying
Secondary Review | Zeng Jingjing
Final Review | Gu Zhijun
