Analysis of Chinese rural economic policy of decision-making with models of rationality and incrementalism.

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Faculty of Social Sciences

Master of Public Administration

G438PJ

Full time

2004/2005

Module: PUP802J1 Policy Analysis

The second assignment for this module

Assignment Title: Analysis of Chinese rural economic policy of

decision-making with models of rationality and

incrementalism

Module Co-ordinator: Pro. Andrew Erridge

Student Name: JIANG Qingyuan (Daniel)

Student Registration Number: 10193604

Student Email Address: 

Date Submitted: 9th Dec. 2004

Word Count: 1951


Table of contents

  • Introduction                                     2

  • Decision-making models of rationality and incrementalism 3                               

  • Mao’s Agricultural Reform                               3

  • Deng’s Agricultural Reform                            6

  • Conclusion                                         11

  • References                                         12

Introduction

Decision making is recognised as a fundamental activity of public administration. The debate of rational versus incremental models of policy making is could be viewed as a debate over alternative political systems and values. Rational decision making has a centralising bias, while incrementalism tends to favour representative and pluralist decision making (Sabatier, 1991: 147). Additionally, the rational model tends not to favour any community contribution while incrementalism leans towards widespread popular participation in decision making. Despite their numerous differences, both techniques can work well or even fail, depending on the situation in which they are used (Dunn, 1981).

The purpose of this paper is to address the decision making model applied in China by illustrating the typical rural economic policies that have been made in the last five decades. In this essay, author will focus on analysing Mao’s Agricultural Reform and Deng’s Agricultural Reform in the policy process of decision-making and giving relevant evaluations to these two paradigms.


Decision-making models of rationality and incrementalism

The Rational Actor Model (Rationality) occurs in a very methodological, neat, problem solving process. Its features include the appraisal of problem, to identify the goals and rank their order, to canvass the possible alternatives, to consider the consequences of each alternative and finally to select the alternative that most closely matches the referred goals (Hill, 1997).

In the Incremental Model (Incrementalism), decisions are made through small or incremental moves on particular problems rather than through a comprehensive reform program, just like Coxall and Robins ever said that incrementalism “tends to move away from an undesirable situation rather than be directed towards predefined policy goals” (Coxall and Robins, 1994: 354). It is also endless because it takes the form of an indefinite sequence of policy moves. It focuses on making necessary changes and sees policy as variations of the past. In this model, the decisions are the product of bargaining. It implies that policy-making is a messy or untidy process of muddling through (Dunn, 1981).

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Mao’s Agricultural Reform

In respect to agricultural production, especially within the production of grain, China has had perpetual problems due to the need to feed 20% of the worlds population yet only having 7% of the worlds arable land to do so; a problem which is further intensified as a result of only half that land being suitable for agricultural production (Cannon and Jenkins, 1990).

As the former decision-maker of dominant party –Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Mao Zedong and his fellow radicals believed if domestic resources could be concentrated and utilized more efficiently, they could produce a ...

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