How to promote governance competencies during the outbreak of COVID-19?
[The outbreak of novel coronavirus has had a widespread impact on Chinese society. ZJU scholars have contributed their expertise and knowledge to this fierce battle. They have submitted more than 20 reports to departments at various levels and published over 40 editorial articles in social media. Followings are some of their valuable ideas on how to improve governance competencies in this critical period.]
How can China win this uphill battle from the perspective of governance? The decision of the Central Committee is crystal clear: adopting a targeted approach to implementing policies at the county level. Specifically, we should also take into account a series of measures as follows.
First, provincial or district governments can increase institutional supply and grant greater autonomy to grassroots government.
Second, provincial or district governments can work together with epidemiologists, public health experts and representatives of industrial associations or chambers of commerce to formulate scientific guidelines regarding the specific conditions for work resumption in businesses, thus assisting grassroots governments in supervising and standardizing relevant procedures. It can thus rectify the situation where the conditions for giving the seal of approval concerning work resumption to enterprises are too abstract and lacking in operability.
Third, in addition to authorization and guidance, high-level governments must also draw boundaries and set the bottom line for the behavior of grassroots governments. Meanwhile, social forces should be encouraged to participate. Competent authorities in various industries can call on industrial associations and chambers of commerce to assist in collecting information and other demands of market entities and to submit policy needs, thereby providing social forces with great scope for playing their greater role in mediating between the government and market entities.
Prof. YU Jianxing, Dean of School of Public Affairs and Director of the Academy of Social Governance
