THE IMPLEMENTATION GAP IN ENVIRONMENTAL-MANAGEMENT IN CHINA - THE CASE OF GUANGZHOU, ZHENGZHOU, AND NANJING

How do local governments in China deal with environmental degradation? On the basis of organizational culture theory, the authors consider how three local governments in China deal with environmental degradation. Using China as a case study, the authors show the difficulties facing modern governments of mobilizing their field regulators to carry out effectively environmental protection work. The authors review China's environmental administration and discuss its key features. Based on the field work in three cities in China the authors assess the interaction of several major factors including institutional strength and support, the task role and environmental worldview of regulators. The data verify the assumption that street-level regulators are unfavorably disposed in China's environmental management. Working in an unsupportive work constituency and pro-growth social environment, the findings lead the authors to conclude that measures to protect the environment in China, in fact, make inroads into the economic viability of investments.