The Hidden Institutionalization of "Above-standard Official Reception": A case study of a county government in China

“公款大吃大喝”(简称为“公款吃喝”)指政府组织使用公共财政资金进行的超出正式制度规定标准的公务接待行为。本文通过对中国一个经济发展相对落后的县政府的个案研究,探讨这类政府组织“公款吃喝’行为背后的文化和制度根源。正式制度本身存在漏洞,使得人情文化得以渗透到组织制度中,变成一种隐性非正式制度,形成约束组织成员行动的主导力量,公务接待档次也因此在竞争性的接待中不断被拔高。

"Above-standard official reception" refers to the official reception that exceeds the standards of formal government regulations. This paper aims at exploring the cultural and institutional basis of why public spending on official banquets has been out of control in contemporary China based on a case study of a county government, which is economically underdeveloped and has few migrants. It is found that both the traditional Chinese culture of renqing and the unreasonable formal institutions have contributed to the "above-standard official banquets". The culture of renqing provides a choice to government employees, and the loopholes in the formal institutions make room for the hidden institutionalization of "above-standard official banquets". Through repeated practices, "above-standard official banquet" has evolved into an informal institution in Chinese governments. Meanwhile, the standard of official reception has been increasing due to the competition among different government agencies.

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