Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No.7, 2015

A Study of the Correlation between Property Ownership Units and Administrative Governance Units—Based on the Logic of Chinese Rural Governance

(Abstract)

Deng Dacai

There is a strong correlation between property ownership rights and governance. This correlation is embodied and measured in terms of ownership/work units, allowing us to conduct in-depth investigations through these units. The correlation between property ownership units and administrative governance units is mainly manifested in symmetry. Where symmetry is strong, property rights and administrative performance are relatively good; where it is weak, they are relatively poor. Unit symmetry is mainly determined and influenced by six factors, namely structural equilibrium, equivalence of level, appropriateness of scale, integrity of boundaries, correspondence between functions and rights, and endogeneity of unit formation. Among these six factors, structural equilibrium, equivalence of level and appropriateness of scale are the decisive factors; integrity of boundaries and correspondence between functions and rights are derivative factors that play an important role under certain conditions; and endogeneity of unit formation is a factor involving external conditionality. The single or combined effects of the six factors influence and determine unit symmetry and thus influence and even determine property rights, administrative performance and forms of development.