Social Sciences in China

Vol. 38, No. 1, 2017

Correlation Between Property Units and Governance Units: Based on the Logic of Rural Governance in China

(Abstract)

Deng Dacai

Strong correlations exist between property rights and governance. Such correlations are embodied in and measured through organizational units, and can therefore be examined in depth through such units. The correlation between a property unit and a governance unit is mainly expressed in symmetry: if the symmetry is strong, both perform better; if it is weak, both perform poorly. The symmetry between organizational units is mainly determined and influenced by structural equilibrium, equivalence of levels, suitability of scale, completeness of boundaries, correspondence between functions and rights, and endogeneity of unit construction. Of these six factors, structural equilibrium, equivalence of levels and suitability of scale are determining factors; completeness of boundaries and correspondence between functions and rights are influencing factors derived from the former three and playing important roles in certain cases; and endogeneity of unit construction is an external conditional influencing factor. The separate or combined effects of these six factors impact upon and determine the symmetry among units, and thus influence property rights, governance performance and developmental modes.

Keywords: property units, governance units, symmetry between units, property rights performance, governance performance