2011 Awards for Excellence
Article Type: 2011 Awards for Excellence From: Journal of Knowledge-based Innovation in China, Volume 4, Issue 1
The following article was selected for this year’s Outstanding Paper Award for Journal of Knowledge-based Innovation in China
“Exploring the voluntary approach in China: the case of the Top-1,000 Industrial Energy Conservation Program”
Liguang LiuDepartment of Public Administration, College of Arts and Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
Purpose -- This paper aims to examine the emergence, shape and functioning of China’s Top-1,000 Industrial Energy Conservation Program. The program, implemented since 2006, is generated from a pilot voluntary program and modeled on international industrial efficiency target-setting programs. The research studies why the program was deviated from the voluntary approach and how the program outcomes have been influenced by the action network.Design/methodology/approach -- The historical development of the program is framed by policy network theory, which conceptualizes the causal relations of policy network and policy outcomes. Both primary data and secondary data are used.Findings -- In the current Chinese context, the voluntary agreement could not replace the traditional top-down regulations as policy tools adopted nationwide. However, it can function as a complementary implementation tool to be adopted at the local level.Practical implications -- An in-depth understanding of the evolution of voluntary agreement on energy efficiency in China will promote the discussion on China’s policy-making process and will provide useful insights regarding its future low-carbon policy options.Originality/value-- The study provides an empirical application of the policy network approach, a prominent policy process theory that has been popular in many European and some North-American contexts.
Keywords: Energy conservation, Environmental management,Environmental regulations, China
This article originally appeared in Volume 2 Number 3, 2010, pp. 283-98, Journal of Knowledge-based Innovation in China
The following articles were selected for this year’s Highly Commended Award
“Empirical study of the relations between the knowledge base and innovation performance of an economy”
Panqiang Niu, Fuji Xie and Tchuta Leonard
This article originally appeared in Volume 2 Number 2, 2010, Journal of Knowledge-based Innovation in China
“Multinational investment projects in the petrochemical industry in China”
Emanuela Todeva and Yan Fu
This article originally appeared in Volume 2 Number 2, 2010, Journal of Knowledge-based Innovation in China
