Abstract
This study examines the reform and development of trade associations in Shanghai, China, one of the main economic hubs of the country and marked by a substantial growth in trade associations since the reform and “opening-up” in 1978. We analyze public policies pertaining to trade associations, survey data collected from 212 local trade associations in Shanghai, and interviews of government officials and trade association leaders. The research results show that trade associations are significantly less dependent on the government and they seem to be more oriented to providing services for and representing corporate members. We trace these changes to public policy reforms and growth in private businesses. The transition reflects the dynamic and changing relationship among the government, trade associations, and business in China. We conclude with a model of these dynamics and a discussion of the implications of this study.
Résumé
Cette étude se penche sur la réforme et la création des associations commerciales de Shanghai, un des principaux centres économiques de la Chine, où ces dernières ont connu un essor de taille depuis la réforme et l’ouverture de 1978. Nous analysons des politiques publiques relatives aux associations commerciales, des données de 212 associations de Shanghai et des entrevues menées auprès de représentants gouvernementaux et dirigeants d’associations. Les résultats de la recherche démontrent que les associations commerciales dépendent beaucoup moins du gouvernement et semblent plus enclines à offrir des services aux entreprises membres et à les représenter. Nous avons tissé un lien entre ces modifications aux réformes des politiques publiques et la croissance des entreprises privées. La transition reflète la relation dynamique et changeante qui existe entre le gouvernement, les associations commerciales et les entreprises de Chine. Nous proposons en conclusion un modèle de ces dynamiques et discutons des implications de la présente étude.
Zusammenfassung
Diese Studie untersucht die Reform und Entwicklung von Handelsverbänden in Shanghai, China, das einer der wichtigsten ökonomischen Knotenpunkte im Land darstellt und seit der Reform und der „Öffnung“1978 von einem bedeutenden Anstieg von Handelsverbänden gekennzeichnet ist. Wir untersuchen die öffentliche Politik in Bezug auf Handelsverbände und analysieren Daten aus einer Befragung von 212 örtlichen Handelsverbänden in Shanghai und Interviews mit Regierungsbeamten und Leitern von Handelsverbänden. Die Studienergebnisse zeigen, dass die Handelsverbände weitaus weniger von der Regierung abhängig und scheinbar vermehrt darauf ausgerichtet sind, Dienstleistungen für ihre Unternehmensmitglieder zu erbringen und diese zu vertreten. Wir verfolgen diese Änderungen der Reformen der öffentlichen Politik und das Wachstum privater Unternehmen. Der Übergang spiegelt die dynamische und sich ändernde Beziehung zwischen der Regierung, den Handelsverbänden und den Unternehmen in China wider. Abschließend präsentieren wir ein Modell zu diesen Dynamiken und diskutieren die Implikationen der Studie.
Resumen
El presente estudio examina la reforma y el desarrollo de las asociaciones comerciales en Shanghái (China), uno de los principales centros económicos del país y marcado por un crecimiento sustancial de asociaciones comerciales desde la reforma y la “apertura” en 1978. Analizamos las políticas públicas que atañen a las asociaciones comerciales, datos de encuestas recopilados de 212 asociaciones comerciales locales en Shanghai, y entrevistas de funcionarios gubernamentales y líderes de asociaciones comerciales. Los resultados de la investigación muestran que las asociaciones comerciales son significativamente menos dependientes del gobierno y parecen estar más orientadas a proporcionar servicios para miembros corporativos y a representarles. Seguimos el rastro de estos cambios en las reformas de la política pública y el crecimiento en las empresas privadas. La transición refleja la relación dinámica y cambiante entre el gobierno, las asociaciones comerciales y las empresas en China. Concluimos con un modelo de estas dinámicas y un debate sobre las implicaciones del presente estudio.
摘要
本项研究关注中国上海行业协会的改革与发展历程。自从1978年改革开放以来,上海的行业协会增长迅速。我们的分析是基于行业协会的公共政策,212家当地行业协会的问卷调查数据,以及政府官员和行业协会秘书长的访谈。研究结果表明:行业协会开始更少的依赖政府,更多的服务会员企业以及代表它们的利益。我们从公共政策的变革和私营企业的增长来解释行业协会的角色转变。这种转变反映中国地方政府,行业协会和企业间关系的动态变化。最后我们总结了地方政府和行业协会关系的两种理想模式,同时探讨了本研究的价值。
ملخص
تفحص هذه الدراسة إصلاح وتطويرالجمعيات التجارية في شنغهاي، الصين، أحد المراكز الإقتصادية الرئيسية في البلاد وتميزت بنمو كبير في الجمعيات التجارية منذ الاصلاح و”الإنفتاح “ في عام 1978. نحن نحلل السياسات العامة المتعلقة بالجمعيات التجارية، تم تجميع بيانات إستطلاع رأي من 212 من الجمعيات التجارية المحلية في شنغهاي، ومقابلات مع مسؤولين حكوميين وقادة جمعيات تجارية. أظهرت نتائج الأبحاث أن الجمعيات التجارية بشكل ملحوظ أقل إعتمادا” على الحكومة ويبدو أنهم أكثر توجها” لتقديم الخدمات وتمثيل أعضاء الشركات. نتتبع هذه التغييرات لإصلاح السياسات العامة والنمو في الشركات الخاصة. يعكس التحول العلاقة الديناميكية والمتغيرة بين الحكومة والجمعيات التجارية، والأعمال التجارية في الصين. نختتم بنموذج من هذه الديناميكيات ومناقشة الآثار المترتبة على هذه الدراسة.
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Source Data compiled from Shanghai’s Social Organization http://www.shstj.gov.cn/Index.aspx
Sources Data compiled from Shanghai Yearbooks, 1998–2012
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Notes
Nonprofits concerning political and legal issues, related to religion, and foreign NGOs still must abide by the dual management system in Shanghai.
Trade associations included in this study are mainly composed of institutional members, some having a few individual members. In the paper, the term nonprofit organization is similar to the term nongovernmental organization (NGO) used in the literature, which encompasses social organizations, nongovernmental, noncommercial enterprises, and foundations in China. Social organizations include member-based voluntary organizations such as trade associations.
Scholars debate whether to include in civil society trade associations. We take a broad approach by including economic-oriented associations (see Boli and Thomas 1999).
Information retrieved from Shanghai Statistical Yearbook 2012,http://www.stats-sh.gov.cn/tjnj/tjnj2012.htm, September 23, 2014.
Prior to 2002, only Shanghai Municipality (equivalent of the state level government in China) had the authority to register trade associations. In 2008, Pudong District was granted the right to register trade associations. However, other counties or districts in Shanghai have no such authority.
Information retrieved from China’s Trade Association http://www.fctacc.org/47630.html, September 23, 2014.
Information retrieved from China’s Social Organization http://www.chinanpo.gov.cn/1202/16027/index.html. Meeting notes of social organization’s clear-up and rectification (9/9/1991), September 23, 2014.
Information retrieved from Shanghai’s Social Organization Website: http://www.shstj.gov.cn/Index.aspx, September 23, 2014. The website reports that 73 associations were established in 1991, but given the scale, it most likely is the cumulative number established by 1991. We thus interpret it as the total number of trade associations established from 1978 to 1991 that were still active in 1991 because there was no systematic registration information on trade association from 1978 to 1990 and a large-scale clean-up of social organizations in 1990–1991 resulted in reregistration of social organization at the end of 1991. He (2007) argues that due to the lack of systematic data on the establishment of NPOs in the 1980s, scholars cannot describe and depict a complete trend of NPOs in China. So data on trade association establishment are only available for 1991–2011 and not for 1978–1990.
Information retrieved from Shanghai Yearbooks, 1998–2012, on December 10, 2015. http://www.shtong.gov.cn/node2/node19828/index.html.
Information retrieved from Shanghai Yearbook 2006 on September 23, 2014. http://www.shanghai.gov.cn/shanghai/node2314/node24651/node17184/node17841/userobject21ai220894.html.
In a study of Chinese NGOs, Lu (2007) presents a different perspective and argues that some associates established by the government have more autonomy than those self-established do.
Information retrieved from Shanghai Jiefang Daily on September 23, 2014. http://newspaper.jfdaily.com/jfrb/html/2010-11/25/content_460794.htm.
When the survey was conducted in 2011, some of the trade associations had already gone through the government–association reform. Therefore, it is reasonable that they considered themselves as more civil and member-interest-representing organizations.
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Acknowledgments
The first author appreciates the overseas program scholarship funded by Shanghai Jiao Tong University to work as a visiting scholar in Arizona State University, and also appreciates Dr Jialiang Xu, Director of Center for the Third Sector of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, for allowing to use the data collected in one research program the first author got involved as a key member.
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Zhao, T., Wang, L. & Thomas, G.M. Public Policies, Stakeholder Interest, and Nonprofit Development: The Case of Trade Associations in Shanghai, China. Voluntas 27, 2173–2198 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-016-9761-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-016-9761-9