Process analysis of inter-governmental negotiation in delineating permanent prime farmland around cities: The case of Chongqing, China

Yong Liu, Wei Zhao, Rong Liao and Cheng Wang

Land Use Policy, 2021, vol. 111, issue C

Abstract: China’s rapid urbanization in recent decades resulted in substantial farmland loss. The land administration system adopted spatial control policies and quota-based tools to reduce farmland loss, but such actions are insufficient to deal with strong incentives of farmland conversion on urban fringes. The central government initiated the delineation of permanent prime farmland around cities as a remedial measure. Although the existing literature focused on the technical issue of delineation, limited research was conducted on how the top-down delineation policy has be implemented smoothly within a complex intergovernmental delivery network. To fill this gap, we outlined an analytical framework of intergovernmental negotiation for farmland quotas and examined the delineation process in Chongqing. Our findings indicated that central and local departments selectively made compromises and adaptations based on the strategies of their counterpart. The ministry of land and resources insisted on stringent quotas but tolerated certain adjustments in the “one-size-fits-all” policy to suit local conditions. Local bureaus accepted more stringent quotas than expected but chose the most advantageous strategies for local development. The delineated results had no significant impact on short-term urban development but imposed constraints on farmland encroachment in the long term. These findings can provide important implications for land governance in China and highlight the potential impact of the delineation policy.

Keywords: Prime farmland; Delineation; Farmland quota; Principle-agent; Governance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:111:y:2021:i:c:s0264837721004701

DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2021.105747

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