Business associations in China: Two regional experiences

Zhang, Jianjun

doi:10.1080/00472330701253908

Cited by 20 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Furthermore, business associations have been established at local level, either based on sectors or encompassing companies from different sectors within the same region (Zhang 2007). Arguably, this diversity is mainly attributable to initiatives of government agencies at different levels of administration and with different sectoral responsibilities, which were trying to establish links to the newly emerging private sector during market reform starting in the 1980s without a coordinated strategy (Deng and Kennedy 2010, Zhang 2007, Kennedy 2005).…”

Section: Emergence Of Business Associations Under Market Reformsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 2013, the 18 th plenary session of the party decided on a new social management system that allows direct registration with the Ministry of Civil Affairs, without affiliation to a government agency, for certain types of civil society organisations including business associations (CPC, 2013) 76 . While these policy changes could be seen 74 For instance, in Wenzhou, which has traditionally received less attention by the central government and is known for local government policies encouraging entrepreneurship, relatively strong, independent business associations have been initiated by local entrepreneurs (Zhang 2007). In contrast, in Wuxi, which is characterized by a more interventionist local government following a state-led model of development, business associations are 'organised, funded and run' (Zhang 2007, p. 214) by local government agencies based on the types of associations set up at higher levels of administration.…”

Section: Emergence Of Business Associations Under Market Reformsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given these changes in regulations on business associations in China, the question of autonomy is one aspect that has received attention in the academic literature. In particular, the autonomy of business associations has been discussed by researchers interested in whether economic growth and market reforms in China would go along with an increasingly active civil society, and whether this would eventually result in political change towards a pluralist democracy (Deng and Kennedy, 2010;Dickson, 2003Dickson, , 2008Teets, 2014;Unger and Chan, 2015;Zhang, 2007). The following subsections give an overview of this range of different perspectives on the nature and roles of business associations in China.…”

Section: Emergence Of Business Associations Under Market Reformsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chinese CSR standards and industrial policy in GPNs

Braun-Munzinger

2019

cpoib

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Purpose Public policy to promote corporate social responsibility (CSR) can be a tool used by the state to promote the creation of social value by multinational enterprises (MNEs) and their global suppliers. Yet, this aspect has been little explored in the literature on social value creation in international business. While there is a substantial literature on the interactions of public and private regulation of firm behaviour in the global economy, little is known about the emergence of local institutional environments aimed at creating social value from MNE activities. This paper aims to address this gap in the literature. Design/methodology/approach Conceptually, the paper draws on the literatures on global production networks (GPNs) and on institutional approaches to CSR to grasp the local institutional environment for social value creation in MNEs and their suppliers. Empirically, the case of China is examined based on a review of literature, policy documents and interviews. The key questions the paper seeks to address is as follows: How can the emergence of local Chinese CSR standards be explained? How does the emergence of such CSR standards fit into wider policy objectives in the context of Chinese export-oriented growth? Findings The paper argues that the emergence of CSR standards in China needs to be seen in the context of changing industrial policy objectives to enhance both the social and economic value of participation in GPNs. Specifically, the evolution of Chinese CSR standards corresponds to a shift from structural towards functional coupling in GPNs, associated with increased policy attention on enhancing local skills and technology. Taking the case of the textile and apparel sector as an example, the paper illustrates how the adoption of China’s first CSR management system has taken place in a context of shifting strategic coupling objectives. Research limitations/implications A lack of data does not allow any conclusions on the impact of the Chinese institutional environment on social value creation and economic upgrading at firm level. This question could be addressed in further research. In addition, the findings open new questions around possible synergies between local policies and MNE efforts on sustainability. Increasing cooperation between Chinese and international standard setters around CSR opens the question of whether this leads to a convergence of horizontal and vertical governance on sustainability in the apparel GPN. Practical implications Findings show that there may be a window of opportunity for international practitioners to seek further dialogue with Chinese actors around promoting socially and environmentally sustainable business in a global economy. Originality/value The paper contributes to a better understanding of changes in the institutional environment for social value creation for MNEs and their suppliers in a key emerging economy. It illustrates how institutional approaches to CSR and the GPN framework can be combined to grasp the institutional environment for social value creation in an international business context.

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Section: Emergence Of Business Associations Under Market Reformsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Emergence Of Business Associations Under Market Reformsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Emergence Of Business Associations Under Market Reformsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chinese CSR standards and industrial policy in GPNs

Braun-Munzinger

2019

cpoib

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“…Scholars who study the mobilization of Chinese firms divide into two camps. Advocates of the ‘civil society’ perspective argue that mobilized firms enjoy a substantial degree of autonomy and on occasion have the capacity to challenge the authority of the state (Deng and Kennedy, 2010; Zhang, 2007). By contrast, ‘statists’ insist that the party-state keeps tight control over business associations and the latter are able to further the interests of their members only if their actions complement policies favoured by the party-state (Brødsgaard, 2012; Shi, 2010; Unger and Chan, 2008).…”

Section: Employer Coordination In China: Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chinese employer associations, institutional complementarity and countervailing power

Zhu

Nyland

2016

Work, Employment and Society

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Prior to 2011 the China Enterprise Confederation (CEC) was the only employer association recognized by China's government. Drawing on interviews with staff from employer associations, employers and state officials, this study clarifies the role of Chinese employer associations, with the focus being on the CEC. The study finds that the Confederation is a quasi-state agency that undertakes many of the activities conducted by employer associations in developed economies. It also finds that the demise of the CEC's monopolization of employer representation can be attributed to its inability to act as an agent of countervailing power and its inability to sustain a complementary relationship with the social partners that are suited to the newly emergent employment relationship being constructed in China.

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“…They had earlier formed local trade associations to advance their interests. Procedures for self‐regulation had developed among the small private enterprises to counter the destructive underbidding of prices, to protect product quality and to safeguard the local brand reputation (Zhang ). These business associations then moved into the arena of industrial relations when local employers began to cope with the challenges associated with increased labour scarcity.…”

Section: Collective Bargaining At Enterprise and Sectoral Levelmentioning

confidence: 99%

What Sort of Collective Bargaining Is Emerging in China?

Lee

Brown

Wen

2014

Brit J Industrial Rel

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China is experiencing a rapid expansion of what is termed ‘collective bargaining’. The article draws on workplace and sectoral examples to assess what underlies this. Recent changes in labour policy are outlined. Four studies at establishment level describe the use of hybrid representation in response to growing worker activism and internal union reform. Two studies of sectoral bargaining shed light on decentralized decision‐making on pay. Attention is drawn to the growth of employer organizations and increased articulation within the trade union. A form of collective bargaining is emerging where the union draws on state power to improve conditions of employment.

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Business associations in China: Two regional experiences

Cited by 20 publications

References 21 publications

Chinese CSR standards and industrial policy in GPNs

Chinese CSR standards and industrial policy in GPNs

Chinese employer associations, institutional complementarity and countervailing power

What Sort of Collective Bargaining Is Emerging in China?

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