Beginning to unlock the black box of the budgetary performance evaluation practices in China: a case study of evaluation reports from Zhejiang province

Abstract

Using first-hand performance evaluation reports from Zhejiang province and a series of interviews, this paper provides a preliminary assessment of performance evaluation in China. Evaluation reports are examined in terms of their format, content, evaluative criteria, conclusion and the characteristics of evaluation staff. China was found to be somewhat open in terms of involving external evaluators, and minimal variance was seen in evaluation scores. China is in the early stages of measuring performance in a context where centralized governance is in place; various reform initiatives are taking shape; the boundaries of scientific evaluations and the potential usefulness of performance evaluations within its political environment are unknown. Many developing economies are in similar situations, so this paper will have relevance well beyond China.

Keywords:

• Budget
• China
• evaluation
• performance

Notes

^* This information was taken from the address on performance evaluation of budgetary outcomes, made by the deputy director of the finance department of ZheJiang province on 21 November 2007.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Elaine Yi Lu

Elaine Yi Lu is Associate Professor, Department of Public Management, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, The City University of New York (CUNY), USA. This study is in part supported by CUNY and Xi'An JiaoTong University, China.