Searching for new welfare governance in China: contracting out social service and impact on government-NGOs relationship

ABSTRACT

In the past decade, the influence of global forces for public sector reforms through the involvement of third sector organizations in social service delivery in the form of contracting out of social services has been growing. Understanding that the state alone can have difficulties financing and providing good quality social services, the Chinese government has made attempts to engage non-governmental organizations to deliver them. This article critically examines how the contracting out social service policy adopted in China has enhanced social service delivery. This article also reflects upon the social governance reforms in China and its effects on the government-NGOs relationship.

KEYWORDS:

• Contract out social service
• social governance reform
• China and transitional economy
• state-NGO relations
• welfare regime change
• sustainability

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The authors wish to express their gratitude to the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong for funding support to the research team to conduct the current research project. This article is based on the research findings of the project (GEF LU 13673016). The authors would also like to thank the interviewees in China for sharing their experiences and observations related to the research project.

Notes on contributors

Ka Ho Mok

Ka Ho Mok is Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Comparative Policy, School of Graduate Studies, Lingnan University, Hong Kong.

Chak Kwan Chan

Chak Kwan Chan is Director of Asia Pacific Institute of Ageing Studies, Lingnan University, Hong Kong.

Zhuoyi Wen

Zhuoyi Wen is Research Assistant Professor, Asia Pacific Institute of Ageing Studies, Lingnan University, Hong Kong.