Vertical policy diffusion in China: a meta-analysis

Despite a growing body of research on policy diffusion, relatively few conclusive findings have been established regarding vertical policy diffusion, particularly concerning its primary determinants in non-democratic contexts. This study addresses this gap through a meta-analysis of Chinese-language literature, developing a theoretical framework to identify the determinants through which the central government shapes vertical policy diffusion in China. The meta-analysis demonstrates that the central government exerts a statistically significant, albeit moderate, net positive effect on vertical policy diffusion, operating primarily through administrative authority embedded in central-local relations and financial incentives. As the first meta-analysis to draw on Chinese-language literature, the study finds that administrative authority attenuates central government impact, whereas financial incentives strengthen it.