Hitting the Target but Missing the Point: The Rise of Non-Mission-Based Targets in Performance Measurement of Chinese Local Governments

A striking feature of the performance measurement system in Chinese local governments is the emphasis on non-mission-based targets. Drawing on data collected in a 5-year field research project in one inland Chinese county, this article examines the causes, dynamics, and consequences of the rise of non-mission-based targets in local China. It argues that non-mission-based targets are largely an expedient policy adopted by Chinese reformers to deal with the pressing political need to ensure effective governance in local areas. However, the implementation of a performance measurement system with non-mission-based targets has unexpectedly given rise to serious governing problems. In the long run, the widespread use of non-mission-based targets may create daunting challenges that jeopardize the basis of governance.