Attention Involution:Understanding the Logic Behind the Proliferation of Grassroots Government In-novation,with A Case Study of the Evolution of Governance Comprehensive Assessment Indicators in County F
Grassroots government innovation have recently transformed from a few isolated and autonomous in-cidents into a widespread institutional phenomenon directed by higher authorities,and from work agenda to competition target,thus exacerbating formalism at the grassroots level.This paper employs an analytical frame-work of government attention distribution to explore the internal logic behind the proliferation of grassroots gov-ernment innovation.Our research indicates that if institutional attention satisfies the need of leaders to signal their performance,leaders will allocate their attention within this realm,leading to a high degree of certainty of attention distribution and limited competitive space for subordinates.Conversely,when institutional attention is diffuse and cannot fulfill the leaders'signaling needs,leaders will allocate attention outside the institutional framework,resulting in uncertainty and greater competitive space for subordinates."Innovation"possesses char-acteristics of legitimacy,salience,measurability,inclusiveness,and heterogeneity,making it an ideal vehicle for at-tention allocation outside institutional parameters.Consequently,county-level departments,townships,and their staff can leverage innovation to capture leaders attention,leading to an increase in the matters prioritized by leaders,which paradoxically worsens governance outcomes.This results in an involution of leaders'attention and the proliferation and formalism of government innovation.
government innovationcounty governanceattention competitionvertical and horizontal relationsgoal management
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