Incentives and Disincentives in Public Participation – A Review of Public Participation in Planning Practices in China

Abstract

Public participation is an increasingly popular topic in China, but more attention needs to be given to stakeholders’ willingness to participate. This paper reviews case studies to identify incentives and disincentives for the public and local governments to be involved in public participation in planning. The identified incentives and disincentives are classified into individual, social, civil society, and governmental levels. The study finds that personal interests primarily incentivise the public, while local governments lack essential incentives. Governmental-level factors influence both parties, emphasising the need for political approaches to enhance public participation in planning practices in China.