Design and learning effects of China’s expert advisory committees1

Abstract Facing challenges of dealing with complex social and technical issues, Chinese government has sought to enhance social credibility of policy decisions by soliciting expert advice. One institutional approach to do so is to establish expert advisory committees (EACs). Based on an analysis of EACs established by China’s national government agencies, this paper finds low but increasing degrees of transparency and formalization, high degree of government control and relevance, low but increasing degree of inclusiveness and contestability. With more diversification and contestation of the societal interests and values, rising public demand for participation in decision-making and growing technical complexity of policy issues in China, the EACs’ advice has drawn upon more diverse types of knowledge, interests, and values. The study provides one of many learning mechanisms that account for the rapid economic development and social-political stability of the country witnessed by the world.