How quasi-government policy entrepreneur promotes environmental policy innovation in China

Research on policy entrepreneurs and policy innovation has traditionally relied on qualitative methods and case studies, focusing primarily on the role of individual entrepreneurs. However, the success of policy entrepreneurs in driving change often stems from collective efforts. Therefore, it is important to shift the focus from individual policy entrepreneurs to collective policy entrepreneurs. This paper offers an innovative approach to quantifying the contributions of policy entrepreneurs to local environmental policy innovation. Drawing on panel data spanning 31 Chinese provinces from 2009 to 2016, our study reveals that Local People's Congress (LPC) bills play a central role in driving environmental policy innovation. Additionally, while Local People's Political Consultative Conference (LPPCC) proposals alone may not significantly impact environmental policy innovation, they do exert a notable substitution effect on LPC bills. This research not only provides valuable theoretical and methodological insights into the functions of LPC and LPPCC in policy innovation but also advances our understanding of quasi-government policy entrepreneurs and the broader policy process.