Can campaign‐style enforcement work: When and how? Evidence from straw burning control in China

Abstract The use of campaign‐style enforcement is often criticized for its lack of long‐term impacts and lack of impacts beyond campaign‐focused issues. Using a mixed approach that combines regression analysis and in‐depth interviews, we studied the campaigns against straw burning in several provinces of China, and found evidence to support the contrary. The campaigns did effectively reduce straw‐burning activities, and more importantly, the impact appears to be long lasting and may spill over to other environmental issues. We further found that informal institutions, such as Chinese face culture and the close ties between village cadres and farmers, play a very important role in determining the length and range of a campaign's impact. The values and limitations of campaign‐style enforcement are discussed.