Local Leaders' Informal Networks and Policy Tourism

ABSTRACT Most networking activities in the public administration literature focus on formal networks, yet less attention has been paid to the function of informal networks, which are critical mechanisms for transmitting information and knowledge. This study fills this gap by examining the impact of informal networks on policy tourism, an important channel for policy learning and intergovernmental collaboration. Using China as a case, we indicate that local leaders' informal networks facilitate the initiation of policy tourism. Stronger informal networks are more likely to motivate local leaders to initiate a policy visit. However, informal networks are fluid and vulnerable to disruption. Adverse shocks to a local leader's career may undermine their effectiveness. In particular, the downfall of local leaders in destination cities evidently reduces the likelihood of policy tourism. Local leaders are less likely to visit cities where leaders are under corruption investigation, especially when they share career ties with them.