The Institutional Economics Of Learning Government Construction

Informatization and knowledge economy has changed the relationship between government and the society, which makes the traditional concept of governance, organizational structure, and institutional system unable to meet the requirements of the times. In response to these new challenges, government must, through various ways and methods, further transform its functions, administrative philosophy to improve managerial capacity and competitive power. Learning, whose ultimate goal is to promote institutional organization, is also the prerequisite for it, which is the very essence of learning government. As a result, to build learning government is the inevitable demand of the times, the practical requirement of scientific development, the major way to enhance the capacity of learning, innovation and competition of the government as well as the significant manifestation of socialist political civilization.Learning government has deep theoretical foundations. Not only do the transaction cost theory, public choice theory and theory of institutional change provide theoretical base for the innovation of governmental systems, but also they draw a blueprint for the innovation of governmental reforms. To study the construction of learning government in China, however, must take its specific conditions into consideration. We need to use relevant foreign theories, but Chinese Marxism shall not be excluded, for the reason that it has long been scientific theory for Chinese revolution, construction and reform proven by practice. Consequently, learning Chinese Marxism lies in upholding the quality of keeping up with the times, in the process of which we constantly enrich and develop it, push forward theoretical innovation and institutional innovation afterwards.The key of reengineering government in western countries is that government learns from markets, enterprises and third sectors. So, reengineering government is all about innovating governance systems, constructing learning government. Considering the fact that massive economic and administrative systems reforms have been undertaken since reform and opening up, the idea of reengineering government is of great significance to learning government. More importantly, the series of institutional innovations offer precious practical experience on how to construct learning government.To sum up, learning government in China is aiming at promoting theoretical innovation, governance system innovation, law-based administration, government function transform, and scientific development through learning. In addition, constructing learning government requires sticking to the principles of putting people first, collective learning, life-time learning, linking theory with practice. First, learning government must learn Chinese Marxism, improve theoretical level, and promote institutional innovation through theoretical innovation. Second, learning government must learn the laws and regulations, administration and build a government under the rule of law. Third, learning government must learn the knowledge of market economy, strengthen macro-control, improve the ability to control the market economy. Forth, learning government must learn basic work skills, be proficient in business, and enhance the level of serving the people. The specific way of constructing learning government is to innovate the learning mechanism, stimulate the initiative, creativity and activity by creating a heated learning environment; to eliminate the obstacles of learning by reshaping the organizational structures; to strengthen governance innovation by transforming government functions.