Research On The Action Logic Of The Village Cadres

The Village cadres, which are the mediation between the state and the farmers, are labeled as "national agent", including "national agent" and "village agent" double role. At the same time, they are rational men who pursuit self-interest. The past research demonstrates that using resources to pursue "economic interests"(or called "economic rent") is the main driving force for the Village Cadres. However, through equaling the case of A town research, we notice that the village cadres will face “economic interests” reducing or even disappearing during the Farmland Confirmation. In such context cadres, what is the logic behind the Village Cadres? Is this inconsistent with the pursuit of "economic interests" ?Focusing on this question, through the case of participatory observation, questionnaire and depth interview, I’d mean to use Mancur Olson’s "The Logic of Collective Action" theory of "selective incentives" to explain. We find that in the influence of the action of "selective incentives" which comes from "village committee", the Village cadres still take positive action in the "farmland confirmation”. The positive selective incentives include the information sources of "Village committee" platform, reputation incentive, the social capital incentive. The negative selective incentives includes the Village Cadres which provide Collective goods constrained by the township government’s regulations and majesty osmotic pressure, inaction Village Cadres receiving pressure from public opinion. Due to the "positive" and "negative" incentive mechanism, even thought facing the power disappearing, there exists possibility which can explain why the Village cadres still will take positive action.