What makes a government's achievements meaningful? Is it rapid economic growth, or the difference it makes in people's lives?
In China, the answer has evolved alongside the country's development priorities. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012, greater emphasis has been placed on high-quality development and people's well-being. This shift has also brought renewed attention to how government performance is measured – and how evaluation can guide officials' conduct.
Ma Liang, a professor at Peking University's School of Government, sees performance assessment as a key mechanism shaping government behavior. As he puts it, "What gets measured gets done." The indicators used to evaluate officials influence not only how they understand their achievements but also how they allocate resources and set priorities.
An excessive focus on narrow or short-term targets can lead to distorted priorities, inefficient resource allocation and even the manipulation of performance figures, Ma argues. By contrast, a more comprehensive evaluation system can encourage officials to look beyond headline economic indicators and focus on substantive outcomes, including public services and people's well-being.