Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 570-592).

Acknowledging the population aging trend, the urbanization process, and also the old-age security challenges facing rural migrant workers, this study sets out to explore and make theoretical sense of the pension policy process for rural migrant workers, through a case study in Beijing. Applying the stage model of the policymaking process, and an equitable-effective-efficient evaluative framework, an inquiry frame is constructed to formulate research questions theoretically and to facilitate the whole study. Mixed methods integrating quantitative and qualitative research were adopted to achieve the stated purpose. The secondary data yielded by a random sampling survey (N=3,024) were employed to provide a contextual base, and to examine what factors are influencing rural migrant worker choices and participation in pension schemes, through a multivariate Probit regression method. The effect of pension program on consumption smoothing and income redistribution, reflected by pension replacement rates, are explored through actuarial models. Based on the findings of a quantitative study, semi-structured, in-depth interviews were carried out with 22 rural migrant workers, 6 governmental officials, 5 scholars and 5 human resource managers in Beijing. Through prolonged immersion in the research site, qualitative research further addresses the mechanisms and factors functioning within the policymaking process. Merging mixed methods utilizing the stages model of policy process, this study has been able to make discoveries not reported in previous studies. This study is of considerable significance, as it contributes novel insights and concepts into understanding the dynamics of the policy process in the case study of rural migrant worker pension provision in China. First, in response to the inquiry frame, it establishes an analytical framework to uncover the underlying policymaking process, as well as the mechanisms and factors functioning within each stage. In the agenda setting stage, it is the central government which can initiate the agenda setting process for rural migrant workers. At the same time, however, local governments are driven by their own interests and compelled by the central government’s desire to get pension issues on the agenda. It is indicated that decentralization, centralization and incrementalism are functioning together in policy formulation and adoption. From both the micro and macro perspectives, this study identifies what factors are contributing to the gap between policy design and implementation. Guided by a preset three-Es framework, the whole policy process and its (potential) impacts are evaluated. Second, throughout the whole study, an interest is displayed through its analysis in rural migrant workers' situations, needs and opinions. It is found that governments are playing an overwhelmingly decisive role in policy making, that rural migrant workers' voices are largely unheard, and that powers are concentrated in unrepresentative hands. Policy suggestions on moving toward a democratic policy process are then discussed. Finally, this study further proposes a package of concrete policy implications to systematically address these practical policy issues. This package mainly covers the household registration system, the sandwich generation, preservation of pension rights, policy transparency and publicity, policies being moderately mandated, and particular social welfare programs. / published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Public-private partnership (PPP) has been an important issue in recent decades. PPP is seen by some as a cure for inefficient and over-burdensome modern government. Yet, by observing practices in China, this research aims to answer the simple questions: why has there been a decline in PPPs? How does government decide whether or not to establish partnership with private enterprises? By investigating the case of Primary Land Development (PLD) in China especially in Beijing, this research has attempted to provide explanations mainly in relation to coordination effectiveness involving a resource interdependence theory. Logic of institutionalism is followed. External environment, key institutions and attributes of PLD field are also carefully examined to further explain the change of resources and coordination effectiveness. This research conducts longitudinal comparison of cases within one case city: Beijing. The focal level is Beijing municipal level. Three time horizons are examined, which are 2002—2004, 2005—2008, and 2009-2010. The First-hand data in this study have two main sources: in-depth interviews with key policy participants and archives acquired through fieldwork. Secondary data including statistical yearbooks, laws and policies, news, and research carried out by previous students are also employed by the research. This research examines the changes of external political and economic environment in each time horizon. It compares the coordination effectiveness between PLD policy-makers and PLD implementers and between PLD implementers and other stakeholders in PLD process within each time period. Through examining the three stages of PLD in Beijing, this research develops the following findings. First, fiscal decentralization and cadre management are two important elements shaping the incentives of policy-makers in China. Second, coordination effectiveness in two dimensions influence policy-makers in decisions related to PPP. Third, the degree and the extent of resource interdependence influences whether coordinator can employ the most suitable and effective mechanisms to coordinate. Fourth, changes to the external economic and political environment will change the incentives and policy choices of policy-makers, and also change the resources held by different actors. Fifth, coordination matters. When traditional mechanisms such as hierarchy and the market do not work well in many cases, the ability to employ new coordination mechanisms such as networks is particularly important in achieving the desired goals of coordinators. Finally, in countries like China which is dominated by political logic, the more politically significant a field is, the less likely it is that PPPs will exist. / published_or_final_version / Politics and Public Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Home relocation has far-reaching effects on both urban structure and individuals’ quality of life. While a large volume of studies have examined the determinants of home relocation, only limited attention has been paid to the outcomes of home relocation. Even less scholarly effort has been devoted to the impacts of home relocation on the movers in terms of change in their domain and life satisfaction. This study aims to explore this issue by focusing on the two following research questions: (1) has home relocation led to improvement in residential, travel and life satisfaction? (2) what contributes to the change in residential, travel and life satisfaction after move? Using a two-wave survey of residents who moved their homes in Beijing, this dissertation investigates the patterns of change in the movers’ residential, travel and life satisfaction and explores the determinants of change in satisfaction based on a series of multilevel SEM models. The specific variables applied to explain change in satisfaction after move are derived from the existing literature on residential, travel and life satisfaction. The results show a positive and significant increase in the average level of residential, travel and life satisfaction after move, suggesting that home relocation has significant and positive effects on the mover’s quality of life. The change in satisfaction after move is mainly determined by change in residential environment, change in travel conditions, motivations to move and some personal and household socioeconomics. Specifically, residential satisfaction change is mainly explained by housing tenure shift and change in the perceived neighborhood environment including physical design, safety, social composition, etc.. Travel satisfaction change is mainly predicted by change in daily travel patterns and perceived neighborhood environment. The objective indicators of change in neighborhood accessibility and walkability only exert marginal effects on travel satisfaction change. Life satisfaction change is mainly determined by change in perceived neighborhood environment and daily activity patterns, which influence life satisfaction change both directly and indirectly through changes in residential and travel satisfaction. This dissertation not only enriches the literature of residential mobility and the wellbeing studies, but also has important implications for policy-makers to enhance residents’ quality of life. To fully interpret how home relocation influences the movers, more sophisticated surveys covering more life domains and longer time series are still needed in future studies. KEYWORDS: Residential satisfaction, Travel satisfaction, Life satisfaction, Subjective wellbeing, Home relocation, Beijing

This thesis has sought to investigate the development of Chinese elite sport policy after the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games through examining the evolution of the Chinese Olympic discourses and elite sport policy discourses with emphasis on the power and interests reflected and constructed within and by these discourses. This study adopts a Critical Discourse Analysis approach, (founded on Critical Realist premises). The discourse analysis protocol employed is modified from Fairclough s (2005, 2009) framework, also known as Dialectical-Relational Approach, to examine the constitution and implementation of power at the meso and micro levels of relationships within Chinese elite sport. The analysis is based on archival material and semi-structured interviews. Rather than providing a detailed chronology of the Chinese Olympic movement and of Chinese elite sport, the analysis, divided into two main parts, starts with identifying critical periods as the start line of the analysis and points of division that separate these periods. The analysis of the pre-2008 era starts with the year 1993, in which the first Olympic bid by China failed and the second significant reforming policy of Chinese elite sport was published. This section of the thesis consists of an analytic description of the development of Chinese elite sport policy and the analysis of Chinese Olympic discourse and elite sport discourse before the 2008 Olympics. The post-2008 section contains the analysis of these two discourses after the Beijing Games, and develops case studies of three sports, baseball, diving and table tennis, attempting to unveil the development of Chinese elite sport policy in the post-2008 era. From 1993 to 2012, a consistent feature was the concurrent requirement of both reform and of satisfactory elite sport performance, was maintained in Chinese elite sport policy discourse. The power of discourses in relation to these dual goals has varied across the period, has been influenced by a number of factors, and has been maintained by the dominant group within Chinese society and within Chinese elite sport exercising their power over discourse. The thesis argues that the characterisation of Chinese elite sport and of its development has varied with the change in the power relationship between the two sets of goals, which has significantly influenced the key developments and change in Chinese elite sport policy and its governance system.

Thesis (PhD (Biomedical Sciences. Molecular Biology and Human Genetics))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / Dissertation presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Stellenbosch University. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study describes the molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains with the Beijing genotype. This genotype has received clinical prominence due to its global distribution and the hypothesis that these strains have acquired the ability to evade the protective effect of BCG vaccination, spread more readily, acquire drug resistance and cause severe forms of disease. Molecular biological techniques were used in a series of studies to elucidate the genetic evolutionary mechanisms underlying the success of this genotype in Cape Town, South Africa. Using a collection of 40 different markers it was possible for the first time to construct a phylogenetic history of Beijing genotype strains. This phylogeny was characterized by the consecutive evolution of 7 sublineages. Analysis of epidemiological data in relation to these sublineages showed an association between more recently evolved Beijing strains and an increased ability to transmit and cause disease. From these findings it was hypothesized that the pathogenic characteristics of the Beijing genotype were not conserved but rather that strains representative of the different sublineages had evolved unique properties. In order to determine whether these socalled unique properties were associated with either the host population or the genetic background of strains from sublineage 7, a meta-analysis of published Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive-Unit (MIRU) typing data (East Asia) was compared with MIRU typing data from the South African strains in the context of their phylogenetic histories. This study showed that Beijing genotype strains in South Africa originated in East Asia following their introduction during the early 18th century. A significant association was observed between the frequency of occurrence of strains from defined Beijing sublineages and the human population from whom they were cultured (p <0.0001). Based on these findings it was proposed that either the host population (South African) had selected for a particular Beijing sublineage (i.e. sublineage 7) or that strains from that sublineage had adapted to be more successful in the South African population. In a subsequent study, using the methodology developed in the above studies, it was shown that strains from the ancestrally positioned lineage (termed “atypical” Beijing genotype) were over-represented in drug resistant isolates in the Eastern Cape region. This contradicts current dogma which suggests that “atypical” Beijing genotype strains are attenuated in their ability to transmit. However, this phenomenon may be ameliorated in immune-compromised patients as review of the clinical records showed that transmission was associated with HIV co-infection. These findings highlight the need to improve tuberculosis control in vulnerable populations as strains which would normally not contribute significantly to the epidemic now become a cause for concern especially if they are associated with drug resistance. To improve our understanding of the evolution of the Beijing genotype, the genomic stability of an additional 27 polymorphic markers were analysed. These markers have recently been proposed as the new standard in molecular epidemiological studies and were based on MIRU-Variable Number Tandem-Repeats (VNTR) sequences. Superimposition of the MIRU-VNTR data onto the phylogenetic tree showed excellent concordance thereby demonstrating that these alleles were largely stable over time. It is currently not known how the alleles that do change could influence pathogenicity. The results of this study also demonstrated discordance between strains defined by IS6110 DNA fingerprinting and those defined by MIRU-VNTR typing thereby demonstrating that these markers evolve independently and at different rates. Furthermore, the MIRU-VNTR typing method was unable to predict transmission of drug resistant strains which contradict previous reports from low incidence settings. This has significant implications for the use of this typing method in high incidence settings. Using an improved PCR-based method it was possible for the first time, to identify the 5 most prominent phylogenetic lineages in primary cultures of adult tuberculosis patients resident in a high HIV/TB co-infection setting. The results of this study showed that 15% of the study population was infected with two or more strains and Beijing genotype strains were over-represented in these mixed infections. Furthermore, drug susceptibility tests showed that one patient was co-infected with both a drug sensitive and a drug resistant strain. Since mixed infections have been implicated in treatment failure, these findings demonstrate the epidemiological importance of detecting mixed infections in vulnerable populations. This PCR-based method was further applied to cultures of paediatric tuberculosis patients to classify strains which spoligotyping was unable to define. The result of this study showed three mixed infections which otherwise would have been missed. In order to determine whether clinical disease presentation of patients infected with strains of the Beijing genotype were different from that of patients infected with non-Beijing genotype strains, clinical and demographic data of these two groups were analysed. This study showed that patients infected with strains of the Beijing genotype were highly infectious as defined by the increased bacterial load in sputum specimens. However, this finding could not be validated by lung pathology according to chest radiographs of infected patients. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie beskryf die molekulêre epidemiologie van Mycobacterium tuberculosis rasse met die Beijing genotipe. Hierdie genotipe is van groot kliniese belang weens hul globale verspreiding en die hipotese dat hierdie rasse die vermoë ontwikkel het om die beskermende effek van BCG vaksinasie te vermy, om meer geredelik te versprei, middelweerstandigheid te ontwikkel en erger vorms van siekte te veroorsaak. Molekulêre biologiese tegnieke is gebruik in ‘n reeks studies om die genetiese evolusionêre meganismes onderliggend tot die sukses van hierdie genotipe in Kaapstad, Suid-Afrika te verklaar. Deur ‘n versameling van 40 verskillende merkers te gebruik, was dit moontlik om vir die eerste keer ‘n filogenetiese stamboom van die Beijing ras genotipe te skep. Hierdie filogenie word gekenmerk deur die opeenvolgende evolusie van 7 ras sublyne. Met die analise van epidemiologiese data in verhouding tot hierdie ras sublyne, is ‘n assosiasie tussen die mees onlangs ontwikkelde Beijing rasse en die verhoogde vermoë om te versprei en siekte te veroorsaak, getoon. Vanweë hierdie bevindinge, is ‘n hipotese daargestel dat die patogeniese kenmerke van die Beijing genotipe nie in alle raslyne voorkom nie, maar eerder dat verteenwoordigende rasse van die verskillende sublyne unieke eienskappe deur evolusie ontwikkel het. ‘n Metaanalise van gepubliseerde MIRU tipering data van Oos-Asië is vergelyk met MIRU tipering data van Suid-Afrikaanse rasse in die konteks van hul filogenetiese geskiedenis om te bepaal watter van hierdie sogenoemde unieke eienskappe geassosieer is met die gasheerpopulasie en watter eienskappe geassosieer is met die genetiese agtergrond van die sublyn 7 rasse. Hierdie studie het getoon dat die Beijing ras genotipe van Suid-Afrika hul oorsprong gekry het van Oos-Asië en vir die eerste keer waargeneem is in die vroeë 18de eeu. ‘n Betekenisvolle assosiasie is waargeneem tussen die frekwensie waarteen die rasse van ‘n bepaalde Beijing sublyn voorkom en die menslike populasie van wie hulle geïsoleer is (p < 0.0001). Gebaseer op hierdie bevindinge is dit voorgestel dat die menslike populasie (Suid-Afrikaners) vir ‘n spesifieke Beijing sublyn geselekteer het (bv. Sublyn 7) of dat rasse van hierdie sublyn aangepas het om meer suksesvol te wees in die Suid-Afrikaanse populasie In ‘n daaropvolgende studie is, deur gebruik te maak van die metodiek wat ontwikkel is vir die bogenoemde studies, getoon dat die voorouerlike sublyn (bekend as die“atipiese” Beijing genotipe) die mees verteenwoordigende sublyn was onder middelweerstandige isolate van die Oos-Kaap gebied. Dit is teenstrydig met die bestaande dogma wat bepaal dat die “atipiese” Beijing genotipe rasse hulle vermoë om te versprei verloor het. Hierdie verskynsel kan egter versterk word in immuun inkompetente pasiënte aangesien hersiening van die kliniese rekords aangedui het dat verspreiding geassosieer was met HIV ko-infeksie. Hierdie bevindinge bring die behoefte om TB beheer in vatbare populasies te verbeter, na vore, omrede rasse wat gewoonlik `n onbetekenisvolle bydrae tot die epidemie lewer, nou ‘n rede vir kommer is veral as hulle met middelweerstandigheid geassosieer is. Om ons insig rakende die evolusie van die Beijing genotipe te verbeter, is die genomiese stabiliteit van ‘n addisionele 27 polimorfiese merkers geanaliseer. Daar is onlangs voorgestel dat hierdie merkers, wat gebaseer is op MIRU-VNTR volgordes,die nuwe standaard vir molekulêre studies is. Die MIRU-VNTR data is op die filogenetiese boom geplaas en het uitstekende ooreenstemming getoon wat die allele se stabiliteit oor tyd gedemonstreer het. Dit is tans nie duidelik hoe van die allele wat wel verander, die patogenisiteit beïnvloed nie. Die resultate van die studie wys ook onenigheid tussen rasse wat deur IS6110 DNA tipering gedefinieer is en dié wat deur MIRU-VNTR tipering gedefinieer is. Dit impliseer dus dat die evolusie van merkers onafhanklik van mekaar plaasvind en teen verskillende tempos. Verder was die MIRU-VNTR tipering metode nie in staat om verspreiding van middelweerstandige rasse te voorspel nie, wat teenstrydig is met vorige verslae waar lae insidensie omgewings bestudeer is. Dit het noemenswaardige implikasies vir die gebruik van hierdie tipering metode in hoë insidensie omgewings. ‘n Verbeterde PKR-gebaseerde metode is vir die eerste keer gebruik om die 5 mees prominente filogenetiese sublyne in primêre kulture van volwasse tuberkulose pasiënte van ‘n hoë MIV/TB ko-infeksie omgewing, te identifiseer. Die resultate van hierdie studie het gewys dat 15% van die studiepopulasie geïnfekteer is met twee of meer rasse en dat die Beijing genotipe ras die meeste voorgekom het in gemengde infeksies. Verder het middelweerstandige toetse gewys dat een pasiënt geïnfekteer was met beide ‘n middelsensitiewe en ‘n middelweerstandige ras. Gemengde infeksies is al vantevore gekoppel aan onsuksesvolle behandeling en dus demonstreer hierdie bevindinge die epidemiologiese belang van die opsporing van gemengde infeksies in vatbare populasies. Hierdie PKR-gebaseerde metode is verder gebruik om rasse wat voorkom in kulture van pediatriese pasiënte, wat spoligotipering nie kon klassifiseer nie, te klassifiseer. Die resultate het drie gemengde infeksies gewys wat sonder die PKR-gebaseerde metode, nie geïdentifiseer sou gewees het. Om te bepaal of die kliniese beeld van pasiënte wat geïnfekteer is met rasse van die Beijing genotipe verskil van dié van pasiënte wat geïnfekteer is met rasse van die nie-Beijing genotipe, is die kliniese en demografiese data van die twee groepe pasiënte geanaliseer. Hierdie studie wys dat pasiënte wat geïnfekteer is met rasse van die Beijing genotipe hoogs aansteeklik is (gedefinieer op grond van hoë bakteriële lading in sputum monsters). Hierdie bevindinge kon egter nie met behulp van long patologie op borskas X-strale bevestig word nie.

published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Sociology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / China Development Studies / Master / Master of Arts

The Chinese outbound tourism market has experienced rapid growth over the past few years. This noticeable development provides the background and rationale for the study that identifies the travel behaviour of Chinese tourists, and the expectation and perception regarding South Africa. Based on the findings, some recommendations for marketing strategies and implementation are given, in addition to suggestions for future research directions in this field. The theoretical discussion focuses on concepts of travel behaviour. Travel behaviour, including travel motivation, decision-making process, and destination choice are then presented in more detail. The development of the Chinese economy and Chinese outbound tourism are also presented and discussed. The empirical research focuses on the travel behaviour of Chinese outbound tourists. The goal here is to determine and analyse the travel behaviour of tourists, outbound from Beijing, and their views on South Africa as a tourism destination. To accomplish this, the empirical research is designed from the quantitative perspective, and the data was collected by fieldworkers at the Beijing International Airport, using intercept surveys. This helps the researcher to understand the needs, motivation, and behaviour of the Chinese outbound tourists and assists the researcher in analysing the marketing strategy of South Africa as a tourist destination. / Thesis (M.Com. (Tourism))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.