Lists of powers can improve governance

THE CENTRAL AUTHORITIES HAVE REQUIRED local governments to draw up lists of the areas in which they exercise power and to strictly abide by them. The provincial governments need to finish the task by the end of 2015 while the deadline for municipal governments is 2016. Comments:

The lists of powers are meant to clearly draw a dividing line between the government as a visible hand and the market as an invisible one. With clear lists, governments will not be able to intervene in things outside the lists or neglect their responsibilities in regard to those on the lists.

Zhou Jingtong, a senior researcher on strategic development at the Bank of China, March 25