Ai Xu

University of Bristol Bristol, United Kingdom BS8 1QU

Abstract：

This paper aims to explain the paradox of the formal burden reduction rules and the expansion of shadow education in China’s “quality education” reform. Based on the perspective of new institutionalism, the study defines the deep-rooted “examination culture” as a “Competing Informal Institutions” anchored to the college entrance examination. Analysis shows that this informal system uses “Logic of Appropriateness” to dominate the behavioural choices of teachers and parents, which systematically subverts process-oriented formal policies. Although the “double reduction” policy in 2021 successfully disintegrated the dominant teaching and training market structure, the rigid demand for testing forced the market to mutate into a more hidden and expensive underground form. The conclusion is that when formal rules are structurally misaligned with informal norms with strong incentive structures, simple administrative bans are difficult to work, and future reforms must shift from rule constraints to deep institutional alignment.

Key Words：

quality education; “Double Reduction” policy; new institutionalism; competitive informal system; appropriateness logic