Cognitive Bias in Public Service Perception, Policy Tolerance, and Regional Competitiveness ——A Mechanism Study Based on "Civic Favorability"

Mu Ge

Chengdu International Studies University

Abstract：

Against the background that regional competition is shifting from factor-driven to governance effectiveness-driven, the public's subjective perception of public services and cognitive bias are becoming key variables affecting regional development. This study innovatively proposes the core construct of "civic favorability", which is defined as a generalized positive cognitive bias formed by the public based on initial public service experiences. By constructing a transmission path of "public service – cognitive bias – behavioral decision-making – regional competitiveness", this study adopts a mechanism argumentation strategy based on literature integration and empirical evidence support, and conducts systematic literature support and indirect validation of the above mechanism. The study suggests that "civic favorability", as a cognitive anchor, may positively shape the public's policy tolerance and influence behavioral intentions through the mediating role of tolerance; the advantageous performance of public services in certain urban domains exerts a generalized influence on overall favorability evaluation through the halo effect; subjective favorability provides an important supplementary role in explaining talent attraction and, in some contexts, provides an additional perspective for understanding talent attraction; at the same time, the accumulation of favorability plays a cognitive buffering role under the impact of negative regional events. This study provides a new perspective for understanding irrational factors in public governance and offers a theoretical basis for local governments to shift from pursuing a single "satisfaction" metric to managing long-term "favorability" assets. The study also provides a preliminary theoretical framework for future empirical investigation of civic favorability.

Key Words：

policy tolerance; regional competitiveness; behavioral public management