地方治理的制度選擇與轉型政治：台灣水利會制度變革的政治與經濟分析

Abstract

走過殖民、威權統治，到民主時代，台灣的灌溉系統的治理，展現了難得一見的制度韌性。至少從日據時代開始，這個治理體系結合了制度經濟學中「最適治理疆域」以及「公私合產增效」兩大原則，並嵌入複雜的地方政治運作之中，執行著傲人的治理功能。然而，隨著民主改革而來的政治經濟情勢變化，大幅改變了地方政治的風貌。築基於地方政治的灌溉系統治理，也必須隨之調適。雖歷經衝擊，這套治理體系卻依然維持著基本的運作，展現奇特的制度調適能力，引發學術好奇。本研究採動態的觀點，除檢視這套「特別功能政府」的制度適應基層政治制度變革的情形，展示民主化下地方治理的真實風貌，並希望能增加學界對於制度調適與變革的認識。

The governing system of Taiwan`s irrigation has survived colonial, authoritarian, and democratic eras, indicating impressive institutional robustness. A close examination indicates that the system has actually been practicing such economic principles as pursuing better economies of governing scale and of public-private synergy in public goods provision, which Elinor Ostrom and her followers have long, advocated. Nevertheless, it is interesting to ask whether the efficiency of governance can be maintained when the political system start to transform, thus affecting the operation of the functional institutions standing on it. By examining Taiwan`s case, this research points out the dynamics between changes of institutions in different tiers. It indicates that a functional institution with the principle of user-participation might help it survive the dramatic changes in the course of democratic reforms.