TY - JOUR AU - Huang, Aibao PY - 2026 TI - The execution force of the river chief system: Its definition, influencing factors, and strengthening strategies JO - Journal of Economics of Water Resources SN - 1003-9511 SP - 23 EP - 32 VL - 44 IS - 1 AB - Promoting the transformation of the river chief system from being “nominal” to being “substantial” and “effective” indicates that strengthening the execution force of the river chief system has been put on the agenda. The execution force of the river chief system should be defined as the execution force of the central and its relevant departments or organizations for the responsibilities of provincial river chiefs and national river basin management agencies, as well as the execution force of the responsibilities of the higher-level river chiefs for the same level of relevant departments and the lower level river chiefs, and the execution ability, strength, and effectiveness of the river chief system. The river chief system itself and its execution subject, target group, execution resources, and execution environment are the main influencing factors of its execution effectiveness. Leveraging the advantages of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, such as the leadership of the Party, the system of chief responsibility, the equal emphasis on rule of law and virtue, and the full process of people's democracy, is the fundamental strategy to strengthen the execution force of the river chief system. Enhancing the execution ability and strength of the river chief system is the basic strategy to strengthen the execution effectiveness of the river chief system. UR - https://doi.org/10.3880/j.issn.10039511.2026.01.003 DO - 10.3880/j.issn.10039511.2026.01.003