Effects of informal institutions on stakeholder and public participation in public infrastructure megaprojects: a case study of Shanghai

Public participation in public infrastructure megaprojects (PIMs) is ineffective, and research on the issues of informal institutions’ influence on stakeholders is limited. The present study answered how informal institutions influence the practices of public participation while conflicts occur among stakeholders. Two PIMs in China were used as case studies to investigate the effects of informal institutions. The paper suggests that the adversarial relationships among stakeholders can be reconciled by recognizing that informal institutions encompass the social responsibility of PIMs (SR-PIMs) and culture. Results also showed that effective public participation entails the fulfillment of SR-PIMs by responsible behaviors of stakeholders and the positive effect of cultural tension, enabling participatory awareness of stakeholders. This study improves understanding of how to mobilize stakeholders in practice with responsible behaviors to reach a consensus.