Purchase restrictions as governance tools in Hainan Free Trade Port

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Abstract

This study conducts a thematic analysis with the help of a systematic literature review (SLR) based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework. The aim of the study is to analyze how Purchase Restriction Policies (PRPs) have been used as governance instruments in Hainan Free Trade Port (Hainan FTP). Hainan’s FTP similarly treats regulatory tools as part of a broader state-building experiment, not an isolated housing control (Chi, 2021; Huang, 2021). A total of 19 studies, all published between 2015 and 2025, have been included in the review, which focus on five distinct yet interrelated themes. Core themes include reforms, soft-law governance, and bureaucratic adaptation, which are also for ensuring stability, policy equity, and trust. This institutional view is consistent with studies that link housing controls in Hainan to improving administration and environmental safeguards (Wei, 2022; Dong & Bian, 2024). The study found Hainan’s PRPs show a major institutional shift. Policies are not just for managing speculation; they have been embedded into a larger structure that focuses on bureaucratic restructuring, legal experimentation, and environmental governance for building trust. So, PRPs are an excellent tool that is used for designing institutional ecosystems for future generations in every context.

Keywords: Hainan Free Trade Port, Purchase Restriction Policies (PRPs), Reform, Soft-law Governance, Bureaucratic Adaptation, Legitimacy, Stability, Trust, Equity

Authors’ individual contribution: The Author is responsible for all the contributions to the paper according to CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) standards.

Declaration of conflicting interests: The Author declares that there is no conflict of interest.

JEL Classification: D73, E61, H77, R58, O17

Received: 30.05.2025
Revised: 06.11.2025; 10.01.2026
Accepted: 03.02.2026
Published online: 06.02.2026

How to cite this paper: Zhang, X. (2026). Purchase restrictions as governance tools in Hainan Free Trade Port. Journal of Governance and Regulation, 15(1), 259–267. https://doi.org/10.22495/jgrv15i1art24