Difficult Choice Of The Pattern Of Government Functions In The Conflict Of Fairness And Efficiency

It is believed that we can not have both efficiency and fairness. On the priority to efficiency, efficiency itself embodies fairness, if we deprive the income of hard-working people to make up for the distribution gap; this is not fair and not conducive to efficiency. On the priority of fair, there is serious unfair distribution in market, and this situation should be resoled only through government intervention.The conflict of fairness and efficiency reflects in the government functions, we can broadly group into two kinds of typical pattern. One is"small government"based on classical liberalism, which believes through the market mechanism we can achieve the rational flow of resources and the "Pareto state" of distribution. The government only has three functions: First, to defend the country against foreign violations; second, to protect people's natural rights, including property and personal safety; third, to provide some public utilities and public facilities.The other is"big government"based on positive liberalism, which advocates of the market in a comprehensive government intervention to Compensate for the shortcomings of market. The government should provide goods and services directly to improve the people's welfare."The Third Way" tried to go beyond the "small government" and "big government". However, "the third way", in essence, just attempt to seek to a balance between laissez-faire and government intervention. The model in practice did not achieve the desired objectives.After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC, according to China is still in the primary stage of socialism, the government proposed "giving priority to efficiency and giving due consideration to fairness", and reconstructed the government functions on this basis. The efficiency-oriented reform has been a tremendous success, the country's overall national strength has been enhanced, and the people's living standards has been improving. On the other hand, Residents of the income gap, gap between urban and rural areas, inadequate provision of public goods and public services such as compulsory education, public health have caused widespread discontent."To emphasis greater on social justice, so that all people can share the fruits of reform and development"declares the government's response to the serious discontent with the social justice issues. The government should still properly coordinate the relation of fairness and efficiency, and constantly improve government functions, only in this way the government can better promote social justice.