Research On The New-pattern Social Insurance System For The Aged In Rural Areas Of China

The social insurance for the aged in rural areas of our country has been explored since the mid 1980's. Experimental units began in the early 90's. The social insurance system for the aged in rural areas of our country has been gradually established. As a result of the flaws in the design of the system itself and some other factors, difficulties and problems arise in implementing the old social insurance for the aged in rural areas of our country. It's difficult to advance. In 1999, the State Council sorted out and reorganized the social insurance for the aged in rural areas and required that the related new services should be stopped and the social insurance for the aged in rural areas should be gradually transformed to commercial insurance. On the 1st, September, 2009, the State Council issued Guidance on implementation of the new-pattern social insurance for the aged in rural areas in experimental units. The fundamental principles "basically-guaranteed, widely-covered, elastic and sustainable" should be obeyed. Together with some other matching policies and measures, the social plan as a whole and personal accounts should be combined to ensure the basic life for the aged in rural areas. Since 2009,10% counties have been selected as experimental units. The experimental units will be gradually added to fully cover the rural residents of the right age. Against this background, through the comparison of the new and the old social insurance for the aged in rural areas and the analysis of the relationship between the new system and the social insurance for other multitude. This thesis attempts to analyze and make research on some problems and tendencies in the new social insurance for the aged in rural areas.This thesis consists of nine chapters.Chapter one introduces the research background and significance. Concepts, such as "social insurance for the aged in rural areas" are explained. The research subjects are peasants who do farm work. Immigrant workers and the peasants who are levied land are also regarded as peasants. It also introduces the literature review in this field, research contents, framework, means, research goals and creativity.Chapter two introduces the basic theories employed in analysis of the research, mainly including Social Equality Theory, Dividing Duties & Responsibilities and Financial Power in the Central and Local Governments; and Structural Function Theory. The concept of social equality, as the core value of social security runs through the whole thesis. The second theory is used to analyze the sharing responsibilities for financial subsidy in governments at different levels in the new social insurance for the aged in rural areas. The third theory is employed to analyze the roles played by the new social insurance for the aged in rural areas in the social security system for the aged in rural areas.Chapter three reviews the political, economic and social background and significance when the old social insurance for the aged in rural areas was established. Its development, implementation and existing problems are elaborated on.Chapter four analyzes the political, economic and social background when the experimental units were established in the new social insurance for the aged in rural areas. At political level, our communist party and government attach much importance to the new social insurance for the aged in rural areas, formulate the guidance on experimental units and make specific demands. At economic society level, compared with those countries where social insurance for the aged in rural areas was established, we basically satisfy the conditions to establish the new social insurance for the aged in rural areas. In this chapter, the development of experimental units in the new social insurance for the aged in rural areas is also explained. So far, the development of the new social insurance for the aged in rural areas has experienced different stages:the exploration at local places, research for experimental units and effective experimental units at the state level. Thirdly, the characteristics of the new social insurance for the aged in rural areas are analyzed. Compared with the old social insurance for the aged in rural areas, the new one better represents social and mutually beneficial welfare. It requires more pays and better security. The government responsibilities are specifically emphasized and the leading role played by the government is also embodied. In the new social insurance for the aged in rural areas, rights can match with responsibilities, and efficiency & equality can be both guaranteed. At the macro system level, it's sustainable. Fourthly, the advancing principles of the new social insurance for the aged in rural areas are elaborated on. In promoting the new social insurance for the aged in rural areas, it should be adapted to the economic development of the society. In promoting the new-pattern rural social insurance, the following principles should be abided by:adaptation to the level and speed of social economy development, departure from reality, differentiated guidance, first slow, then quick and step-by-step advancement, standard operation, gradual improvement, being articulated and sustainable, adjustment of measures to local conditions, being government-directed and society-participated. Fifthly, the problems that we should be concerned with are discussed:those residents who are involved in the insurance but stay away from their HuKou's address, the design of the pay standard, financial subsidy, community, subsidies for other organizations and some other connecting insurance system for the aged.Chapter five elaborates on the author's analysis on the researching modes for the new social insurance for the aged in rural areas before the experimental units started, the practical modes at local places and adjustment and improvement of the new social insurance for the aged in rural areas after the nationwide experimental units began.Chapter six introduces the theoretical evidence for the governmental intervention in social insurance for the aged in rural areas, the government's legal, financial responsibilities, organizing and implementing responsibilities. The government's financial responsibilities and the ways of financial subsidies for governments at different levels are mainly analyzed. The experience of financial subsidies from overseas governments is included. It summarizes the major ways of financial subsidies for the new social insurance for the aged in rural areas, including subsidies for pay fees and for pension. Different effects from different ways of subsidies are analyzed:The first type of subsidy can well stimulate peasants to willingly pay the fees and enables peasants to better pay the fees and be better ensured. It also promotes consumptions at home and the development of economy, but puts pressure to remaining and rising in value of the fund in the new social insurance for the aged in rural areas. It adds burden to the local governments where the financial situation is not optimistic. This type of subsidy may give rise to inverse choices. The second type of subsidy directly raises the level of security, relive the pressure of remaining and rising in value and embodies that the new social insurance for the aged in rural areas is equal, universally beneficial, but not so well-stimulated as the first type of subsidy. In this chapter, the low proportion of subsidy, imperfect subsidy system and responsibilities and financial power which is not unified at different levels of governments. It's proposed that more financial input should be devoted and we should improve the subsidy system and employ the corresponding strategies and measures to establish unitary responsibility-sharing system; and we should perform three different assignments of subsidy proportion at three levels of governments.Chapter seven elaborates on the component parts of the security system for the aged in the present rural areas of our country and the different roles played by every type of social security for the aged. The functions and roles played by the new social insurance for the aged in rural areas in the present and future social insurance system for the aged in rural areas. Through analysis, it holds that it's difficult for the new social insurance for the aged in rural areas to take the leading place in providing for the elders among the rural residents. However, it must be combined with financially supporting the old in the family and the community to fully realize the security of providing for the rural residents.Chapter eight attempts to analyze the developing tendency of the new social insurance for the aged in rural areas can be implemented together with social insurance for the residents in cities and towns where conditions permit. This can reflect that the financial subsidy is equal, which is easy to establish similar or the same social insurance system for the aged and favorable to establish unified nationwide basic social insurance system for the aged. However, it may give rise to a list of problems, such as more financial pressure for local governments, unsmooth internal management mechanism, lack of comparative equality. The author holds the opinion that there is still room to improve the mode of the system and management of the fund to make preparations for connecting the social insurance system for the aged for staff and workers and establishing unified social insurance system in cities and rural areas nationwide. In promoting the new social insurance for the aged in rural areas, three steps can be taken:firstly, by the end of the 12th "Five-Year Plan", the full covering of the new social insurance system for the aged in rural areas will have been realized. Secondly, by 2020, the new social insurance for the aged in rural areas will have been a major part of insurance system for the aged in cities and rural areas and security will have reached a higher level. Thirdly, by 2049, the basic framework of the new social insurance system for the aged in rural areas will have been unitary with the basic endowment insurance for the staff and workers in cities and towns to establish unified basic social endowment system nationwide.Chapter nine concludes that changes of the structure of economic society and the flaws in the old social insurance for the aged in rural areas make it necessary to explore the new social insurance for the aged in rural areas. The design of the new social insurance for the aged in rural areas is more reasonable, which is more favorable to establishing the unified basic insurance system for the aged nationwide in the end. It suggests that government should reinforce financial subsidy and transfer payment. At present, it's difficult for the new social insurance for the aged in rural areas to take the leading place in the rural endowment system for the aged. It must be combined with other ways of providing for the aged to fulfill the functions of social insurance for the rural residents. This thesis is lack of accurate accounting and there is still room for deeper and wider research in this field.