Study On The Disparity Of Basic Public Services Supply In China

As China into the ranks of middle-income countries, the contradiction between the rapidly growing public demand and shortage of public services is increasingly prominent.Regional gap, urban-rural gap as well as the income gap among individuals are widening constantly, which have been eroding the foundation of social justice. If the government does not attach enough importance to this problem, it would face further identity crisis and trust crisis. The equalization of basic public services is quite necessary not only to narrow the development gap, alleviate social contradictions, realize social justice, but also to release the consumer potential and achieve economic transition.This dissertation provides a review of the disparity state of basic public services since the Reform and Opening, reveals institutional dilemma of realizing equalization of basic public services in China, and and finally raises some policy suggestions.The logical structure of this study is "Problem-Theoretical Analysis-Status Analysis-Dilemma analysis-Countermeasures"In the part of theoretical analysis, the author defines the concept of basic public service, and traces back to the justice theory and the school of welfare economics for the theoretical basis of the equalization of basic public services.In the part of Status quo analysis, the author describes the dispaity state of basic public services in China, including structural disparity, regional disparity and urban-rural disparity.Moreover, this part also provides an in-depth analysis of reasons of these three disparity.In the part of dilemma analysis, this paper discusses the institutional constraints of equalization of basic public services in China. This paper argues that equalization of basic public services system faces several institutional dilemmas, such as imperfections of equalization legal system, public finances, public decision-making system, personnel system and incentives institution, as well as urban and rural dual system. Therefore, it is significance to adjust institutional structures for promoting the equalization of basic public services in China.In the part of countermeasures, this paper promotes six policy recommendations:Firstly, perfect the equalization system of basic public services; secondly, optimize the structure of the public ecpenditure; thirdly, adjust of the intergovernmental responsibility and financial relations; forthly, improve the fiscal transfer payment system; fifthly, balance urban and rural development; and the last, improve incentive and restraint mechanisms of basic public service equalization.