Study On Achieving The Equalization Of Basic Public Services In China

As the economy has been growing fast and the social development has entered intodeveloping phrase from existing phrase, it is a tendency that social demands will be increased fast. Then the problem as shortage of public goods and services will arise accordingly. So it is very important to guarantee a fair distribution based on people's demand and economic development and make sure all the social members have equal rights to enjoy public services. The study on equalisation of public services is very necessary.Since the 21st century, the central communist party has proposed scientific development concept and paid more attention on the equalisation of public services. By a series of reform on budgeting, medical care and compulsory education drafted in the 16th and 17th CPC meetings, the equalisation of public services has become a new political concept and governance concept. This policy environment provides feasibility for carrying out equalisation of public services in China.There are still many different ideas on the target, channel, and evaluation method of equalisation of public services, though the agreement on its necessity has been reached. So this paper set the topic as'study on realising the equalisation of public services in China', based on the economic and social development. The practical meaning of this paper is reflected by the following questions:how to define the scope of our equalisation of public services, how to set the criteria for public services equalisation, how to set the phrase for realising targets, how to divide responsibilities among layers of governments and what methods could be used for realising equalisation of public services, etc.This topic belongs to applied economics, but its theoretical meaning is also obvious. It aims to enrich the public finance theory from the aspect of public services equalisation. It could provide guarantee for practice by complementing present study and clarifying the relations between government functions and public services providing. On the other hand, it could provide policy support to public finance system by studying on the functions of adjusting public finance system and realising equalisation of public service. However, to achieve the equalisation of public services needs step by step. The first target should be the regional equalisation of public services, then higher target should be providing public services for all people. Therefore, this study is important for basic research as well as future practice of China's public finance development. This paper targets on basic public services, which has obvious practical meaning. So various methods are used in this note including combination of concrete and abstract, normative and empirical, qualitative and quantitative, comparison and case study. The abstract, normative and empirical analysis will be applied on theoretical study to define the general thought and make conclusion on the function of governments and public finances on equalisation of public services. While the concrete and quantitative analysis will be used for factors study to structure the institutions and evaluation indices. The paper will also applied comparison and case study to enhance its feasibility and credibility.The study followed public finance institutions of realising equalisation of public services, and is carried out with three orientations.Firstly, make clear of the theoretical basis of equalisation of public services, and the responsibilities of governments and public finance. It should borrow from western welfare economics, public economics and social justice to define the target and scope of equalisation of public services.Secondly, make clear the practical basis of equalisation of public services by judging practical situation. It should totally reflect the regional difference and difference between urban and rural by analysing general demand and individual item.Thirdly, expose the reason for imbalance of public services equalisation and its reform routine. Emphasis should be put on the relations between equalisation and public finance. It should borrow from international experiences to promote our construction on equalisation of public services.The paper will be divided into six chapters.First part is introduction on the background and the practical meaning of equalisation of public services. By reviewing on present studies, it will lay a foundation for this paper's study and structure.Second part is theoretical structure of equalisation of public services. It will answer the questions as what equalisation of public services is, why it should be realised, what factors will affect it, what impact it brings for society, what functions the public finance play, etc. This comprised the theoretical structure of this note.Third chapter is qualitative analysis on the equalisation of public service. First should be make clear the research method; then the restraints of public services demand should be analysed; finally the case study should be put on to analyse the difference of compulsory education and medical care. It will provide foundation for the study of equalisation of public services.The fourth chapter will focus on the reason for imbalance of public services. This chapter will find out the reason for imbalance of public services by analysing the functions of governments and public finance, the imbalance between accountability and financial resources, the distorted local government competition, etc.Fifth chapter will borrow from international experiences on equalisation of basic public services. It will draw the successful experiences to provide lessons for our equalisation target.Final chapter is the thought on promoting equalisation of public services. Based on principles-evaluation system-locating-basis-emphasis-matching system, it will study on how to prefect the public finances to promote equalisation of public services. The government's functions should be further defined so as to adjust the relations between central and local governments. The mechanism of equalisation of public services, which is the transfer payment system, should be set up to analyse the external environment and matching system of public services.Main proposals of this paper includes:firstly, the equalisation of public services is a dynamic concept, so it should fit for our economic and social development; secondly, at present the level of public services is very low and could not meet the social demand. And the demand of different regions, urban and rural areas is also different; thirdly, there are many factors affecting public services, especially the government functions, the distribution of public resources, the relations of layers of governments are very important; fourthly, it should not set an unified equalisation mode, but to make clear a scientific evaluation system to construct public finance system, aiming to improve social environment and perfect governmental transfer payment.The innovation of this paper includes the below points.Firstly, realising the innovation on theory. The equalization of basic public services from the economics-based (welfare economics), social values (social justice theory) to ensure a comprehensive study on equalisation of public services. In particular the scientific concept of development has been added into the equalisation of basic public services, which could help to enhance the feasibility of the study.Secondly, closely follow the present economic, social and policy environment. According to the demand of serviced government and livelihood finance, a targeted evaluation system should be set up to lay a technical foundation for further analysing and assessing the public services level in China. Thirdly, propose the equalisation mode of'government led, wide participation, step-by-step provision of basic public services'. The single mode and single policy will be broke through, while the design of public finance should be comprehensive so as to promote the equalisation of public services.Because the scope of equalisation on public services is very broad, the data collection is somewhat restricted, and personal capacity has limitations, this study still has some faults, such as the analysis on public service level was constrained within compulsory education, employment, medical care, public culture and security. Besides, more focus was put on quantitative difference rather than qualitative difference which is more obscure and difficult including the comparison on consumers'satisfaction of public services. The evaluating system on public services has been set up but was not applied. These faults will leave more space for follow-up study and worth my continuous supports.