Investigation On Government Functions In The Field Of Supplying Quasi-public Goods

A large number of quasi-public goods which exist between pure public goods and private goods with their private attribute and public interests have drawn widespread attentions in our daily life. In China, the improvement of supply of quasi-public goods is directly related to fulfillment of a variety of general public demands and promotion of government’s ability. Since2009, the transformation of digital cable TV project entered a new period of rapid development. As a quasi-public good, it is possible to charge digital cable TV due to the low exclusive cost while imperfect competition and "market failures" determine that the supply of digital cable TV can not entirely rely on market. At the same time, the supply of digital cable TV has spilled effects on the development of our society. What’s more, efficiency and quality of quasi-goods is closely related to the realization of social welfare, which determines the dominant position of the government in this field. Proceeding from digital cable TV with its quasi-public attribute and based on the discussion on realistic and theoretical basis of government functions exist in the fields of supplying quasi-public goods, this paper faces up to a series of practical problems in the process of promoting integral transformation project of digital cable in China. Combined with the practice of government’s roles in the fields of supplying quasi-public goods in foreign countries, this paper summarizes the successful experience of foreign governments’ functional positioning and holds the belief that promotion of fairness take priority over efficiency and then puts forward several suggestions on strengthening government functions in the fields of supplying quasi-public goods. We provide some revelations for improving the people’s livelihood, advancing social equity and furthering the construction of harmonious society.