Study On Government Departments Purchasing Public Service

Government purchasing public service, one of the very important method to improve public service quality, decrease public service cost and propel the transition of government functions in China, is also the very essential way to realize the transfer toward a more society-oriented governance model. Since the 18th Third Plenary Session in November 2013, the central government has for the first time put forward the idea of implementing government purchasing public service by way of contract-based, market-orientated co-operations. Local governments have been actively exploring constructive ways, and have formed different working models in the field of public service purchase. Also academic circles have gradually started to leverage practical experience of foreign governments and studies from scholars outside of the country, which is combined with research results focused on the actual condition of China, to provide theoretical support for further development in this new area.On the basis of existing research results and theoretical knowledge from home and abroad, along with theories covering new public management, public service supply as well as the systematic theory of covenant spirit, this thesis is to study and analyze the practice of government purchasing social work service in Pingshan new district, Shenzhen. From the perspective of government functions, the paper comes to a conclusion that Pingshan is doing a great job in below four aspects in terms:the purchasing procedure is relatively simple and efficient, there is full competition among organizations providing these services, local government pays great attention to the cultivation and development of social work industry, and the society is taking a bigger part in purchasing public service. Problems have also been found that firstly, the pricing of public service is not reasonable, secondly there is difficulty regulating and supervising governments’ purchasing public service; and thirdly there is still insufficient resource in the area of public service. Considering the three issues mentioned, three policy suggestions are made accordingly:to improve the pricing mechanism, to set up routine multi-lateral regulations, and to enhance resource allocation of public services.All this being said above, Ping Shan District in Shenzhen, sets a good example to study in terms of what they have done in government purchasing public service. The research and discussion in its distinguishing features has great reference value; the problems found and solutions-to-be are also of positive significance of further improvement to the work in the regional government.This dissertation also attempts to, through practical analysis of Pingshan’s case, discuss and study the feasibility and implementation of specific purchasing subjects and the social work division in corresponding fields, and to serve as a guide in bettering government purchasing public service across various regions and social sectors.