The Approach and Strategy of China's Basic Public Service and Its Equalization

This paper discusses following issues: public service and its equalization, the relationship between current institutional arrangement and the equalization goal, the approach and strategy of basic public service equalization, etc. According to this paper, basic public service is universal public service and it is the fundamental level of public service; basic public service that is provided by government is just individual citizen’s requirements for subsistence and development; equalization is an inherent requirement of basic public service, only basic public service has the issue of equalization. Basic subsistence and development, basic public service and its equalization share the same standard. Institutional arrangements of equalization are comparable only based upon individual citizens. Individual's requirements for subsistence and development have supremacy and independence; they are the basis of determining standards of basic public service equalization. Basic public service equalization should be measured according to the perspective of individual citizens. Current basic public service institution and finance institution are arranged from the perspective of community; the wide coverage based on community-oriented institutional arrangements cannot solve the comparability issue among individual citizens. In fact, it means to achieve the equalization goal through non-equalization or differentiation means, so there are contradictions between approach and strategy formed upon current institutional arrangement, and the equalization goal. To achieve equalization of basic public service, it's important to determine the standards of basic public service based on subsistence and development of individual citizens, despite the difference of nationality, race, identity, political parties, regions, urban and rural areas, groups. To achieve that, we must establish public finance system in its true sense, improve the mechanism of basic public service, choose the strategy to achieve basic public service equalization in accordance with the principles of overall planning, living within our means, urgent matters first and raising achievement gradually.