Exploration of China's Multi-level Medical Security System to Promote Common Prosperity ——Basing on a Case in Zhejiang Province
Qun Ping QU
Zhejiang Institute of Administration, China, People's Republic of
Problem Statement and Purpose
Chinese path to modernization is the modernization of common prosperity for all people. Social security is not only a safety net for people's lives and a stabilizer for social operation, but also an important institutional arrangement to ensure and improve people's livelihoods, maintain social equity, and achieve the sharing of reform and development achievements among the general public. How to solve the problem of poverty caused by illness in the field of medical security is a long and arduous task.
In order to fully leverage the government's regulatory and guiding role in the market, solve the problems of people's livelihood medical insurance that are required by superiors, demanded by the masses, difficult to break through policies, and difficult to bear by the government's finances, Lishui City in Zhejiang Province of China has pioneered the government guided universal health supplementary medical commercial insurance (Zhejiang Libao) system in the country.
Methodology
1. Literature research. Through various literature databases, read and organize theoretical literature, journal articles, research materials, and other materials on the promotion of common prosperity through multi-level medical insurance, in order to comprehensively understand the current research status.
2. On site research and interviews. Conduct on-site research, conduct interviews with selected representatives, and summarize relevant interview content.
3. Case analysis. This study selected Lishui City, Zhejiang Province for specific analysis. Through the value capability support analysis framework, the approach and effectiveness were analyzed from multiple dimensions including public policy perspective, departmental operation perspective, and social feedback perspective. Subsequently, optimization strategies were proposed to enhance the practicality of the study.
Findings
This system improves the government's reputation, enhances the people's sense of happiness and satisfaction, basically solves the problem of poverty caused by illness, and greatly reduces family disasters. Its approach is believed to have important reference significance for building a long-term mechanism to prevent poverty return in China. It is expected to become the second major institutional innovation in the medical security system reform after the New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme.
Proposals
The proposal for benefiting the people's livelihood insurance should start from the active participation of market entities, the introduction of information platforms, and the government's win-win situation in the market, and build an institutional and long-term development mechanism for poverty caused by diseases.
References
1.Hu Hongwei, Chen Yilin and Hu Xinyi, Research on Chinese path to modernization and livelihood security: theoretical framework and path analysis, Journal of Beihang University(Social Science Edition), 2023(03).
2.Liu Yunkun, Yang Qiang and Dong Tiantian，Exploration of Collaborative Governance Model for Sustainable Development of "Benefiting the People and Ensuring Social Security"——Comparative analysis basing on typical regions in Jiangsu, Research on China's Health Policy,2022(04).
3.Zheng Qiao, Xiao Wentao.Collaborative Governance: The Governance Logic of a Service oriented Government, Chinese administrative management,2008(07).
Bluing the sky by centralization: government environmental vertical reform and air pollution in China
Chen You
Zhejiang Institute of Administration, China, People's Republic of
Problem Statement and Purpose
1. Problem statement
Air pollution hinders economic and social development, diminishes corporate production efficiency, and increases healthcare expenditures. And the IPCC emphasized that air pollution constitutes a crucial factor influencing climate change. Hence, seeking initiatives to mitigate air pollution and thereby reduce climate risks has emerged as a current severe challenge and a pressing issue for global economies.
Extant studies have found that many central governments carry out government environmental vertical reform (GEVR) to regulate the environmental governance behavior of local governments. Theoretically, GEVR can strengthen the supervision of superior governments over polluting firms and local governments. Nevertheless, collusion may also exist, exacerbating environmental pollution. Therefore, whether the GEVR can reduce air pollution remains a crucial and intriguing topic worthy of exploration.
2. Purpose
The paper aims to address whether the GEVR can reduce air pollution and figure out the mechanism. Then, we will try to provide some policy suggestions for the government.
Methodology
This research utilizes county-level sample data from 2000 to 2016 and employs a DID model to empirically examine GEVR's impact on air pollution by using city-county mergers in China as a quasi-natural experiment. This paper conducts robustness tests, including replacing the dependent variable, sub-sample regressions, parallel trend analysis, placebo tests, and controlling interfering policies
Findings
The findings suggest that under the institutional context of city-county mergers, GEVR significantly improves air quality. Compared to counties that did not undergo reform, counties (cities) that experienced city-county mergers saw a reduction of approximately 4 percentage points in air pollution. This conclusion holds even after conducting robustness tests. Mechanism analysis reveals that GEVR cuts air pollutant emissions by optimizing productive resource inputs and mitigating the impact of polluting firms. Heterogeneity analysis demonstrates whether the reformed counties located at administrative boundaries and the reform strategy influence the effectiveness of GEVR.
Proposals
Firstly, the central government continues to steadily advance the GEVR while considering appropriate adjustments to the environmental management authority among local governments.
Secondly, the government should approach environmental governance from the resource allocation perspective. Allocating more significant resources to environmental governance within fiscal budgeting can efficiently curb pollutant emissions.
Thirdly, environmental governance should start by addressing the pollution emissions of large firms. Employing strategies such as relocating polluting companies and installing clean technologies is essential to control air pollution at its source.
References
Agarwal, S., Han, Y., Qin, Y., Zhu, H., 2023. Disguised pollution: Industrial activities in the dark. J. Public Econ. 223, 104904.
Hu, H., Chen, D., Chang, C.-P., Chu, Y., 2021. The Political Economy of Environmental Consequences: A Review of the Empirical Literature. J. Econ. Surv. 35, 250–306.
The Influence Factors, Measurement, and Optimization of Rural Residents' Livelihood Security Sense of Gain: Based on Micro Data from Surveys in 169 Townships across 50 Counties in 12 Provinces in China
Wei YUAN
Sichuan Administration Institute，PRC, China, People's Republic of
Problem Statement and Purpose
This paper addresses the crucial issue of enhancing the sense of gain among rural residents in China, a key objective of the Chinese government's rural revitalization strategy. Despite the strategy's vigorous promotion, the actual sense of gain among rural populations remains a complex and under-researched area. The purpose of this study is to comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness of seven major livelihood projects initiated under the rural revitalization strategy, namely in rural education, farmer income enhancement, infrastructure construction, rural social security, health, living environment improvement, and rural culture prosperity. Through establishing specific indices to measure rural residents' sense of gain and utilizing a Projection Pursuit Model (PPM), this study aims to identify critical factors influencing this sense and assess the strategy's impact on improving rural livelihoods. This analysis is intended to provide a nuanced understanding of the dynamics at play in rural revitalization efforts and to offer evidence-based recommendations for policy and implementation strategies to effectively boost the sense of gain among rural populations.
Methodology
The research employs a comprehensive methodology that includes a long-term tracking survey covering 169 townships in 50 counties across 12 provinces in China. To evaluate the sense of gain among rural residents, the study establishes corresponding indices for the seven key livelihood projects of the rural revitalization strategy. Utilizing micro-level data from actual surveys, the research adopts a Projection Pursuit Model based on genetic algorithms. This advanced statistical technique allows for a systematic evaluation of rural residents' sense of gain and the identification of the most critical factors affecting it.
Findings
The findings reveal that the primary factor influencing the sense of gain among rural residents in China is not the increase in personal or family income but rather concerns for significant societal issues. Furthermore, the study highlights that the contributions of rural education and the enhancement of rural cultural ethos are becoming increasingly significant in contributing to the sense of gain among rural residents. This contradicts some theoretical hypotheses and grassroots cadres' judgments in China, suggesting a need for a reevaluation of priorities within the rural revitalization strategy.
Proposals
Based on the findings, the paper proposes a development path that emphasizes the importance of addressing societal concerns and enhancing education and cultural ethos in rural areas to increase the sense of gain among rural residents. It suggests that future policies and projects under the rural revitalization strategy should prioritize these areas. The paper calls for a reevaluation of current strategies and the adoption of a more nuanced, evidence-based approach to policy formulation and implementation in the rural livelihood sector, aimed at genuinely enhancing the well-being and sense of gain among rural populations.
References
[1] Huang, G., Li, D., Yu, L., Yang, D., & Wang, Y. (2022). Factors affecting sustainability of smart city services in China: From the perspective of citizens’ sense of gain. Habitat International, 128, 102645.
[2] Jia, H., Zhu, L., & Du, J. (2022). Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation Model of the Farmers’ Sense of Gain in the Provision of Rural Infrastructures: The Case of Tourism-Oriented Rural Areas of China. Sustainability, 14(10).
[3] Zhang, X., Zhong, W., & Hong, Y. (2018). Construction of a national happiness index system and analysis of influencing factors: Based on the LASSO selection method. Statistical Research, 35(11), 3-13.
Empirical Analysis on Enhancing Economic and Social High-Quality Development through the Soft Power of Rule of Law: A Case Study of the Tianfu Central Legal Service District in China
Ni ZHENG
Sichuan Administration Institute, China, People's Republic of
Problem Statement and Purpose
This article proposes the proposition of “How does the rule of law become the soft power of economic and social high-quality development?”
The research purpose is to demonstrate that the soft power of the rule of law as an important component of national soft power has significant value in enhancing high-quality economic and social development.
Methodology
Using the soft power of the rule of law as a research tool and employing multiple methods such as sample case analysis and law and economics analysis, this study takes the operational status of the first provincial-level modern legal service aggregation district in China--“Tianfu Central Legal Service District ” as the research object, to explore the position and positive role of soft power of the rule of law in economic and social high-quality development.
Findings
First, the Tianfu Central Legal Service District has the “Three Synchronizations” characteristic in planning and coordination, namely, “Synchronous Construction”: the Tianfu Central Legal Service District and the Tianfu Central Business District form a synergistic innovation in the rule of law; “Synchronizations Steps”: the Tianfu Central Legal Service District and the rule of law demonstration zone (pilot zone) form a national high ground for rule of law construction.
Proposals
First, establish the Tianfu Central Legal Service District into a pilot zone for the study and practice of Xi Jinping Thought on Rule of Law, and form a comprehensive operation carrier, to enhance economic and social high-quality development through the soft power of the rule of law. Second, establish a high-end think tank for legal service district, forming a think tank alliance with domestic and international renowned universities and relevant research institutions.
References
[1] ZHANG Guozuo. Theoretical Innovation of Chinese Cultural Soft Power: Analysis of Joseph Nye's "Soft Power" thought [J]. Chinese Social Sciences.2023(05).
[2] Yang Shengkun, Wang Yan. The Way of rule of law in China's "Domestic soft Power" Construction [J]. Journal of Beijing University of Technology (Social Sciences Edition).2010(04).
[3] Xin Quanlong. Study on Soft Power of Urban Rule of Law Business Environment [M]. Xinhua Publishing House. October 2022 edition.
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