Abstract

Info

Title:: New social assistance system: achievements, problems and development directions

Author(s):: YANG Bin; ZHAO Jian-peng ; (School of Politics and Administration, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, Shaanxi, China)

Keywords:: new social assistance system; minimum living standard security system; medical and health assistance system; “five guarantees” system

Abstract:: Since 1978, China has established a preliminary social assistance system that included the minimum living standard security system, medical and health assistance system and the “five guarantees” system as its main content. The social relief has been being intensified, its coverage has been being expanded, and legal construction of the social assistance system has developed rapidly. However, there exist some problems in Chinas new social assistance system, which include the lagging behind concept of social assistance, the obvious dichotomy in social assistance, the unjustifiable mechanism of shared responsibility, the unscientific adjustment mechanism, the incomplete targeting mechanism social assistance. The present research supports that in the future, the new social assistance system should be completed by establishing positive concept of social assistance, integrating the development of the social assistance system in rural and urban areas, improving the targeting mechanisms of the social assistance system and establishing a reasonable adjustment mechanism of the social system.