社会保障的与时俱进:理念、范式和政策工具

Updating the Concepts,Paradigm,and Policy Tools of Social Security

在更高的发展阶段上,面对科技创新和制度创新的新环境,中国社会保障制度面临的挑战和应有的出路可以概括如下。首先,传统的受益人识别机制越来越难以为继,这种识别的必要性也日益降低,要求制度体系转向更加普惠和普世。其次,尽力而为和量力而行原则既体现统一性,也体现动态性,两者并非匀质和静止的关系。在中国所处发展阶段上,政府社会性支出的增长应该速度更快、幅度更大。再次,顺应公共品边界随着人均收入提高而扩展的一般规律,以全体居民全生命周期为对象的基本公共服务供给体系的完善,要求对现有社会保险、社会救助和社会福利服务等各项制度进行整合。最后,在改变理念和范式的前提下,中国式福利国家建设需要通过改革清除制度性障碍。

As China enters a more advanced stage of development,marked by significant technological and institutional innovations,its social security system faces substantial challenges.Addressing these challenges requires several strategic approaches.First,as identifying eligible beneficiaries becomes increasingly difficult and less necessary,the system should become more universal and inclusive.Second,the principles of doing one's best and acting within one's means refl ect both unity and dynamism;they are neither homogeneous nor static.From now until 2035,China will be in a period where there is both the necessity and capacity for signifi cantly increasing government social spending on social welfare at a faster and larger scale.Third,in line with the general trend of expanding public goods as per capita income rises,improving the basic public service supply system for all residents throughout their life-cycle requires integrating existing social insurance,social assistance,and welfare services.Finally,with changing concepts and paradigms,building a welfare state with Chinese characteristics necessitates reforms to remove institutional barriers.