|
CHINA> National
![]() |
|
Related
Stimulus spending tests fiscal balance amid crisis
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-26 22:15 Yang forecast challenging fiscal conditions in 2009, as a long-awaited value-added tax reform came into effect, saving companies 120 billion yuan this year. "Hefty spending on social services, combined with the massive tax cuts, revealed the government's determination to give something back to the public. Officials understand that social spending is crucial to prop up domestic demand and shift the economy's dependence from exports to consumption," he said.
Bai agreed with that assessment. He said the government had changed its thinking. It would curb investment in heavy industries like steel and petrochemicals and enhance spending on health, education, social security and rural areas, which have a direct bearing on living standards. Those ideas were definitely reflected in the 4-trillion yuan stimulus plan "where government investment in building airports and toll roads only took up a tiny part, and most of these projects would be financed by bank credit," said Bai. In contrast, investment in agriculture and rural areas would definitely increase, as the infrastructure was insufficient for current or expected demand, said Jia Kang, an MOF economist. Experts also urged the government to improve efficiency and tighten oversight to prevent any misuse of funds. "Although we have enhanced efficiency after a series of reforms, there is still much room to improve, notably in the fight against corruption, vanity projects and redundant projects," said Zhu Qing, a finance professor at China Renmin University. He said runaway increases in administrative expenses could no longer be tolerated. Such expenses "only took up 5.4 percent of fiscal revenue in 1980, but that jumped to 14 percent in 2006. If all the money was spent on improving people's lives, complaints would cease."
|
图们市| 通榆县| 新源县| 得荣县| 宜城市| 饶河县| 永善县| 阜南县| 敦煌市| 永丰县| 嘉峪关市| 监利县| 新疆| 大洼县| 炎陵县| 秀山| 南雄市| 山西省| 绿春县| 繁峙县| 义马市| 林芝县| 阿城市| 淮滨县| 弥勒县| 大兴区| 湖州市| 贺州市| 甘洛县| 环江| 龙江县| 永丰县| 咸丰县| 临潭县| 佳木斯市| 九龙坡区| 哈巴河县| 洪洞县| 兴义市| 任丘市| 木兰县|