Analysis of the Differences among Regions in China in Terms of Central and Local Health Transfer Payments

Peng Xinyao; Guo Feng; Zhai Tiemin

Abstract：Objective:To analyze the overall level,structure,and regional differences of central government's health and wellness transfer payments to local governments in China,providing a basis for improving the fiscal transfer payment system.Methods:The regional differences and their changes in central government's health and wellness transfer payments to local governments were analyzed using range,standard deviation,coefficient of variation,and Kendall's coefficient of concordance.Results:From the perspective of the per capita level of central government's health and wellness transfer payments to local governments,the relative differences among provinces have shown a downward trend,but the absolute differences have expanded.Meanwhile,the absolute and relative differences in the proportion of central government's health and wellness transfer payments to local governments in total government health expenditures have remained relatively stable.The Kendall's coefficient of concordance between per capita central government's health and wellness transfer payments to local governments and per capita general public budget revenue has shown a downward trend.Conclusion:Due to the different standards for sharing the expenditure responsibilities of common fiscal matters between the central and local governments,the existence of regional differences in central government's health and wellness transfer payments to local governments is inevitable.However,within regions with similar levels of economic development,there should not be significant differences in the standards and degrees of central government's health and wellness transfer payments to local governments.Therefore,it is necessary to evaluate the current standards for the division of fiscal powers,responsibilities,and expenditure responsibilities between the central and local governments,optimize the allocation mechanism of fiscal transfer payments,control the expansion of regional differences,and improve the regular assessment mechanism for fiscal transfer payments.