Jointly organized by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee
Conference Scene
On September 6, the "Symposium on the Theory of Common Prosperity and the Inaugural Release of Theoretical Explorations of Common Prosperity," jointly hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee, was held through a combination of online and offline formats. Gao Peiyong, Vice President and Member of the Senior Management Group [1] of CASS, and Huang Jianfa, Deputy Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, attended the meeting and delivered speeches. Simultaneously, the conference saw the release of the book Theoretical Explorations of Common Prosperity. Published by the China Social Sciences Press, the volume is a curated collection of 36 theoretical articles by CASS experts and scholars focusing on the issue of common prosperity.
Leadership Addresses
Deepening the Theoretical Exploration of Common Prosperity
Gao Peiyong, Vice President and Member of the Senior Management Group of CASS, attended the meeting and delivered a speech. Gao pointed out that common prosperity possesses a series of unique characteristics. To blaze a trail for a Chinese-path common prosperity, one must take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guide to construct an autonomous Chinese knowledge system of common prosperity, beginning with the construction of a theoretical system that aligns with China’s path toward common prosperity. Regarding common prosperity, it is first necessary to theoretically clarify and explain "what is common prosperity" and "how to advance common prosperity," while considering these questions within the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and analyzing them within the reality of grasping the new development stage, implementing the new development philosophy, and constructing the new development pattern [2].
By researching "what is common prosperity," we can explain its characteristics from multiple dimensions and facets, providing a theoretical "bird’s-eye view." By researching "how to advance common prosperity," we can provide the principles and approaches for its promotion, drawing a "roadmap" for practice. At the same time, advancing common prosperity requires concrete landing points, levers, and entry points. It requires investigation and research into specific strategies and measures to support the construction of common prosperity from different sides and angles. The book Theoretical Explorations of Common Prosperity explains the characteristics of common prosperity from multiple dimensions and proposes principles and paths for its advancement. This book is the result of theoretical explorations by scholars of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences surrounding the issue of common prosperity; it is also a phased achievement of the provincial-academy cooperation project titled "Research on Zhejiang’s High-Quality Development and Construction of a Common Prosperity Demonstration Zone." Henceforth, the theoretical and policy research of this project must synchronize with the practice of Zhejiang’s construction of the Common Prosperity Demonstration Zone, continuously drawing nutrients for theoretical innovation from Zhejiang’s practice.
Huang Jianfa, Deputy Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, delivered an online speech. Huang stated that for over a year since the high-quality development and construction of the Common Prosperity Demonstration Zone began, Zhejiang has consistently taken General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on common prosperity as its fundamental compliance and guide for action, sorting and implementing them item by item and category by category. First, Zhejiang adheres to the principle of "theory first," having established the Advisory Committee for the Construction of the Common Prosperity Demonstration Zone to pool collective wisdom [3] and open a channel for the spiral ascent of theory and practice. Second, it insists on systemic planning, having initially constructed the discourse, target, work, policy, and evaluation systems for the demonstration zone’s construction. Third, it insists on breakthroughs via reform, researching and drafting promoting regulations for the demonstration zone, formulating and implementing major reform plans such as "expanding the middle" and "lifting the low" [4], and conducting research on major reform projects like the "common prosperity-type" overarching social security system. Fourth, it insists on transformational restructuring, establishing the Provincial Leadership Group for the High-Quality Development and Construction of the Common Prosperity Demonstration Zone and the Provincial Social Construction Committee to innovate the promotion mechanism. Fifth, it insists on joint construction and shared benefits, exploring effective paths for common prosperity to stimulate new social vitality and forge a powerful synergy for the whole of society to strive toward common prosperity. Zhejiang will unswervingly forge ahead in the direction guided by General Secretary Xi Jinping, focusing on the problems of unbalanced and inadequate development [5] and the urgent anxieties of the masses [6], striving to resolve major common problems of universal significance, and endeavoring to use Zhejiang’s pioneering actions to explore a path for the national promotion of common prosperity. He expressed hope for further deepening exchange and cooperation with CASS, strengthening collaboration on major research topics, improving closed-loop decision-making consultation mechanisms, and creating brand forums with international influence.
Unveiling Ceremony
At the debut ceremony, Gao Peiyong, Cui Jianmin, Zhang Yuyan, Huang Qunhui, and Zhao Jianying jointly unveiled the new book.
Expert Presentations: Offering Advice and Suggestions for Advancing Common Prosperity
Eleven experts from CASS and Zhejiang Province engaged in discussions on "what is common prosperity" and "how to advance common prosperity," as well as theoretical and practical issues concerning how to promote it through technological support, social construction, economic construction, and coordinated development.
Zhang Shuyu, Director of the Institute of Political Science at CASS, stated that common prosperity is an important feature of the new path of Chinese-path modernization, and China will certainly blaze a Chinese road to common prosperity. This road possesses a stronger institutional foundation and greater depth of philosophy. The Chinese road to common prosperity requires the formation of an institutional system and a set of policy solutions. This includes: first, strengthening the construction of "floor-level," fundamental, and universal [7] people’s livelihoods to mend shortcomings in public services; second, establishing and improving the standard system for basic public services; third, providing multi-level and diversified public services and products alongside the equalization of public services; fourth, innovating the modes of public service delivery; fifth, recognizing that to achieve common prosperity, one must first reduce burdens; and sixth, providing high-quality, premium government services to the people.
Zhao Jianying, President of the China Social Sciences Press, pointed out that "spiritual wealth" [8] within the context of common prosperity describes the state of people’s spiritual lives in the New Era and the new development stage of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Realizing spiritual wealth is determined by the changes in the principal contradiction of our society as socialism with Chinese characteristics enters the New Era; it is an inevitable requirement for meeting the people's needs for a better life and promoting all-around human development and overall social progress. Its main connotations include firm and conscious ideals and beliefs, scientific and harmonious values, rich scientific and humanistic literacy, a healthy and enterprising spiritual state, good civic quality, moral character, and social atmosphere, a rich cultural and recreational life, as well as the necessary conditions such as a sound public cultural service system, a beautiful ecological environment, a fair and just social order, and a stable and secure social environment.
Xia Jiechang, Vice President of the National Academy of Economic Strategy at CASS, pointed out that in the context of the digital economy era, Zhejiang possesses excellent technical advantages and basic conditions for constructing common prosperity. Simultaneously, it must face realistic challenges such as the digital divide and differences in digital access and usage. The response path should include four aspects: first, "Mountain-Sea Coordination" [9], exploring a new "enclave economy" model under the digital economy; second, adapting to local conditions to promote coordinated regional development of the digital economy; third, "promoting agriculture through digital commerce" to create brand effects for agricultural products; and finally, ensuring fair benefits to narrow the digital divide and the gap in digital dividends.
Zhang Yi, Director of the Institute of Social Development Strategic Research at CASS, analyzed the role of endowment insurance (pensions) in common prosperity, arguing that the current prosperity of the labor force is as important as their future prosperity. After analyzing the endowment insurance status of urban/rural residents and migratory populations through investigations in Zhejiang, he pointed out that the guarantee function of endowment insurance is crucial. Current reform directions include: first, continuing to improve the contribution models for urban and rural residents' endowment insurance and raising future benefit levels; second, solidly advancing the "coverage expansion" of urban enterprise employee endowment insurance for the migratory population, especially migrant workers. As a province with a large population inflow, Zhejiang can only achieve generational fairness after the labor force retires by properly configuring the endowment insurance system during the demographic dividend period, enabling the province to basically realize common prosperity by 2035.
Chen Guangjin, Director of the Institute of Sociology at CASS, pointed out that how to further resolve issues in the field of redistribution and mend potential shortcomings—to better leverage redistribution in adjusting and promoting common prosperity and social fairness and justice—has become an urgent issue for research and resolution. The role of taxation in regulating income distribution has not yet been fully utilized, and there are shortcomings in the social security and social assistance systems. Regarding the understanding of redistribution, there is a misunderstanding in theory and policy philosophy that views redistribution simply as "social welfare construction," which affects the scientific development of the redistribution system. We should recognize that investment in redistribution, especially in social security and assistance, is not just an investment in welfare, but an investment that promotes social development, solidifies the social foundation for economic development, and nurtures social potential.
Wang Zhen, a researcher at the Institute of Economics at CASS, summarized four experiences from Zhejiang in realizing the equalization of basic public services: first, moving from local balance (within counties, cities, and districts) to province-wide equalization; second, accurately grasping the equalization of both inputs and outputs of public services; third, balancing equality and efficiency; and fourth, strengthening governance capacity to form a multi-party, collaborative governance model that stimulates the enthusiasm of various actors. In the process of steadily advancing common prosperity, Zhejiang regards the "high-quality sharing of life-cycle public services" as a core component.
He Dexu, President of the National Academy of Economic Strategy at CASS, argued that digital finance can provide more effective and higher-quality support for realizing common prosperity. The development of digital finance has greatly improved the structure of financial supply, perfecting financial institutions, markets, and product systems—such as digital inclusive finance, real estate digital finance, green digital finance, and digital supply chain finance—thereby comprehensively enhancing the efficiency and level of finance in serving the real economy. Simultaneously, digital finance can and should play an important role in promoting the equalization of basic public services.
Zhang Xiaojing, Director of the Institute of Finance at CASS, discussed "Common Prosperity from a Financial Perspective" through four aspects: first, education—if credit markets are perfect, high-ability individuals receive good education; the current gaps reflect a role for finance in promoting educational equalization. Second, housing—roughly 70% of the wealth gap in China can be explained by housing; the wealth, credit, and crowding-out effects of housing further widen this gap. Third, Fintech—its positive role in inclusive finance and job creation in the platform economy is undeniable, but the inconsistency between private and social returns will be a future governance focus. Fourth, assets—emphasizing asset building to alleviate poverty from an asset-based perspective to better promote common prosperity.
Yao Zhizhong, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of World Economics and Politics at CASS, pointed out from the perspective of the relationship between high-level opening-up and common prosperity theory: first, high-level opening-up provides an important guarantee for high-quality development, thereby securing the foundation for common prosperity; second, it is a key way to expand the middle-income group and construct an "olive-shaped society" [10]; third, by increasing the income of low-income groups during high-level opening-up, the realization of common prosperity will have a more solid foundation.
Wang Zongming, Deputy Director of the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, introduced Zhejiang’s experience in promoting "integrated rural reforms for strengthening villages and enriching people" centered on the collective economy. He explained how to coordinate four "combination punches": market-oriented reform + collective economy; "Standard Land" [11] reform + "dual strength" in agriculture (technology and machinery); rural residential land (zhaijidi) reform + rural construction; and digital reform + strengthening villages and enriching people.
Wei Houkai... [Text cuts off]
Wei Houkai, Director of the Rural Development Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), pointed out that raising the income of the 400 million low-income individuals in rural areas has become the key focus and difficult point in solidly advancing common prosperity. He identified four primary paths for increasing their income: first, establishing a modern rural industrial system and relying on rural industrial revitalization to provide more and more dignified employment opportunities for the rural low-income population, thereby continuously increasing their wage-based income; second, actively encouraging and supporting rural innovation and entrepreneurship to promote rapid growth in the net operating income of rural households; third, comprehensively deepening rural reform [12] to activate various idle rural resources and significantly increase the property-based income of the rural low-income population; and fourth, establishing long-term mechanisms through which those who have become prosperous first help and lead those who lag behind [13] across multiple levels, fields, and channels.
This meeting was organized by the CASS Bureau of Scientific Research Management, the Institute of Economics, the Institute of Quantitative and Technological Economics, and the China Social Sciences Press.
Technocrats from the General Office, the Policy Research Office, and the Social Development Committee of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the CPC, as well as the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and the Zhejiang Academy of Social Sciences attended the seminar. They were joined by experts and scholars from the CASS General Office, the Bureau of Scientific Research Management, and various research units within the Divisions of Literature and Philosophy, Economics, Social and Political Sciences, International Studies, and Marxist Studies, along with representatives from the China Social Sciences Press and various media outlets. Cui Jianmin, Director of the CASS Bureau of Scientific Research Management, and Huang Qunhui, Director of the Institute of Economics, presided over the sessions.
Book Profile Theoretical Explorations of Common Prosperity (《共同富裕理论探索》) Edited by Xie Fuzhan and Gao Peiyong Price: 78.00 RMB ISBN: 978-7-5227-0691-7
Content Introduction This is a collection of theoretical essays compiled from selected articles on the issue of common prosperity written by scholars from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. It represents the preliminary results of the theoretical explorations conducted by CASS scholars regarding the question of common prosperity.
The collection is organized according to a "General Discourse–Specialized Discourse" framework, containing a total of 36 theoretical articles. The General Discourse section provides a general study of common prosperity, while the Specialized Discourse sections focus on specific fields and aspects. Whereas the General Discourse offers an overall and comprehensive exposition of common prosperity, the Specialized Discourse delves into concrete areas and specific issues.
The General Discourse includes 15 articles divided into two parts according to the themes of "What is common prosperity?" and "How to advance common prosperity." The former includes 8 articles explaining the characteristics of common prosperity from multiple dimensions and perspectives, providing a theoretical "bird’s-eye view." The latter includes 7 articles providing the principles and paths for advancing common prosperity, serving as a practical "roadmap."
The Specialized Discourse includes 21 articles providing theoretical answers and expositions on major realistic problems in specific fields of common prosperity from various angles. It consists of four parts: Scientific and Technological Support (5 articles), Social Construction (7 articles), Economic Construction (5 articles), and Coordinated Development (4 articles).
Table of Contents [Omitted in original text]
Source: Institute of Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences