In the context of high-quality development and common prosperity, basic public services must not only be "available," but also "make it accessible, well-used, and affordable." "Equalization and Accessibility of Basic Public Services in Relatively Developed Regions of China" (published by The Commercial Press) focuses on relatively developed regions, focusing on the integrated theory and evaluation framework of "equalization—accessibility," addressing the practical issue of balancing fairness and efficiency in public services.

Author and Collaboration Background: This book is authored by Yang Jiawen, Liu Zhi, and others. The author team also includes Li Guicai, Yang Yuling, He Shenjing, Lin Xiongbin, and Zhou Jiangping. This book is based on the achievements of major projects funded by the National Social Science Fund, led by Yang Jiawen, with Peking University as the main undertaking unit, and collaboratively completed in collaboration with teams from the University of Hong Kong and Ningbo University. It is a systematic summary and deepening of collaborative research among the three universities.

1. Why focus on "relatively developed regions"

Relatively developed regions often have stronger fiscal capacity and more complete infrastructure, but at the same time face more complex structural differentiation, making them the key arena for public services to shift from "total expansion" to "quality improvement and fair rebalancing." This book takes relevant cities in Guangdong Province (including Shenzhen and others) as examples to identify the differences, shortcomings, and governance challenges of public services within the "pilot zones."

2. Place "equalization" and "accessibility" on the same map

In response to the common deviation in practice of "emphasizing per capita achievement over actual acquisition," this book emphasizes moving from the "social aspect" to the "spatial aspect," advancing fairness from macro supply to accessibility, availability, and affordability at the individual level. In terms of framework, it focuses on "equal opportunities, fiscal equality, equal outcomes, and equal capabilities," while also incorporating dimensions such as "institutional accessibility, spatial accessibility, quality accessibility, and cost accessibility," forming a replicable and scalable evaluation approach.

3. Who is suitable for reading this book?

This book not only measures the "levels of equalization/accessibility," but also feeds back the evaluation results back into systems and processes, explaining how differences arise, where the bottlenecks lie, and how policy tools can be precisely implemented.

• Researchers in Public Management and Public Policy: Drawing on the integrated "equalization-accessibility" framework and evaluation approach.

• Teachers and students in urban and rural planning, geography, and spatial governance: can refer to analytical paths for promoting public service equity through spatial distribution and accessibility.

• Government departments and urban governance practitioners: Assessment and diagnostic frameworks can identify "last mile" shortcomings and optimize resource allocation and facility layout.

Against the backdrop of the transformation of major social contradictions and the continuous advancement of national governance modernization, the key to public services is no longer just "whether they exist," but rather "unequal distribution, inconvenience, quality, and sustainability." This book uses relatively developed regions as a window to provide a more explanatory and practical research paradigm for China's basic public services as they move from "supply equilibrium" to "equitable accessibility."

Editor: Cao Shiyin

Image: Key Laboratory of Intelligent Computing for Public Service Supply