A Study on the Theoretical Evolution, Practical Dilemmas, and Policy Innovations in Enhancing Rural Social Welfare

Abstract

China’s long-standing social welfare system has exhibited a distinct urban bias, resulting in institutional segmentation between urban and rural welfare frameworks. Consequently, rural residents experience significantly lower levels of social security and public services compared with their urban counterparts. Guided by the macro policy orientation of the Rural Revitalization Strategy, this paper examines the theoretical foundations and explores the policy innovation pathways for improving rural social welfare. Existing research indicates that the current rural welfare system faces three major issues: first, the overall level of welfare provision remains low, with a pronounced urban–rural gap; second, the structure of welfare providers is highly homogeneous, characterized by “remedial” and “relief-oriented” features; and third, the welfare content lacks multi-dimensionality, as economic subsidies continue to dominate the social security system, with insufficient comprehensive social support. Based on the conceptual connotations and functional definitions of social welfare, this study explores the institutional logic and practical feasibility of reform. On this basis, it compares two pathways for improvement—enhancing the degree of rural-to-urban integration (“rural population urbanization”) and strengthening local rural welfare development—by examining their respective advantages and limitations. Finally, the paper proposes targeted policy recommendations for optimizing the rural social welfare system, with the goal of offering theoretical insights and practical guidance for achieving welfare equality between urban and rural areas and advancing the overarching goal of common prosperity.