Modernization of Public Service Governance in Rural Areas of China

The modernization of public service governance in rural areas is a crucial component for rural governance in China; it promotes the quality of public services and provides a foundation for improving people’s livelihood and realizing rural revitalization. Based on an investigation regarding rural public service governance in 22 provinces (cities and autonomous regions) in China, we summarize the historical evolution and institutional changes of the public service governance in rural areas, analyze the major challenges faced during the modernization of rural public service governance in China, and propose the strategic objectives, development roadmap, and key tasks for 2050. Multiple problems remain in terms of public education, health care, social security, employment training, and public cultural and sports services. Therefore, the key tasks in the future include: (1) building a coordinated infrastructure system between urban and rural areas, (2) modernizing the governance of rural education, (3) improving rural cultural and sports infrastructure, (4) optimizing the public health service system, and (5) improving the social security system in rural areas. To further modernize rural public service governance in China, we suggest that the key governance objects and the supply list of rural public services should be clarified, the intelligent and digital transformation of governance should be accelerated, and collaborative governance by multiple subjects should be encouraged.