经观社论｜整治形式主义关键是科学考核

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the need to alleviate the burden of formalism on grassroots officials by implementing targeted measures to reduce excessive meetings, documentation, and inspections, thereby allowing for more effective governance and innovation [2][3][6]. Summary by Sections Background and Current Situation - The "Several Regulations on Reducing Burdens for Grassroots" was issued by the Central Committee and the State Council, showing a significant positive response, with over 95% of respondents indicating that the measures to combat formalism have been effective [2]. - Formalism manifests in various ways, including excessive meetings, mandatory attendance, frequent inspections, and the burdensome use of government apps for reporting, which significantly increases the workload of grassroots officials [2][3]. Specific Measures Proposed - The regulations propose specific measures to reduce formalism, such as limiting the length of documents to 5,000 words and task-specific documents to 4,000 words, and eliminating the use of meeting attendance and social media metrics as performance evaluation criteria [2][3]. Analysis of Formalism - The article discusses the increasing complexity of performance evaluations for grassroots officials, which have expanded from 9 major items in 2011 to 4 major items with 109 sub-items and 371 detailed items by 2020, leading to a shift from positive to negative incentives in performance assessments [4]. - This shift has resulted in a culture where officials focus on avoiding mistakes rather than achieving results, leading to a cycle of meetings and documentation that detracts from actual problem-solving [5]. Recommendations for Improvement - The article advocates for a reduction in the volume of documents and meetings, and a shift from "formality" to "substance" in evaluations, suggesting that this will help unleash the potential of grassroots governance and foster innovation [5][6]. - It stresses the importance of setting scientific assessment criteria that prioritize results over formal compliance, allowing grassroots officials the space and motivation to innovate and take responsibility [6].