Core Viewpoint - The central economic work conference in 2024 emphasizes the implementation of a more proactive fiscal policy to stimulate economic growth and address insufficient domestic demand [2][3]. Fiscal Policy Adjustment - The shift from "active" to "more active" fiscal policy marks a significant adjustment in China's fiscal stance since 2008, aimed at promoting high-quality economic development and addressing total demand insufficiency [2][3]. Fiscal Deficit and Debt Management - The fiscal deficit is set at around 4% for the year, with a deficit scale of 5.66 trillion yuan, and plans to issue 1.3 trillion yuan in ultra-long-term special bonds, alongside 4.4 trillion yuan in new local government special bonds [3][5]. - The government maintains that the current deficit level is within a safe threshold, with China's government debt ratio at 90.12%, significantly lower than the G7 average of 127.42% [7][8]. Economic Stimulus and Confidence Building - The more proactive fiscal policy aims to expand domestic demand and stabilize confidence, providing strong financial support to stimulate consumption and investment [9][10]. - It is expected to enhance the resilience and vitality of economic development through coordinated fiscal and monetary policies [4][9]. Support for Key Areas - The fiscal policy focuses on supporting the construction of the livelihood sector, ensuring the implementation of major national strategies, and optimizing expenditure structures to enhance public service quality [11][12]. - Specific measures include increasing spending on education, healthcare, and social security, while also promoting green development and technological innovation [11][22]. Policy Coordination - Strengthening the coordination between fiscal and monetary policies is crucial for enhancing macroeconomic stability and promoting a virtuous economic cycle [4][13]. - The government aims to leverage fiscal policy to attract social capital and ensure effective implementation of macroeconomic strategies [13][19]. Challenges and Future Directions - The effectiveness of the more proactive fiscal policy may face challenges such as inherent inertia in fiscal concepts, demographic changes, and external economic pressures [14][16][17]. - Future efforts should focus on balancing short-term economic stability with long-term fiscal sustainability, optimizing the allocation of fiscal resources, and enhancing support for key sectors [19][20][23].

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article emphasizes the need for a more proactive fiscal policy to stimulate economic growth and address insufficient domestic demand, marking a significant adjustment in China's fiscal policy since 2008 [2][3][9] - The fiscal policy will see an increase in the deficit rate to around 4%, with a deficit scale of 5.66 trillion yuan, and plans to issue 1.3 trillion yuan in ultra-long-term special bonds, along with 4.4 trillion yuan in new local government special bonds [3][5][9] - The proactive fiscal policy aims to enhance confidence among business entities, provide strong financial support for expanding domestic demand, and effectively prevent and resolve risks in key areas [2][10][11] Group 2 - The proactive fiscal policy is expected to play a crucial role in driving economic recovery by expanding domestic demand and stabilizing confidence, thus addressing economic circulation bottlenecks [9][10] - It will focus on supporting the construction of the livelihood sector and major national strategies, optimizing expenditure structures to enhance public service quality and alleviate pressures on residents [11][12][22] - The government aims to strengthen the coordination between fiscal and monetary policies to enhance macroeconomic stability and resilience [4][13][23] Group 3 - The article discusses the importance of addressing structural challenges and external pressures while implementing a more proactive fiscal policy, emphasizing the need for effective resource allocation and risk prevention [14][19][20] - It highlights the necessity of balancing economic construction spending with livelihood spending to ensure social harmony and improve living standards [20][21] - The government is encouraged to deepen fiscal and tax system reforms to support high-quality development and mitigate risks in key areas [23][24]

Core Viewpoint - The central economic work conference in 2024 emphasizes the implementation of a more proactive fiscal policy to stimulate economic growth, enhance employment, and support industrial transformation [1][2]. Fiscal Policy Adjustment - The shift from "active" to "more active" fiscal policy marks a significant adjustment in China's fiscal stance since 2008, aimed at addressing insufficient total demand and promoting high-quality economic development [2][3]. Fiscal Deficit and Debt Management - The fiscal deficit is set at around 4% for the year, with a deficit scale of 5.66 trillion yuan and plans to issue 1.3 trillion yuan in ultra-long-term special bonds, alongside 4.4 trillion yuan in new local government special bonds [3][4]. - The government maintains that the current deficit level is within a safe threshold, despite surpassing the traditional 3% warning line, as it reflects a strategic approach to fiscal space and debt management [5][7]. Economic Stimulus and Confidence Building - The proactive fiscal policy aims to expand domestic demand and stabilize confidence, providing financial support to stimulate consumption and investment, thereby enhancing overall economic activity [9][10]. - It also focuses on risk prevention in key areas, ensuring stable macroeconomic operations through targeted fiscal measures [10][11]. Support for Livelihood and Strategic Initiatives - The policy prioritizes investments in social welfare, education, healthcare, and other critical areas to enhance public services and support major national strategies, including green development and technological innovation [11][12]. - Specific measures include increasing subsidies for consumption, enhancing social security, and providing targeted support for vulnerable groups [12][22]. Coordination of Policies - There is a strong emphasis on the coordination between fiscal and monetary policies to enhance macroeconomic stability and promote a virtuous economic cycle [4][13]. - The government aims to leverage fiscal tools to attract social capital and ensure effective implementation of fiscal policies [13][19]. Challenges and Future Directions - The effectiveness of the more proactive fiscal policy may be constrained by existing inertia, systemic issues, and external economic pressures [14][16][17]. - Future efforts should focus on balancing short-term fiscal stability with long-term sustainability, optimizing fiscal resource allocation, and enhancing the overall impact of fiscal measures [19][20][21].

Core Viewpoint - The "Great Beautiful Act" signed by Trump on July 4, 2025, fulfills his campaign promise of core tax cuts, comprising five main parts: corporate tax cuts, individual and family tax cuts, reduction of clean energy subsidies, cuts to Medicaid, and reductions in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) [1][3]. Summary by Sections 1. Core Contents of the "Great Beautiful Act" - The act aims to make corporate and family tax cuts permanent, adhering to the Republican principle of a "small government" by cutting social welfare expenditures [3]. - Key components include: - Corporate tax incentives such as full depreciation on equipment and immediate deduction for R&D expenses, effective from 2025 [4]. - Permanent extension of lower personal income tax rates and an increase in standard deduction by $750 [5]. - Adjustments to state and local tax (SALT) deductions, raising the cap to $40,000 from 2025 to 2029, reverting to $10,000 in 2030 [6]. 2. Economic Stimulus Effects - The act is projected to increase the federal deficit by approximately $1.3 trillion over the next decade, with a deficit rate around 6% [11][14]. - It is estimated that the act will boost GDP growth by about 0.5 percentage points in 2026 and raise inflation by no more than 0.15 percentage points [11][12]. 3. Cuts to Clean Energy Subsidies - The act terminates several clean energy tax credits, including the $7,500 tax credit for electric vehicles, effective September 30, 2025 [7]. - It imposes stricter regulations on foreign entities involved in critical materials supply, enhancing national security in the energy sector [7]. 4. Medicaid Cuts - The act significantly tightens Medicaid eligibility, requiring able-bodied adults to complete at least 80 hours of work or community service monthly to maintain coverage [8]. - These reforms are expected to reduce federal spending by approximately $1 trillion over the next decade, potentially affecting 11.8 million individuals [8]. 5. SNAP Reductions - The act implements reforms to reduce SNAP expenditures, including increasing state responsibilities for administrative costs and adjusting benefit distribution mechanisms [9]. - It is projected to cut SNAP spending by about $186 billion over the next decade, impacting over 40 million beneficiaries [9]. 6. Increase in Debt Ceiling - The act raises the federal debt ceiling by $5 trillion, allowing for increased government borrowing [10].

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article emphasizes the need for a transformation and optimization of China's active fiscal policy after 17 years of implementation, highlighting its effectiveness in promoting economic stability, quality growth, and social welfare, while also addressing existing shortcomings and future directions for fiscal policy [2][3][4][5][6]. Group 2 - Active fiscal policy has effectively responded to external shocks, maintaining economic stability with an average growth rate of 9.9% from 2008 to 2010, compared to the global average of 1.7%, and a growth rate of 4.7% from 2020 to 2023, significantly higher than the global average of 2.3% [3][4]. - The policy has shifted focus towards technology innovation and green development, enhancing the potential for long-term high-quality economic growth [4]. - Social welfare has improved, with rural minimum living standards increasing by 73.3% and urban low-income standards by 45.4% from 2017 to 2023, while the share of public budget for social welfare rose from 35.1% in 2013 to 40.7% in 2023 [5]. Group 3 - Current fiscal policy faces challenges, including an overemphasis on short-term fiscal balance, which may hinder long-term economic stability and increase hidden government debt risks [8][9]. - The effectiveness of large-scale tax reductions is diminishing, with the macro tax burden decreasing to 16.3% of GDP in 2024, down 5.1 percentage points from 2013, which may threaten fiscal sustainability [12]. - The structure of fiscal spending needs optimization, as there is a tendency to focus more on supply-side and enterprise support rather than on demand and household needs [13][24]. Group 4 - Future fiscal policy should transition from a balanced approach to a functional one, allowing for a potential breach of the 3% deficit limit to better support economic stability and growth [16][17]. - Systematic responses to long-term challenges such as aging population and digital economy risks are necessary, including enhancing social security systems and adapting tax policies to new economic realities [18][20]. - The focus should shift from income policies to expenditure policies, emphasizing direct government spending to stimulate demand and support households [22][25]. Group 5 - The article suggests that the term "active fiscal policy" should be reconsidered to "expansionary fiscal policy" to better convey the intended signals to the market and stabilize expectations [26][27].

Group 1: Implementation Effects of Active Fiscal Policy - Active fiscal policy has effectively responded to external shocks, maintaining an average economic growth rate of 9.9% from 2008 to 2010, compared to the global average of 1.7% during the same period[7] - From 2020 to 2023, China's average economic growth rate was 4.7%, significantly higher than the global average of 2.3%[7] - Social welfare spending has increased, with rural minimum living standards rising by 73.3% and urban low-income support increasing by 45.4% from 2017 to 2023[9] Group 2: Challenges of Active Fiscal Policy - The emphasis on current fiscal balance may impact long-term fiscal risks, with a consistent deficit rate below 3% reflecting a balanced fiscal approach[11] - The effectiveness of large-scale tax cuts is diminishing, with the macro tax burden needing stabilization as general public budget revenue as a percentage of GDP fell to 16.3% in 2024, down 5.1 percentage points since 2013[17] - The fiscal expenditure structure requires optimization, with a tendency to focus more on supply-side measures rather than demand-side support, leading to potential demand deficiencies[19] Group 3: Directions for Fiscal Policy Transformation - Transition from a balanced fiscal approach to a functional fiscal policy, potentially breaking the 3% deficit constraint to better support economic stability[21] - Fiscal policy objectives should balance short-term economic stability with long-term systemic challenges, addressing issues like population aging and digital economy risks[23] - Shift focus from income policies to expenditure policies, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of fiscal measures[28]