Core Viewpoint - The recent joint release of the "Opinions on Further Ensuring and Improving People's Livelihoods" emphasizes the importance of optimizing fiscal expenditure structure to strengthen basic livelihood financial guarantees [1] Group 1: Increased Investment in Livelihood - This year, fiscal investment in the livelihood sector has increased, with national education expenditure, social security, and employment budget arrangements nearing 4.5 trillion yuan, reflecting growth rates of 6.1% and 5.9% respectively [2] - Employment is prioritized as the largest aspect of livelihood, with central fiscal arrangements for employment support funds amounting to 66.74 billion yuan [2] - The government is also enhancing basic pension security, with the minimum standard for urban and rural residents' basic pensions increased by 20 yuan, benefiting over 300 million elderly individuals [2][3] Group 2: Support for Basic Medical and Educational Services - The per capita fiscal subsidy standard for basic public health services has been raised to 99 yuan per person per year, while the subsidy for urban and rural residents' medical insurance has increased by 30 yuan to 700 yuan per person per year [3] - Central fiscal arrangements for student aid funding amount to 80.945 billion yuan, aimed at improving national scholarship standards and expanding policy coverage [3] Group 3: Optimizing Fiscal Expenditure Structure - The "Opinions" call for local governments to enhance responsibility and optimize fiscal expenditure structure, ensuring that basic livelihood financial guarantees are prioritized [4] - In the first five months, social security and employment expenditures reached 2.0054 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 9.2%, while education expenditures were 1.7455 trillion yuan, growing by 6.7% [4] Group 4: Role of Transfer Payments - Central fiscal transfer payments have increased to 1.03415 trillion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 8.4%, aimed at enhancing local financial capacity and ensuring basic livelihood guarantees [6] - The emphasis on transfer payments is crucial for promoting equal access to basic public services across regions, addressing disparities in fiscal capacity [7]