Economy

Looking at new growth drivers through local ledgers

2026-02-09   

Opening the "account books" of various regions, it can be seen that the support for local income growth comes from the recovery of economic operation and the development towards new and better conditions. We need to maintain momentum, optimize structure, invest in people, ensure people's livelihoods, deepen reforms, enhance momentum, and leverage the integrated effects of existing and incremental policies. Recently, most provinces such as Beijing, Hebei, and Zhejiang have successively held local two sessions. Every year during the National and Local Two Sessions, in addition to the government work report, the budget report, which serves as the government's "ledger", also attracts much attention. Through the 'ledger', one can observe the government's key tasks, the extent of fiscal policy, and the measures taken. The 'ledger' includes both the income and expenditure of the previous year and the income and expenditure plan for the new year. From the perspective of local fiscal revenue and expenditure in 2025, the operation is stable with many highlights, and nearly 90% of the regions have achieved income growth. According to statistics from the Ministry of Finance, in 2025, among 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government, except for a few areas where income has decreased due to the decline in prices of bulk commodities such as coal, 27 regions will achieve an increase in annual fiscal revenue. Opening the "account books" of various regions, it can be seen that the support for local income growth comes from the recovery of economic operation and the development towards new and better conditions. The general public budget revenue of Beijing increased by 4.8%. The country and Beijing have implemented a package of policies to stabilize the economy, and the capital's economy is steadily improving. The supporting role of key industries such as finance, information services, and technology services has been further strengthened, laying a solid foundation for income growth. The fiscal revenue of other provinces has also maintained a stable growth rate, with Guangdong and Fujian both growing by 3%, Zhejiang growing by 1.8%, Shandong growing by 2%, and Gansu growing by 5.7%... All of these reflect the economic development of various regions, confirming that China's economic foundation is stable, with many advantages, strong resilience, and great potential. At the same time, various regions have increased their expenditure intensity, optimized their expenditure structure, and continuously strengthened the expenditure guarantee for key areas such as people's livelihood and science and technology, fully reflecting the "more active" fiscal policy, effectively expanding domestic demand, ensuring people's livelihood, promoting high-quality economic development, and significantly enhancing the sense of gain for enterprises and the people. The Central Economic Work Conference has deployed to continue implementing a more proactive fiscal policy in 2026. From a national perspective, the main objective is to maintain necessary fiscal deficits, total debt levels, and total expenditures. From a local perspective, how to combine local realities and implement policies in every aspect of economic operation is related to whether macroeconomic regulation goals can be achieved. The local "ledger" has arranged the fiscal revenue and expenditure plans of various regions this year, releasing an important signal of more proactive fiscal policies injecting new momentum into the economy. Maintain strength and optimize structure. This year, macroeconomic policies have become more proactive and proactive, with increased efforts to counter cyclical and cross cyclical adjustments. Fiscal policy has played an important role in this regard, especially in expanding the fiscal expenditure plate, ensuring necessary expenditure, and promoting consumption and investment with greater momentum. For example, Hebei Province has concentrated its financial resources on key areas and made specific arrangements to promote the coordinated development of the Beijing Tianjin Hebei region and the construction of the Xiong'an New Area. Inner Mongolia proposes to invest more funds in key areas such as technological innovation, industrial transformation and upgrading, filling infrastructure gaps, and improving people's livelihoods. To implement a more proactive fiscal policy, on the one hand, we need to pay attention to the intensity and scale, arrange expenditures reasonably, enhance development momentum, and boost market confidence. On the other hand, we need to optimize the structure, improve the efficiency of fund utilization, and truly achieve policy effectiveness. Invest in people and ensure their livelihood. Adhering to the close combination of investing in goods and investing in people is an important feature of budget arrangements in various regions this year. Zhejiang Province has made it clear that more than two-thirds of the general public budget expenditure will continue to be used for people's livelihoods, supporting the improvement of people's well-being. Fujian Province emphasizes the promotion of people's well-being and the creation of a high-quality life. Strengthening fiscal measures to safeguard the basic needs and bottom line, effectively enhancing people's livelihood security, while promoting the growth of employment and improving people's well-being, has also increased residents' willingness and ability to consume, driving market warming. Deepen reform and enhance momentum. As an important measure to address current external challenges and domestic difficulties, implementing a more proactive fiscal policy undoubtedly plays a significant direct role in promoting stable economic growth. We must adhere to both policy support and reform innovation, enhance the synergy between reform and policy, and deepen the reform of key areas of finance and taxation. Only in this way can economic development have stronger endogenous vitality. From the deployment in various regions, "scientific financial management" and "zero based budgeting" have become important keywords. By promoting zero based budget reform, enhancing the scientific nature of fiscal management, breaking the fixed pattern of expenditure, optimizing expenditure structure, and improving the efficiency of fiscal funds. At present, most places have introduced reform plans with significant results, and this year's reform is expected to be further promoted. By strengthening the coordination of financial resources and budgets, enhancing budget performance management, cleaning up and standardizing tax incentives and financial subsidies, and other reform measures, the momentum of local fiscal development can be further enhanced. The "roadmap" for economic work in various regions this year is clear, and the "ledger" is prepared. By leveraging the integrated effect of stock policies and incremental policies, new momentum is being generated to stabilize employment, enterprises, markets, and expectations. The economy will break through waves and move steadily in the new year. (New Society)

Edit:He Chuanning Responsible editor:Su Suiyue

Source:ECONOMIC DAILY

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