Abstract:

An important approach of optimizing the allocation of educational resources and realizing education equity is to achieve the balanced development of compulsory education. Based on Gini coefficient and range analysis, This paper studies the balanced development process of compulsory education in China from the perspective of per-student educational expenditure both theoretically and empirically. The results of the study show there appears a downward trend on the Gini coefficient of the average annual expenditure for compulsory education with the range ratio of that decreasing continuously. Thus the regional differences in expenditure for compulsory education are quite obvious. In order to improve the education quality and promote a balanced development of compulsory education in China, the idea and practice of coordinating regional economy development should be employed consistently. Meanwhile, China has also increased in fiscal input into compulsory education, increasing the fiscal sharing of the central government and the local government.

Key words: compulsory education, balanced development, Gini coefficient, Range analysis